The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)

  • Foundation donates food items to Red Cross orphanage

    The Virtuous Queen Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has enlivened the lives of inmates of the Red Cross Society Orphanage, Makoko Road, Adekunle, Yaba Lagos by donating several household and food items to the orphanage.

    The items donated included bags of rice and garri, noodles, beverages, cereals, detergents, toiletries and baby diapers.

    Presenting the items, the Visioner, Queen Bose Banji-Idowu, explained that the foundation was established to help the girl-child discover her purpose in life, raise generation of female nation-builders and help women discover the greatness in them through entrepreneurship.

    She added that the foundation also helps women build homes and families as well as support the welfare of widows and orphans in the society.

    Banji-Idowu explained that the foundation was on a courtesy visit as a precursor to an enduring relationship with the home. She emphasised that the welfare of the inmates was paramount in the mind of owners of the foundation, pointing out that it was established to serve the purpose.

    She commended the management and caregivers in the orphanage for their commitment to serve humanity, stressing that their work is greatly helpful in reshaping many destinies.

    The home takes care of different categories of children ranging from babies to teenagers.

    The team also spent some time with the children and their nannies as a show of love.

  • ‘Try building law breakers’

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Cee-Hope, has asked the Lagos State Government to  prosecute violators of building laws.

    Its Executive Director, Betty Abbah, said in a statement yesterday: “We commiserate with the families who have lost children and relations in the collapsed Lagos Island building.

    “According to media reports, about 18 persons, mostly children, died while 41 were rescued, with several of them sustaining injuries. These casualties, these heart-wrenching pains are avoidable- a result of the pervasive lawlessness in our society.

    “We, therefore, ask for a speedy investigation and dispensing of the most stringent punishment for violators of building codes and regulations that led to this avoidable loss of lives.

    “A society is only taken seriously when there is adherence to set rules and regulations, especially when it concerns safety of the most vulnerable, in this case children.’’

  • Cash awards for three best schools in Ondo

    Three schools in Akoko Division of Ondo State have been rewarded for their outstanding performance in the 2018/2019 Quiz Competition being financed by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Akin Olayanju Foundation (AOF).

    The three successful schools, African Church Secondary School (ACSS), Epinmi-Akoko, Victory College, Ikare-Akoko; and Mount Carmel Girls Secondary School, Ikare-Akoko, were awarded cash gifts of N100,000, N75,000,and N50,000.

    They defeated five other schools that scaled through the preliminary session to make the final.

    The top schools were represented by Stephen Francis and Adejuyigbe Lawrence (ACSS), Okafor Chinemeren and Adejumo Emmanuel (Victory College), and Miss Solomon Iseoluwa and Miss Ogunjobi (Mount Carmel Girls Secondary School).

    Apart from the cash prizes, all 16 pupils that made the final were rewarded with tablets.

    Also, the foundation donated library books to the eight schools for investing in their pupils.

    President of the foundation, Akin Olayanju, said it was borne out of   a desire to support his state.

    “The foundation was conceived in February 2019, while waiting for my flight from Lagos to Accra. A friend called and urged me to impact lives of people in Ondo, my state of origin. After the call, I was able to pinpoint my passion in the area of affecting lives possible which center on education and health.

    “Two areas are significant which the government of Nigeria is trying to revamp and need the cooperation of the citizens to actualise. We at AOF just see ourselves as partner with government to make Ondo State and Nigeria a place to envy by other countries,” he said.

    Olayanju added that the programme would be held annually.

    “We are doing all we can to make it AOF Arts and Science Quiz Completion a yearly event in Akoko area of Ondo state.

    “We also hope that one day, it will transform into a state competition where all government senior secondary schools in Ondo State will compete among themselves,” he said.

    One of the winners, Stephen Francis, thanked the foundation.

    “I feel great about this programme. We are really grateful to Akin Olayanju Foundation for giving us this opportunity to display our intelligence.  The competition was thorough and tough.

    Another contributor, Mr Tokunbo Fagbamigbe, was commended for supporting the foundation with the provision of tablets.

  • Lions Club refurbishes cancer ward in LASUTH

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ilupeju Diamond Lions Club has refurbished female Oncology ward at the female surgical unit in the Lagos Teaching University Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos.

    The Club also donated drugs to paediatric cancer patients. The gestures were to use to commemorate the World Paediatric Cancer Day holds every February 15,

    The refurbished Oncology room now has television, air conditioner, refrigerator, four beds and other amenities.

    Recipients of the free drugs are Ololade Olayinka, Precious Pius-Mana and Chiwendu Ndukwe who are currently undergoing treatment at the Paediatric ward.

    President of the club, Toyin Igbenoba, said the initiative was to help cancer patients and creates a conducive environment for their treatments.

    She further implored individuals, government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to ensure their continued support towards creating a cancer-free environment.

    She said: “As a cancer survivor, I know the excruciating pains cancer patients go through, but to also live in an unfavourable condition will no doubt double the pain, hence the reason we decided to embark on this project. The cost of cancer drugs is high, that’s why we decided to help some of the patients with the drugs,” Igbenoba said.

    LASUTH Chief Medical Director Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, hailed the club.

    “There has been a complete transformation here in this ward. I know what it used to be before, and we want to appreciate what the Lions Club has done for us.  For a government hospital like ours, we need all the support we can get from private sectors, NGOs because the government cannot do everything. We implore other individuals and organisations to imbibe the initiative.”

    A member of the club’s Board of Directors, Alhaja Nafisat Arogundade, prayed that the facility would reduce the sufferings of the patients.

    Alhaja Arogundade said: “We just want to get personally committed to making sure that we are able to touch the lives of the people living with cancer, by not just educating them on the prevention and control of the disease but also creating awareness to everyone.

    “Cancer is a deadly disease and government cannot do it alone but our message to the government is that we should also get the necessary equipment needed to treat it here so that Nigerians will stop spending so much to travel abroad for treatment.”

  • NGO pays school fees for 600 indigent pupils in Kogi

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP) has paid the tuition fees of 600 indigent pupils across public schools in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi.

    The BHIIP founder, Mrs Natasha Akpoti, also the Senatorial Candidate, Kogi Central, Social Democratic Party (SDP), told newsmen in Okehi on Wednesday that it had adopted 600 pupils since 2016.

    Akpoti said her NGO had been paying their tuition fees with other benefits since the pupils’ adoption.

    She said the decision was in commemoration of her late father, Dr Jimoh Akpoti, who died on Nov. 3, 1998.

    According to her, the gesture is to demonstrate her penchant for education; the need for an average Nigerian to have education as demonstrated by her father while he was alive.

    “My NGO has been taking care of the pupils’ welfare for three years; paying their school fees, providing school bags, clothes, sandals and other needs for them.

    “We have also opened a mini-library equipped with a set of 22 desktop computers at the Builders Hub Community Learning Resource Center where the children are being trained,” Apoti said.

    Mr Haruna Bashir, the Team Lead of the Volunteer Group, said he usually got emotional whenever a pupil who had lost both parents stood in front of him for data verification.

    “I weep without knowing it, when I ask pupils about their parents and they respond that they are dead and that they are living with aged grandmothers or guardians.

    “But I always assure them that their school fees are being paid and other things covered by a kind mother, Ms Natasha Akpoti,” Bashir said.

    Mr Momoh Jimoh, the Headmaster, Central Primary School Obeiba, said it was his first time of getting to know an individual, who would single-handedly pay tuition fees for 600 children.

    Jimoh said the NGO had been providing school bags, clothes, sandals and other things for the less-privileged children every year.

    “278 out of the 600 indigent pupils are orphans.

    “Our teachers in their own little way have been supporting this laudable programme by providing the pupils’ data for verification annually.

    “You are not rich until you can count the number of people you have helped to realize their potential and dreams,” the headmaster said.

    He called on other politicians to emulate Akpoti.

    NAN

  • Foundation pledges support for students

    To reduce the number of students who drop out of school, Infinity Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has pledged to give financial assistance to students to enable them to realise their dreams.

    Speaking at the Investors’ Dinner, Book Launch and Award Presentation organised by G Text Homes in Lagos, one of the Directors, Mrs. Bisi Akintayo, expressed the foundation’s commitment to ensure that children go to school, adding that it was the best way through which brighter future could be ensured not only for the children but also for the nation.

    She noted that every Nigerian constituted the government, even as she urged them to assist one another.

    “I don’t talk about the government because every individual makes up the government. That seat is not permanent for anyone and if they seize to have a charitable heart, we can come together to assist ourselves. We began this year and we have helped over 5,000 people. We have gone to different states, met with different kids and we have been able to assist them in one way or the other,” she said.

    On why the foundation focuses on education, she explained it was borne out of the desire to assist families who lack the financial strength to send their children to school.

    “There was a time my first child couldn’t go to school and there was a bursary in my church I wanted to collect but my husband told me God will provide.

    “There are millions of children out there who need this bursary than us. And truly God did it. Till date, each time I’m taking my kids to school and I see children not in school, tears flow down my cheeks. I feel uncomfortable seeing kids hawking. I’m glad we are trying our best,” she said.

    On the book launch, Chief Executive Officer, G Text Media and Investment Nigeria Limited, Mr. Stephen Akintayo, who also bagged this year’s Nelson Mandela Leadership Award as Africa’s Most Outstanding Person on Humanitarian Services and Societal Development Per Excellence, presented by African Youth Parliament (AYP), said the book Maximising Your Real Estate Investment was aimed at educating the public on the importance of investing in real estate business.

    “My book was written to enlighten the public on how profitable and valuable real estate business is. You can’t measure your wealth by car. But when you own a land or build a house, then it will appreciate.

    “The biggest assurance is landed property not cars. The starting point for landed property is to have information. You need to know how to invest and that’s why the title is maximisation.

    “When you invest in real estate, you will be level-headed. Real estate has a way of humbling you because when you start, you will know what you are into. With landed property, 50 years after you will be proud you have done something,” he said.

    Speaker AYP, Rt. Hon. Bamikole Babs said the parliament has so far been on a look for motivators and role models to African youths and Akintayo was spotted for his exemplary lifestyle.

    “What actually informed us about Mr. Akintayo is his exemplary lifestyle. He has been doing something wonderful that a lot of youths are not taking cognisance of. And like some of his objectives in investing in real estate, I think every youth who is reasonable should also invest in it,” Babs said.

    Appreciating the award, Akintayo said he is humbled by the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award given to him by the AYP.

    “It’s a proof that people are watching. We are getting to a point where awards are based on merits and that people do their research and see who is doing well. I really appreciate the African Youth Parliament for the honour and we pray God gives us the grace to keep doing what we are doing better,” he said.

  • 10% of school age girls out of schools in Kebbi – NGO

    The High Level Women Advocates (HILWA),  a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Kebbi, says on Thursday that 10 per cent of schools age girls are still out of the schools in the state.

    The state Chairperson of HILWA, Hajiya Maimuna Bala, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that unless urgent interventions were made, most of these girls would be exposed to greater risks.

    “Ten percentages of primary aged girls are still out of school, many were not able to progress to secondary school and still need support to develop skill in literary and numeracy.

    “Most of these disadvantaged girls are in rural areas and needed humanitarian services while others with various disabilities lacked access to descent work.

    Read Also: ‘My agenda for Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza’

    “Education and skilled workers are in great demand but roughly a quarter neither of young people most of them female are currently employed nor in education or training,” she lamented.

    Bala added that the members of the NGO have been going from one village to another in the state to enroll girl- children into schools, adding that such children would be sponsored to complete tertiary institutions.

    The chairperson called on state government and well-to-do individuals to help the organization in its quest to ensure the enrolment of more girl-children into schools.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that members of the NGO include, retired civil servants, successful business women and technocrats from across the 21 local government areas of the state.

  • Human trafficking: Edo, group warn against menace

    In an effort to integrate rural communities into the campaign against human trafficking, the Edo State Government in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES), have called on opinion leaders and relevant traditional institutions to dissuade young people in rural areas from embarking on dangerous journeys to Europe through land and the Mediterranean Sea.

    This was the message officials of the state government and the NGO took to communities in Esan North East, particularly Uzea and neighbouring communities and markets, where they cautioned the people against irregular migration and human trafficking.

    President, CCES, Mr. Ogbewi Aghedo, who spoke with journalists, said that the campaign has been stepped up in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state to ensure that the sensitisation campaign gets to everywhere in the state.

    He said that the state government’s sincerity in the fight against human trafficking is a huge morale booster, adding that such commitment is needed to take the message to the hinterlands, engage the people directly and share with them the horrors young people go through to get to Europe by land, and illegally.

    Read Also: Edo group take fight against human trafficking to Uromi, others

    According to him, “We are very worried about the trend of human trafficking and irregular migration and would want to see to its end. This is why we are with the government on this fight and it is one we are sure that we would win.

    “As our name suggests, we are truly concerned about the scale of the menace. It is hitting on our hard-won dignity and prestige as a people. So, we want to take the message to the rural areas, showing and telling them all they need to know about the horrors of human trafficking.”

    He said the campaign will help in drastically reducing the menace as the state government strengthens structures and mobilises people to invest in human capital so that youths can remain in Nigeria and contribute to the country’s development, in the long run.

    An indigene of Uzea, who identified herself as Madam Okojie, said that government’s effort was commendable, sincere and should be supported, as it is clear that the people face more risks in travelling illegally abroad.

  • 2019: NGO trains 30 female aspirants in Jigawa

    Women in Politics (WIP) a Non-Governmental Organisation ( NGO ), has trained 30 female aspirants in Jigawa, on electoral process ahead of the 2019 election.
    WIP Programme Coordinator in the state, Mr Mustafa Umar, made this known while speaking with the News men in Dutse on Wednesday.
    Musa said the training was organised in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute, adding that it was supported by the Department for International Development ( DFID ).
    He explained that the training was to strengthen the aspirants’ understanding of Nigerian electoral process and how to navigate party nomination processes.
    According to him, the training was geared towards strengthening their skills to develop and run effective political campaigns ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Read Also: Diarrhoea affects children in Plateau IDP camp – NGOs

    “One of the objectives of the training is to expose the participants on different types of resources needed for political campaigns.
    “It is also to strengthen their skills so they can be able to build and sustain influential networks within their political parties as well as lobby key decision makers with a goal of emerging as party candidates.
    “We are grooming them for political struggle as the 2019 is quite approaching,” Umar said.
    He said the NGO had earlier trained 30 female aspirants in other part of the state.
    “We plan to train another set of 30 aspirants in Hadejia or Gumel, as the training will be conducted in each of the three senatorial districts of the state,’’ Umar said.
    Commenting on behalf of the participants, Hajiya Ramatu Sabo a trainee commended the organisation for the training.
    Sabo said the gesture had exposed them to different strategies needed to actualise their political dream as female political aspirants.

  • Ten survive Breast Cancer scourge in Ondo

    Ten women out of 40 Breast Cancer ‘patients on queue’ in Ondo State have been rescued through the crowd-funding scheme of the founder, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.

    Mrs Akeredolu, a survivor of the deadly disease and wife of the Ondo State Governor founded the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 1997 to fight the scourge through advocacy.

    At a news conference Friday in Akure, the state capital, the BRECAN chairperson in the state, Dr Toying Arimoro extolled Mrs Akeredolu for her humanitarian service to the society.

    Read Also:Fat women less likely to develop breast cancer – Study

    Some of the survivors, Mrs Oye Temitope, Mrs Grace Dolapo  Meroyi, Mrs Grace Lasisi and others were at the occasion where they narrated their ordeal, and how Mrs Akeredolu  saved them from untimely deaths.

    Dr Ayimoro recalled that the Association was inaugurated in May, 2017, while they combed all nooks and crannies of the18 local government areas to preach that a”cancer is not a certificate to death”.

    According to her,”we sensitised market women and even visiting religious organizations for assistance, women are more vulnerable, and they do not have resources to assess the disease.

    She noted that since there was no resources to assess the disease, the BRECAN founder initiated crowd-funding minimum of N200 per head through which 10 women were treated and become survivors.

    Dr Ayimoro said “treatment for cancer is too expensive; no single family can tackle it except through collaborative effort to save women lives.

    Breast Cancer Consultant at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, Dr Katung Abba said patient would need about N1.3m for treatment, adding that names of affected women are being compiled across the state to know the statistics.

    One of the beneficiaries and survivor, Mrs. Oye Temitope, 41, appreciated Mrs Akeredolu for her kindness, stressing that she got N136, 000 through BRECAN for operation.

    She urged well-meaning Nigerians to collaborate with the Association to save more lives, calling on women who are affected by the disease to expose themselves for treatment to guard against untimely death.