The Nation Newspaper

Tag: VOLUNTEERS

  • Poll Shift: INEC a disappointment – Volunteers

    The sudden shift of the much anticipated presidential and national assembly polls earlier scheduled for this Saturday has been described as a huge disappointment on the side of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a statement issued yesterday, South West Coordinator of the APC Vote Monitors Volunteers (AVMV), Kazeem Jokanola said the one week postponement would ridicule Nigeria and its democratic process.

    “Why would an institution that has four good years to prepare for an exercise as crucial as this fall victim to these poor logistics? This is going to be a huge problem for a lot of Nigerians who had prepared and made serious sacrifice to cast their votes in the elections that should have held today. Where do they begin from?” he queried.

    Jokanola noted that although the group was worried about earlier signs suggesting the process could be postponed seeing some lapses in INEC’s logistics, yet there was optimism arising from assurances from the electoral body of its readiness to conduct the elections as scheduled.

  • Kowa recruits volunteers

    The candidate of the Kowa Party, Mr. Thompson Osadolor, said he is campaigning with no fewer than 100,000 volunteers and 200 others recruited to propagate the party’s message of hope in the 18 local government areas and the 192 wards of Edo State.

    Osadolor, who disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Benin City, the Edo State capital, yesterday added that the party is campaigning seriously for the September 10 governorship election, because neither the All Progressives Congress (APC) nor the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a serious plan for the people.

    The Kowa flag bearer said if he gets a chance to govern the state his policy trust would revolve round human capital development.

    He said the volunteers who are fully equipped with the party’s manifesto would soon spread out across the nook and crannies of the state to start delivering the message.

    Osadolor said he adopted the approach to ensure that the message gets to the people, so that they can make an informed choice.

    He said: “Like I have said in every fora, the choice is no longer between the APC and the PDP, but other political parties, especially Kowa. Our message of hope is that we have come to rescue the people from the challenges of unemployment, qualitative and affordable education, food security though a robust agricultural development, youths and women empowerment among others.

    “The present government has done its best in the area infrastructural development, but development goes beyond that. So many things, such as portable water and development of the tourism sector, have been left untouched. We hope to do more in the area of infrastructural development and focus on these areas that have been left idle for so long a time.

    “It is my belief that the state will not only become a reference point in the area of good governance, but also the standard of living of the people would improve tremendously.”

    Osadolor said the 200 recruits will be motivated by payment of honourarium, “because their jobs were quite different from that of the volunteers”.

    He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, interested persons are expected to pick and fill the forms which will be available at the party’s campaign flag-off in Benin on Wednesday.

    “Though their work terminates soon after the elections, but we hope to re-absorb them after winning the September 10 election.

    “But, for now, their job is before and during the poll and their brief is different from that of the volunteers.”

  • Gridlock: Volunteers vow to curb traffic snarl

    Gridlock: Volunteers vow to curb traffic snarl

    Coordinator of the Lagos State Traffic Control Volunteers, Seyi Bamigbade has expressed his team’s readiness to reduce traffic snarl in Lagos metropolis.

    Bamigbade spoke yesterday after signing a memorandum of understanding with the management of Jekalo.com at Alausa Ikeja.

    He noted that as more people sign-up for the initiative and become traffic control volunteers, the perennial traffic congestion in the city will gradually disappear.

    He said in areas where many people have come up to registered as traffic controller, the effect has been very tremendous; even as he said more volunteers are still needed to further ease traffic gridlock in Lagos city.

    The coordinator informed that Jekalo.com will be partnering with volunteer groups in the area of technology by connecting road users to available rides in different localities across the state; adding that the platform will engender trust and safety of road users on the platform.

    Speaking on his company’s partnership with Road Traffic Volunteers, Managing Director of Jekalo.com, Mr Motooni Bolarinwa said his organisation works by encouraging ride owners to share a ride with one or two people on his route.

    “We make this happen by rewarding them with incentives such as Fuel voucher, Lekki Toll E-Tag Registration and Funding, Car Maintenance Services, Genuine Motor Third Party Insurance and more at half the price it would have normally cost using their Jekalo Credit contributed by co-riders.

    “We have discovered that our users are encouraged to drive less because of the convenience of joining someone else on days they don’t wish to drive and we wish to continue to encourage this trend alongside integration with the public transportation system like BRT”, he said.

    It would be recalled that few weeks ago, a socio-political organisation under the auspices of National Image launched an initiative tagged, “Lagos State Traffic Control Volunteers” to help check the menace of traffic gridlock in the metropolis.

    The initiative is meant to cover all the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.

     

  • 250 Ebola volunteers return amidst jubilation

    Two hundred and fifty Nigerian volunteers against Ebola returned into the country yesterday after successfully helping to halt the spread of the deadly virus in some West African countries.

    The volunteers were honoured with a commemorative plate by the Liberian government, bearing the inscription: “The Love of Liberty”. President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to receive the volunteers, who were deployed to the West Africa sub-region on December 3, 2014.

    The volunteers, who worked in Liberia and Sierra Leone, arrived in Abuja yesterday morning.

    They were sent to the West African countries after containing the deadly virus brought into Nigeria by a Liberian Patrick Sawyer.

    The volunteers were said to be in perfect conditions and free of the ailment.

    A chartered Ethiopia airplane that conveyed the returnees landed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport at about 2.38am yesterday morning.

    The flight was delayed for about three hours in Freetown.

    They were later driven to a hotel in Central Abuja after security checks and screening at the airport.

    One of the officials told reporters that the volunteers did not contact any infection; adding: “They spent between 26 to 42 days under inspection as their stint ended, before their journey back to Nigeria. But they would still be put under scrutiny watch.

    “By the regulation, they have all gone beyond the period required for monitoring. But we shall apply the same scrutiny to give Nigerians the assurance that nobody is bringing in Ebola again,” said Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo.

    “These are the most educated, experienced and exposed individuals in terms of knowledge of Ebola and how to fight it.”

    Olawale Mayegun, who convened the contingent before their deployment to join other AU volunteers in Ebola-stricken countries last December, said the volunteers followed protocol required for dealing with Ebola.

    “We thank them for following our protocol. No contamination,” said Mayegun.

    “They are an asset for Nigeria and an asset for Africa. Let us treat them as heroes and heroines. Nigeria is proud of them,” he added.

    Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health, Linus Awute, thanked God “that a disease that came in to threaten the sub-region has been suppressed.”

    “We were able to do this through the collective undertaking of the entire people of Nigeria. While you were there, everybody prayed and wished you well,” he added.

    A volunteer said: “Everybody is looking on Africa today, that Africa’s solidarity initiative is working

    “The first step to dealing with Ebola is to deal with fear. So, we overcame fear and we triumphed.”

    Liberia was declared free of Ebola last week by the World Health Organisation. No new cases have been reported in Sierra Leone lately, officials said, though the last suspected cases are still under observation for 42 days before they are declared free.

  • 500 volunteers for public sanitation planned by NGO

    500 volunteers for public sanitation planned by NGO

    No fewer than 500 people have volunteered to participate in a sanitation scheduled for Ketu in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area.

    Organised by The Clean-up Nigeria Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation, the event tagged Cleanup Ketu will hold on Saturday.

    The NGO Coordinator, Mr Alex Akhigbe, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the exercise is aimed at working towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number seven, which is “Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.’’

    He said the exercise, “Cleanup Ketu,’’ would involve 500 volunteers, who have passion for the environment, to clean up the environment and create a changed attitude towards the environment.

    “The Clean Up Nigeria Initiative is a project of Passion House International, a non profit social enterprise, with core focus on waste management, community-led sanitation and youth development.

    “This is borne out of the need to promote a cleaner and healthier environment and aimed at reducing the high rate of mortality.

    “The event will create a platform for people to give back to the community as their personal social responsibility towards keeping the environment clean and green,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that previous editions of the exercise were Cleanup Ajegunle in December 2010, Cleanup Mushin in March 2011, Cleanup Amukoko in June 2011 and Cleanup Surulere in June 2011.

    Others are Cleanup Oshodi in December 2012, Project Clean and Recycle in December 2013, and Cleanup Makoko in June 2014.

    Akhigbe told NAN that a free medical check-up and Green Certificate would be given to all the volunteers after the exercise.

    The Cleanup Ketu Project is in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change, Green Alliances, and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

  • Group targets one million volunteers for APC

    Group targets one million volunteers for APC

    Ahead of the general elections, a  group, the Coalition for Change, has unfolded plans to raise one million volunteers in each state to mobilise support for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    At its inauguration held at the APC campaign office, Victoria Island, the group said that Nigerians cannot stand another four years of the Jonathan Administration.

    While appreciating the various volunteers for their overwhelming support for its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the coalition said it campaign focus will be in line with the objectives of the campaign organisation.

    Addressing the volunteers,  APC chieftain  Dr. Tunde Ayeye said they would engage  door to door mobilisation,  preaching the message of change to the people.

    He said God has given to Nigeria two people, Buhari and Osinbajo, who are men of   integrity. He said they posses leadership qualities, adding that they have the genuine desire to serve.

    Ayeye said  the ticket signifies hope in the midst of despair, urging volunteers to convince the people to vote APC.

    He said: “I am certain that there is hope for Nigeria with the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket. A lot of people despite the desoaur in the land, have committed their time and are determined to be the desired change.

    “We want to ensure citizens rights and responsibilities are fulfilled. We will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that.

    “We are members of the same team and working for the same purpose. We found out that a lot of individuals and groups have shown interest and believe that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket is the best option for our country today.

    He added: “They are ready and willing to commit their time and money to ensure that it becomes a reality. At the moment, different individuals and groups are doing different things towards the same purpose and so, we decided to form a coalition to harmonise each group’s strength and sphere of influence by ensuring that we preach the same message and there is coordination.

    “We want to ensure consistency and strategy in the delivery of our objectives, which is we must ensure change come February 14. That change is going to come through the power of the ballot box. Everyman is equal on February 14. The election day is one day that all fingers are equal and we are the ones to ensure that the change happens.

    “The time is short but with the kind of spirit, willingness and commitment that we see, I am confident that the time we have is probably too much.

    “The campaign office decided to create a hunt called the C4C to ensure that every individual or group volunteers take their root from the coalition. The coalition is just an umbreka body that will galvanise and bring everybody together for the singular purpose.

     

    •This page ought to have come out yesterday  –  Editor

  • Volunteers, others train in Lagos

    Volunteers, others train in Lagos

    Scores of volunteers, health and environmental workers have begun training in Lagos State to avert the spread of the Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD).

    Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, addressed participants at the training at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    He said the training showed the government’s commitment to ensure that the disease was prevented from spreading.

    He said  health workers and volunteers from the 57 Local Government and Local   Council Development Areas are being trained by the government on how to handle possible cases, while adding  that government would not hesitate to  invoke any relevant section of the laws on anyone who flouts the environmental laws.

    The commissioner also warned residents to desist from unsafe and unhealthy practises so as not to contract the deadly EVD, urging them not to attempt hiding person with suspected symptoms of Ebola Virus Diseases as government has the right to quarantine or isolate such person so as to prevent the diseases from spreading.

  • Boko Haram kills 14 volunteers

    Boko Haram kills 14 volunteers

    MORE deaths were recorded yesterday in Borno State as the Boko Haram sect continued its bloody campaign.

    No fewer that 14 members of the youth vigilance group, otherwise known as “Civilian JTF”, were killed in Benishiek, 72 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital, early yesterday.

    No fewer than 18 other members of the “Civilian JTF” were injured.

    A Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima, Mr. Garba Ngamdu, confirmed the killings in the town, which is the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area.

    It was gathered that the ‘Civilian JTF’ killed five Boko Haram sect members and seized four Pump Action guns from them.

    Ngamdu was at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where the 18 civilian JTF men who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment.

    The killings followed the attack on the sect’s hideout by the newly created 7 Division of the Army in Borno during which no fewer than 50 members were killed.

    “The youths in Benishiek lost 13 of their members; 12 died when they were ambushed around 12.30am and one died in the hospital when doctors were carrying out a surgery to remove bullets from his stomach.

    “The youths had privileged information that the insurgents were perfecting plans to attack them; they then mobilised and informed the military operatives in the locality.

    “However, somewhere along the line, the insurgents learnt that information about their imminent attack was leaked. They then changed their strategy. When they (attackers) went to Benishiek, they divided themselves into two groups. The first group attacked the military formation on the outskirt of the town and the second group took cover.

    “On hearing sounds of gunshots, the youth vigilance members moved in a direction the insurgents ambushed, which led to the death of 12 of their members on the spot,” he said.

    Speaking on his hospital bed, Mohamed Abuwar, one of the leaders of the “Civilian JTF” in Benishiek, said the terrorists wanted to sack the community, adding: “We successfully repelled the attack because they wanted to kill all of us and our parents. We mobilised to the outskirts of the town and stopped them from gaining access.”

    Another injured member of the group Zanna Fannami, who is injured said: “The terrorists are angry with us and want to discourage us…there is no going back; we have taken our destiny in our hands.

    “If I survive the injuries I sustained, I will continue struggling.”

    The spokesman of the newly created 7 Division of the Army, Lt Col Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comments.

    The road linking Maiduguri from Benishiek has been closed down by military operatives who are said to be combing the bush to apprehend suspects.

    It is the major road that links Borno with Bauchi, Kano and Abuja.

  • Wanted! Volunteers for medical missions

    The Care for Life Programme of the O.B. Lulu Briggs Foundation has urged volunteer medical professionals to partner it in the provision of medical aids for the needy in Rivers State.

    The foundation’s Programme Director, Miebaka Nabiebu spoke during the 2nd Free Eye Care Project held in Buguma, headquarters of the Asari Toru Local Government Area.

    He said the foundation was determined to extend the free eyecare project to all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Nabiebu said the significance of the project is to identify the health related problems of the less privileged, including the elderly in riverine communities, who suffer eye-related problems with a view to conducting free medical mission that would restore their sight.

    Nabiebu said: “When we went to Abua and Okomoko, we realised that there are communities you visit where you also identify hernia or other related diseases. But when you go to riverine communities most of their health deficiencies were associated with eye problems. This was where the Free Eye Care Project was borne.”

    He said the visit was the second to Buguma, where over 1,000 residents and those from other neighbouring villages in the Local Government Area benefited from the free eye care treatment of the foundation.

    “We have free drugs, free eye glasses, and there are also cases that are referral which we specifically sent to specialists hospitals for proper diagnosis and treatment. The free eye care project is a programme that we want to carry out across Rivers State and beyond.

    “Like this free eye care in Buguma, I also participated in the free eye test exercise and I am highly impressed with the conduct of the exercise,” he said.

    He equally explained the readiness of the foundation to carry out a five-day free medical mission in Mbok in Akwa Ibom State from July 29 through August 4.

    Nabiebu added that the foundation is working out modalities to promote a community based mass deworming exercise for children, and urged pharmaceutical industries, Nigerians and high network individuals form a synergy with the organisation.

    He explained that this would help rural indigents, adding: “If anybody is ready to assist the foundation, especially on the free eye care project, we shall be glad. Let the sponsors come with their personnel, we will come with the equipment, all we want the sponsors to do, is to provide the drugs and the venue, and we will discharge our obligations and service to humanity. Every programme that we embark upon is spectacular, even if we attend to just one elderly, who is above 70 years of age.”

    Some of the beneficiaries at the free eye care treatment in Buguma described the exercise as a welcome development and a strong palliative measures to restore the lost vision of those who have eye problems.