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Tag: NGOs

  • NGOs donate materials to schools

    NGOs donate materials to schools

    Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in Rivers State have distributed free educational materials to public schools in Okarki, a rural community in Ahoada West Local Government Area (AWLGA), of the state.

    The Obuzor Vanguard and REFINE also staged a show for the female pupils of the beneficiary schools on “The danger of premarital sex and unwanted, early pregnancy.”

    The Schools that received the support were Government Secondary School and Model Primary School Okarki.

    Obuzor Vanguard Founder, Ikechukwu Obuzor, said the exercise was part of the groups’ efforts to advance learning in core rural communities in the state.

    He said the group had carried out similar outreaches in schools in other parts of the council in August.

    He said the gesture was a way of complimenting government’s efforts in education in the state.

    Obuzor told beneficiaries not to allow the fact that their school is located in a rural area affect their aspirations in life.

    “If you, pupils and students, of Okarki schools should study well and grow through sound parental care, the sky will not only be your limit but your stepping stone to greatness,” he said.

    He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials for self improvement.

    Reacting to the gesture, the Chairman, Care Taker Committee of AWLGA, Jerry Akuru, pledged his administration’s support to whatever would advance the council’s progress.

    The principal of Government Secondary School, Udeme John, and the head master of Model Primary School, Felix Green, both thanked the donors for their benevolence.

    They lamented that schools in rural areas suffer so much neglect from government. They however said the gesture would improve education standard of community dwellers.

  • NGOs donate materials to rural schools

    Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in Rivers State have distributed free educational materials to public schools in Okarki, a rural community in Ahoada West Local Government Area (AWLGA), of the state.

    The Obuzor Vanguard and REFINE also staged a show for the female pupils of the beneficiary schools on “The danger of premarital sex and unwanted, early pregnancy.”

    The schools that received the support were Government Secondary School and Model Primary School, Okarki.

    Obuzor Vanguard Founder, Ikechukwu Obuzor, said the exercise was part of the groups’ efforts to advance learning in core rural communities in the state, said the.

    He said the group had carried out similar outreaches in schools in other parts of the council in August.

    He said the gesture was a way of complimenting government’s efforts in education in the state.

    He told beneficiaries not to allow the fact that their school is located in a rural area affect their aspirations in life.

    “If you (pupils and students) of Okarki schools should study well and grow through sound parental care, the sky will not only be your limit but your stepping stone to greatness,” he said.

    He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials for self improvement.

    Care Taker Committee of AWLGA  Chairman, Jerry Akuru, pledged his administration’s support to whatever would advance the council’s progress.

    The principal of Government Secondary School, Udeme John, and the head master of Model Primary School, Felix Green, both thanked the donors for their benevolence.

    They lamented that schools in rural areas suffer so much neglect from government. They however said the gesture would improve education standard of community dwellers.

  • NGOs take ‘kick diarrhoea out’ campaign to schools

    Two non-governmental organisations (NGO), Save the Children and Stop Diarrhea Initiative, have inspired public schools in Bariga Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) and Shomolu Local Government Area (LGA) to intensify a campaign against diarrhea.

    With the support of Reckitt Benckiser and the state government, the event tagged: ‘Kick diarrhea out of Lagos,’ saw participating schools engage in a football match that saw their contemporaries and guests applauding to no end.

    Head of School (support) of Shomolu LGA, Mr Tajudeen Lawal, said the competition was uniquely designed to generate enthusiasm among participants, particularly concerning their health.

    He said: “We aim to increase the awareness of the project in all Shomolu communities and also to enhance the participation of pupils beyond the project. It will also help shape the teaching-learning process for pupils in the school project so that they can share the learned health message of diarrhea preventions and control when they go home.”

    The football contest was witnessed by about 1,500 pupils drawn from 48 public schools in the two councils. They came from School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Local Government Authority (LGEA), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Parent Forum (PF).

    Bishop Howell Memorial School dwarfed others to clinch the star prize.  St. Augustine Primary School and Bishop Crowther Memorial Primary School emerged first and second runners-up, while Saviour Primary School took the fourth position.

    The first three positions were given different Save The Children branded educational materials, while other team players who represent their various schools also went home with consolation prizes. Similarly, the trio of Victor Opara, Tobi Abdullah and Kehinde Azeez who emerged best player, best goalkeeper and best goal scorer respectively, were presented with medals by Roy Chikum of Save the Children.

    Meanwhile, the pupils of the Health Club from each school also enlightened participants on how to prevent and control the disease.

    Mr Olaniran Josef, the Sports Director to Shomolu council, thanked the organisers for making the competition possible.

    “We have been able to train pupils for the future and also encourage them to always have the strength to be healthy players. This will help shape them to be good players and to see themselves as role models. It has not only encouraged them but also made them happy and ready to do more,” he said.

  • NGOs to empower 50 female IDPs

    Fifty women can now access funds to start or scale up their micro businesses through a rehabilitation programme for Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) in Lagos State, through an initiative of Sesor Empowerment Foundation in partnership with Grooming Centre, a micro-finance Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO.

    The 50 women will be able to access N1 million over six months. They will also undergo basic counselling and financial/business skills training to support them as they forge a new life and manage their micro-businesses. At an impressive ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday, Grooming Centre lent its support for the rehabilitation programme with a donation of N2.77 million.

    In her response, the Executive Director of Sesor, Ms. Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, spoke of the synergy between the two NGOs in responding to the needs of the disadvantaged populations.

  • NMA, NGOs back oil sector deregulation

    NMA, NGOs back oil sector deregulation

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Forum of Non-Governmental Organisation have expressed support for the deregulation of the downstream oil sector by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The groups however called for the implementation of the palliative measures to cushion the effect of the policy on the masses. The Federal Government last  week announced a new petrol price regime of not above N145 per litre, and also opened up the sector for everyone that wants to import the fuel. Individuals are however to source their foreign exchange (forex) outside the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) window.

    NMA President, Prof. Mike Ozovehe Ogirima said the group supports the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, though with a caveat that part of the palliative should include the immediate release of at least five per cent of the consolidated revenue fund as basic health care provision.

    “The NMA supports the deregulation of the oil sector but with a caveat that part of the palliatives should include the immediate release of at least five per  cent of the consolidated revenue fund as the basic health care provision fund (BHPF) which the National Health Act has given to Nigerians and guarantees its availability. This would revamp Primary Health Care (PHC) and reinvigorate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover all Nigerians.

    Also, the National Chairman,  Forum of Non-Governmental Organisation, Comrade Wole Badmus, said subsidy has been responsible for the neglect of the refineries over the years.

    He said the control the Federal Government has exercised of the downstream oil sector through subsidy has led to perennial fuel scarcity.

    Badmus who spoke to reporters in Abuja yesterday said the old ways of managing the oil sector has failed the country and it is time to move forward, given the present economic reality.

  • NGOs donate to Kwara schools

    NGOs donate to Kwara schools

    Three non-governmental organisations have donated hygiene products to public primary schools in Kwara State in order to encourage good sanitary habits in the institutions.

    The three NGOs in partnership with Survivors Foundation are Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Royal Heritage Foundation (RHHF) and Living Care Community Foundation (LCCDF). Unilever Nigeria plc also supplied some personal hygiene products. Items donated included toiletries, body creams, sanitisers, toothpastes and treated nets. Others were roll-ons and body sprays.

    At the launch of the programme in Ilorin, the state capital, the coordinator of the NGOs, Hajia Nimat Labaika said the associations urged the people to observe personal hygiene in their environments.

    “What we are doing here today is to showcase what we will replicate in rural areas to support vulnerable learners,” she said.

    She also urged corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to borrow a leaf from Unilever Nigeria Plc.

    Representative of the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), Mrs. Folake Ajayi said that giving to the less privileged is lending to God.

    She added, “This is one of the easiest ways to receive God’s blessing and it is a challenge to everybody.”

    State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yeketi represented by his permanent secretary, Hajia Mariam Garba saluted the courage of the benefactors to encourage cleanliness in “our schools.”

    The commissioner also urged people “with the meek of human kindness to contribute their quota to make the society a better place to live in. Cleanliness is next to godliness. If we have clean homes we will have clean environment and if we have clean environment we will have clean children.”

    Performing the symbolic presentation of some of the material to the pupils, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Asiat A. Saka said “it is heartwarming to note that this donation is coming at the time when some states of the nation are facing a challenge that borders on hygienic living habits, cleanliness and keeping our environment free of the rats that carry the dreaded Lassa virus.

    “These materials that we are distributing today will assist beneficiaries to practice and maintain hand washing routine which will ultimately promote personal hygiene and enable then remain healthy.

    “I call on other non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies, private individuals and philanthropists to emulate this kind gesture by joining hands with the state government in its determination to promote and deliver quality healthcare to all and sundry.”

  • NGOs seek financial freedom for women

     

    The Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) and Cherie Blair Foundation (UK), have urged the government to establish financial structures for supporting women to expand the frontiers of business development.

    Speaking at an event tagged “Evening of Celebration, Experience Sharing and Networking” organised by the foundation in Ikoyi, Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Mrs. Aisha Murtala-Oyebode said there were a lot of challenges which budding women entrepreneurs experience. She added that if they receive help in terms of financial structures, their businesses will grow.

    Mrs. Aisha also advised the government not to make financial access difficult for women so that they would contribute towards the development of the economy.

    “It is important to create structures that will support women in terms of finance. Though they could have good mentors who help them in developing their businesses, if they don’t have access to finance, their businesses won’t grow.

    “So, what we need is the government to help us develop that capacity so that Nigeria women can attain their goals. It’s a one-year-programme and the women are doing extremely well.

    “It is not about financing alone; we have to stop making access to finance for women difficult. It is important that women maintain their families and keep their homes. At the same time, they need financial independence if they should realise their potential,” she added.

    She also advised women to be determined and not to be discouraged in their businesses.

    Continuing, she said: “We can do it and if we are determined, we are the ones who will help break some of those barriers that we talk about across the continent. We have the capacity; we can lead so that others will follow. Men should always support their wives.”

    In a chat with Southwest Report, Dr. Dotun Akande of Patrick Speech and Language Centre also called on the government to train and support women in different fields.

    He said: “What I think the government should do for women is the provision of capacity building which is key. When you train a woman, she trains the nation. It is important that government should continue to support women in terms of training in every field such as education, health, wellness and farming, among others. This is very important because if you support a woman you have supported the entire family.”

    During their presentation, women mentors from different fields complained about the Nigeria educational sector.

    President, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Mrs Titilayo Adisa said the government should include thinking skill in school curriculum to help discover creativity and problem solvers among the students.

    “I want the school curriculum, from primary to the tertiary levels to include robotics planning in their curricula because if we are able to make thinking skill as part of our curricula, the thinking skill will allow us do creative and innovative thinking.

    “Again, we will have problem solvers. From youth, one can learn how to do other things because creativity is as important to education as literacy,” she said.

    Women should serve as change agent because the more we give to the society the more it gets better. It is not about the money but the passion.

     

  • Reps panel: we won’t restrict agencies, NGOs from rebuilding Northeast

    Members of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs yesterday said the House will not restrict well-meaning humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations from helping to rebuild the Northeast, which has been devastated by Boko Haram insurgency.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sanni Zoro, had in statement last week said the House Committee on IDPs would ensure that there would be a restriction on the unchecked influx of humanitarian agencies into the Northeast for security reasons.

    However, a new statement by three other members of the ad hoc committee – Abdulrazak Namdas, Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum and Mark Gbillah – said no such action was in the offing.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the news items published last week to the effect that the House of Representatives was worried about the ‘unseeingly unchecked influx of Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations into the Northeast’.

    “The news report further said that the influx ‘portends a security risk’. According to the news report credited to Hon. Sani Zorro, the newly created House Standing Committee on IDPs, Refuges and Initiatives on the Northeast zone would ‘beam its searchlight into their activities’.

    “The House of Representatives would like to assure Nigerians and the international community and particularly the people of the Northeast region that the House would not abridge the rights of well-meaning people to give help or prohibit the traumatised peoples of the Northeast from receiving assistance to rebuild their lives and communities.

    “As a lawmaking institution, the House of Representatives respects the laws of Nigeria and all the international conventions and treaties that the Nigeria state is a signatory to. We would therefore not be putting in place new measures that are contrary to the extant laws of Nigeria.

    “The creation of the new committee only underscores the seriousness with which the House and the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, take the issue of the Northeast. The Northeast situation has been on the frontburner at the House of Representatives. The Legislative Agenda, as adopted by the House, sets out the Northeast situation as a serious issue.

    “The House also, unanimously adopted a motion, which among other resolutions, sought the cooperation of all well-meaning people in the world to join hands to reconstruct the Northeast, rehabilitate the several millions of people displaced by the insurgency and reintegrate communities that have been ravaged by the activities of insurgents.

    “It is therefore a welcome development that the call of the House has been heeded by people from around the world. The House would welcome more well-meaning people who will help in this regard. It is important to place on record that the new standing committee came about also as a result of the request of the International Development Partners, who suggested that legislative oversight is necessary for the reconstruction and rebuilding process of the Northeast to be transparent and accountable.

    “Given the fact that Nigeria today hosts about five million internally displaced persons, the second biggest host, next to Syria, the House decided to create the  standing committee, whose responsibility includes the Northeast reconstruction initiatives.”

    It added: “The House of Representatives would, therefore, like to assure all civil society groups, development partners and well-meaning individuals that as the bastion of democracy, the House, which is committed to the Northeast reconstruction and rehabilitation, will continue to welcome partners in accordance with extant laws and International conventions and treaties.”

  • PenOp, NGOs provide free healthcare to elderly people

    The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) in partnership with selected Non- Government Organisations (NGOs) have provided free treatment for various levels of ailments for about 1000 elderly people in Lagos.

    The  elderly people were treated of various ailments such as prostate cancer, hernia, breast lump, diabetics, and general surgeries conducted by surgeons, gynecologists, oncologists, nurses and other medical experts.

    Executive Secretary of PenOp, Susan Oranye who spoke during the week-long exercise, code named Project Gray 2.0 said the initiative is in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in the country.

    She said operators understand that having a pension to fall back on in retirement and good health is the main focus of many elderly men and women.

    She added that it is this commitment to the wellbeing of old people that led to PenOp’s collaboration with the Orange Health Initiative in ensuring that the old people have unhindered access to medical checkups and treatments for this week.

    She said: “The Project Gray 2.0 is an initiative that celebrates the World’s Elders’ Day. Now, it is important that as a country and as a people we take care of our elderly, make sure that in retirement they can, at least, maintain a decent standard of living. This is the ethos that guide the pension system in the country.

    “PenOp is exceedingly excited about this programme because this project marks the kickoff of first Geriatric Hospital in Nigeria and this is something we are passionate about.”

    Chairman of Legus Foundation and Founder of Veteran Hospital, Dr Kola Adeyina who in Lagos metropolis where the elders are currently receiving treatment said the project slated to last for one week is conducted by specialists from different medical callings.

    The medical expert who said he has been treating Nigerian children free since 1977 said the project would cost the organisers over N20 million.

    Coordinator of Orange Health Initiative, Dr. Kunle Megbuwawon, who believes that getting to the golden age is a privilege that eludes many, said that the goal of the programme is to take care of 1000 elderly people with about 50 of them undergoing surgeries, while at least 15 of them are expected to undergo cataract operation and can go home smiling at the end of the exercise.

    He said Project Gray was borne out of the passion for elderly people in the society and aims at turning the Legus Specialist Hospital into the first Geriatric Hospital in the country.

    Mrs Bimbo Olateju, an old retiree said she is very happy with the free drugs and test she received.

    Another elderly man who simply identified himself as Mr Kunle said: “I am very grateful to them because as an old man, I don’t have the money to go to the hospital or get drugs for myself but with this free drugs and test I am getting, I am truly grateful”.

  • Kwara, NGOs unite against childhood killer-diseases

    Kwara, NGOs unite against childhood killer-diseases

    Bothered by the rate at which children under the age of five die due to ailments from childhood killer diseases resulting from lack of immunisation, the Kwara State Government and Association of Civil Society in Malaria Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) have had discussions on how to protect children from childhood killer diseases through immunisation. The event held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    It was in commemoration of this year’s celebration of World Immunisation Week whose theme was “Close the Immunisation Gap”

    The programme was sponsored by Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI).

    The state government revealed that the fall in accruals from Federal Government to states has affected all sectors, including the health sector.

    The state’s Immunisation Officer, Hajia Hajarat Suleiman said some immunisation health workers discharged their duties disinterestedly because of lack of financial motivation.

    She added that though the World Health Organisation (WHO) is the sponsor of the immunisation exercise, states complement through counterpart funding.

    She said: “Health workers in charge of immunisation carry out the job half-heartedly because they are not well motivated. It is not that they don’t know the job; they have been trained and retrained. The truth is that they are not being paid salary.

    “All of us are working towards the same goal. That is why many of the health workers have volunteered to be part of the immunisation exercises.

    “I am happy all of us are here because of our children. We want them to live and be protected from all the childhood killer diseases.

    “Truly it is the World Health Organisation (WHO) that is sponsoring the programme while every state government is expected to pay its counterpart funds. But the dwindling revenues accruing to the states, including Kwars, has affected the health sector.

    “It has been long the state released its counterpart funds due to the reason highlighted above. Before the end of this year, government would be able to support any of your programmes.”

    Contributing, Secretary of ACOMIN, Adewoye Oluwasesan said “World Immunisation Week provides global platform to strengthen our collective efforts to ensure vaccination for every child, whoever they are and wherever they live.

    “Immunisation is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and immunisation is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. It is estimated to avert between two and three million deaths each year.”

    He noted that civil society organisations (CSOs), in partnership with governments, are important actors in implementing immunisation programmes.

    Mr. Oluwasesan added that the partnership delivered up to 65 per cent of immunisation services in many developing countries; strengthening health systems and training health workers; supporting logistics and vaccine delivery.

    Other benefits of the partnership, according to him, include transparency and accountability by bridging the gap between governments or global health actors such as GAVI and communities; representing the voice of communities and the issues that affect them in area of vaccine preventable diseases; encouraging all stakeholders to be more accountable and transparent in their actions; influencing public policy and supporting resource mobilisation.

    In order to close the immunisation gap, Mr. Oluwasesan recommendation that CSOs should include “integrating immunisation with other health services, such as post-natal care for mothers and babies; strengthening health systems so that vaccines continue to be given even in times of crisis/communal clashes and ensuring that everyone could access vaccines and afford to pay for them.”

    He added that the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) envisions a world where everyone is free from vaccine preventable diseases by 2020.