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Tag: vulnerable

  • ‘Concerted efforts needed to ensure welfare of vulnerable groups’

    ‘Concerted efforts needed to ensure welfare of vulnerable groups’

    The vice chairman of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Grace Ike, on Sunday, March 24, urged concerted efforts among stakeholders to ensure the welfare of vulnerable groups in the society.

    This was as she urged thousands of orphans and other vulnerable groups across the country to nurture hope and belief in their dreams and set goals.

    She expressed confidence in their ability to achieve their dreams if they set their minds to it.

    Ike, who is also the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Press Corps, gave the call when she spoke at the Abuja Children’s Home, Karu, where she spent her birthday with the orphans.

    The journalist, who distributed educational materials and provisions among other items to the Home, called on public-spirited individuals and philanthropists to support and empower the underserved groups across the country.

    She said: “Today, as we gather to mark another year in my life, I am deeply humbled and grateful to be surrounded by such warmth and love, especially in the presence of these wonderful children from the orphanage here in Abuja.

    “Each year, as I celebrate another milestone, I am reminded of the precious gift of hope and the fulfilment of dreams. I may have had over a hundred other places to celebrate my birthday but I chose to come here to share in your plight and to identify with you.

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    “But ultimately, to encourage you to nurture hope and belief in your dreams and set goals. Let me assure you that you can be anything you want to be.

    “Hope is a powerful force that sustains us through life’s trials and tribulations. It is the beacon of light that guides us through the darkest of times, reminding us that better days are ahead.

    “As we look into the eyes of these beautiful children, I am reminded of the importance of nurturing hope within them, for it is hope that will carry them through life’s challenges and propel them towards the fulfilment of their dreams.

    “But hope alone is not enough. We must also take action to support and empower those who are less fortunate, such as the children in orphanages like this one.

    “These orphanage homes play a vital role in our society, providing love, care, and support to children who have been orphaned or abandoned.

    “They serve as beacons of hope, offering these children a chance for a brighter future, despite the circumstances they may have faced. I am committed to supporting you and I call on all my friends to come here once in a while and support this worthy cause.

    “As we celebrate today, let us not forget the role that the media plays in shaping our society and preserving the rights of orphans. The media has the power to amplify the voices of the marginalized and shine a light on the issues facing orphaned children.

    “It is through their storytelling and advocacy that we can raise awareness, inspire action, and drive positive change. So, my dear friends, as we come together to celebrate another year of life, let us recommit ourselves to fostering hope, fulfilling dreams, and supporting the most vulnerable among us. Together, we can create a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”

  • Foundation seeks help for the vulnerable

    Foundation seeks help for the vulnerable

    A non-governmental organisation, Ola Coker Foundation, seeks financial support from the public to empower individuals and communities, especially children.

    During its fundraising at  Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Founder and Executive Director, Olamijuwon Coker, noted the event was part of the foundation’s 10- year plan and monthly outreach.

    He called for support towards its fifth anniversary, to  be marked with debate, quiz and Spelling Bee for 22 secondary schools in Lagos.

    Coker said the foundation’s initiative has provided access to quality education for underprivileged children and youths, empowering them with knowledge and skills for their future success.

    Read Also: Ramadan: Foundation gives cash palliative to Muslims in Kaduna

    “This initiative started as a reach out project where we go to schools, giving them basic materials and home relief.

    “This event was organised to shed light on the last five years, where we are, and where we are going to.

    “Our anniversary is on the March 22. We need support because we are going to have a debate, quiz and Spelling Bee in Lagos. The first and second runner up  will win prizes…” he said.

    Pastor Olumide Owolabi, said “I believe in what the foundation is doing and show support. The foundation provides hope for people. It’s something I support.”

    Kasunmu Adedamola urged support for the foundation.

    “The foundation needs every support.  Ola has put his best in the foundation and for him to succed, we must support him. I urge everyone to contribute to development of the foundation…” he said.  

  • The poor, elderly, vulnerable to get free allocation

    The poor, elderly, vulnerable to get free allocation

    Ogun State government has purchased 100 truckload of rice to be sold at cheaper rates to residents to cushion effects of the economic crisis.

    The poor, elderly, and the vulnerable would enjoy free allocation.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun said this yesterday while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital. He said the rice would be sold at the price before the hike in prices of food commodities.

    He said: “We have ordered almost 100 trailers of rice and offloading will begin tomorrow (today) so that our people can get foodstuff.

    “We have decided that the poor, the elderly, and the vulnerable will get the product free while others will pay but at the old rate before the rise in food prices. This is to ensure continuity of this scheme till the dollar issue is settled.”

    The governor also assured the people that President Bola Tinubu is fully in charge and knows what he is doing. According to him, Nigerians will begin to see the manifestation of the several policies put in place to curtail the rising inflation.

    “Everything we are experiencing at the moment is very transient, it will soon pass away. Let me assure you, that after some meetings with our president, I am convinced that President Tinubu is fully in charge. He knows what he is doing.

    “With the plans that he has begun to implement, you will soon begin to see the change. We must remain very hopeful. The last meeting I had was with the CBN Governor. He said I should quote him and tell you that, very soon, the dollar will crash,” he added.

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    Abiodun recalled that his administration earlier took some steps to cushion effects of the hardship, saying the N5 billion intervention was announced last week.

    “Tertiary students of Ogun State origin across the country will receive N50,000 each. In the secondary and primary school category, with about 800,000 pupils, each pupil will get N10,000 each in the first phase comprising 100,000 pupils.

    “Those not captured will get five exercise books and wait for the next phase. Women and the elderly would enjoy free medical care with insurance cards worth N18,000,” he added.

    Governor Abiodun also said his administration would set aside N500 million monthly to offset the payment of deductions for civil servants.

  • Foundation fetes vulnerable children at Yuletide

    Foundation fetes vulnerable children at Yuletide

    The DOHS Cares for Vulnerable Women and Children Foundation, in partnership with Serene Early Trobb Concept, has feted orphans and vulnerable children of the The Royal Diamond Orphanage home in Ojodu, Lagos State.

    Founder of DOHS, Ololade Ajayi, sensitised the children on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, and all forms of abuse, while the teenagers spoke about various ways to report abuse.

    The children were also sensitised on Menstrual Health Hygiene and Mental Health.

    Read Also: 1.5m vulnerable households got N25,000 stipends, says NSIPA boss

    Foodstuffs, tolietries, beverages, writing materials and snacks were also presented to the orphanage.

    DOHS Cares Foundation is fighting to end sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria. It has executed sensitization programmes and gender-oriented projects for the year 2023, such as creation of Bibliotherapy clubs in secondary schools to address the intersections between mental health and Gender-Based Violence, among others.

  • Foundation backs less-privileged, vulnerable people

    Foundation backs less-privileged, vulnerable people

    Anon-governmental organisation, Food Alms Foundation, has disbursed food items to indigent and vulnerable persons in Lagos.

    The Co-founder of the foundation, Ibrahim Durosomo, said the gesture was to reduce hunger due to the current economic situation.

    Presenting the raw food items and cash to the less privileged, in Surulere, Lagos, Durosomo said the foundation plans to start skills acquisition programme to empower people.

    He said: “It is a humanitarian organisation that is here to support the masses with raw food items, prepared food and cash. We hope to sustain the philanthropic gesture and extend it to other states of the federation in the foreseeable future.

    “In the long run, we want to get to a level that we will empower people but we have to start with this, then we advance to empowerment where we train people about how to become financially independent.”

    He called on the federal government to wake up to the plight of the citizens by channelling their humanitarian gestures through non-governmental organisations.

    He said: “People are really suffering. Things are really hard due to the subsidy removal. That’s why we came up with this NGO to assist the poor with the limited resources at our disposal. We task ourselves and seek favours from friends and colleagues. We can’t do it alone, that’s why we are also calling on government at all levels to support us.

    “Let the government at all levels draw a programme that will take food to people’s doors. Of course, I am aware the Lagos State government recently launched a food bank support initiative for NGOs in order to distribute food items to vulnerable people. They can reach out to more NGos including ours, for effective and efficient disbursement.”

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    Also, speaking Co-founder, Abduljelil Adeyemi, reiterated that the vision of the foundation is to alleviate hunger pang in the community, noting, “the NGO has the sole responsibility of feeding the people. As our slogan says “action against hunger, goodness to humanity.

    “Food is one of the major aspects of human life and an integral part of their welfare, therefore, solving hunger problems is very essential,” he said.

    However, he said that the NGO has financial limitations, appealing for the support from government.

    “As an NGO, we need the support of government. We appreciate our donors who support us to actualise what we are doing today. It is a great initiative that we started and we are hopeful of its going a long way,” he said.

    A beneficiary, Alfa Saheed Alaka, a father of three children thanked the foundation for its kind gesture, praying God continues to help them.

    “I am very happy because eating is a little difficult. I have had eye defects since 12 years ago and they help us at intervals. May God help them as well,” he said.

    Another beneficiary, Chidimma Nwachukwu, couldn’t hide her happiness, praying God Almighty to bless the Foundation.

    According to her, “I’m very very happy. This is a good programme and it brings peace of mind for people. God will continue to bless them, prosper them in whatever they lay their hands on.

    Muhammad Nuhu excited to be among the beneficiaries, saying such programme should be happening frequently to aid peace of mind for everybody.

    “If more people give us foods like this, we’d continue to pray for them. These people aren’t selfish. They want other people not to go hungry. May Allah continue to reward them,” he said

  • Floods: a case for the vulnerable

    As flood continues to wreak havoc in various parts of Anambra State, it has thrust to the fore the plight of the most vulnerable segment of the society: expectant mothers, nursing mothers, children and the aged.

    The pitiable conditions of these vulnerable persons are worsened by the frequent diversion of the relief materials provided for them by the government, organisations and other public-spirited individuals.

    Those in charge of the displaced persons have severally been accused of diverting the materials meant for the flood victims to their personal use.

    This ugly development might be the reason the wife of the state governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano made a special case for them during a visit to some of the holding centres in the state to ascertain the general living condition of the people.

    Some of the holding centres she visited were those in Ogbaru Local Government Area Headquarters and St. Joseph Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area where the affected persons are currently taking shelter.

    Mrs Obiano, who was led round the facilities by the Transition Chairmen of the respective Local Government Areas and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), underscored the place of adequate medical and food supports to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

    She implored the managers of the centres to give special attention to the food and medical needs of the affected persons.

    According to her, it was morally obligatory to lend a hand of solidarity to people hit by the inadvertent tragedies of nature, urging the affected persons to find fortitude in the temporariness of the siege.

    She said, “I thank you all for your efforts to safe-guard these brothers and sisters, but I am making a case for pregnant women, breast feeding mothers and children.

    “We must make sure they are fed as at the right time until the water recedes and they are able to go back home.”

    While presenting relief materials for the IDPs to the officials, the governor’s wife urged caretakers of the centres to ensure the relief materials were evenly and judiciously distributed to only the people that needed them.

    Speaking on the health conditions of the IDP centres, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, revealed that there was no major health setback as the Ministry of Health was supplementing efforts of other agencies by ensuring adequate health provisions in the holding centres.

    Among the relief materials presented to the affected persons at the centres were mattresses, mosquito nets, packs of toilet tissues, baby diapers, cartons of tin tomatoes, detergents, soaps and beverages.

    Others items included bags of rice, bags of beans, bags of garri and bags of cooking salt, gallons of red and groundnut oil, towels, fruits, snacks, and water.

    Mrs Obiano was accompanied in the visit by the Speaker of State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu, Member Representing Orumba South at the State House of Assembly, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, Commissioners for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha and that of Agriculture, Mechanisation, Processing and Export, Mr. Afam Mbanefo, amongst others.

     

  • ‘Why vulnerable need collective protection’

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS), has called for protection of vulnerable groups, especially Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), women and children.

    Its Programme Manager, Mrs. Clara Kanu, made the call last week at the unveiling of its ‘voices of freedom platform’ under the Voice project in Lagos.

    She described abuses such as sexual assaults on pupils and forcing them to hawk on streets among many others as sad and total deviation from the norms.

    She said the nation must come up with policies and measures that would guard against such abuses in the future.

    While thanking Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its support through Oxfam under the Voice programme, Kanu reiterated CAPRIGHTS commitments to making desirous changes by enlightening pupils and parents on the dangers of keeping quiet about these abuses.

    She called for vigilance in and around schools across the country, adding that many children have fallen victims of such acts without the boldness to expose them.

    According to her the initiative of voice was a beautiful opportunity for CAPRIGHTS to realise its vision of giving voices to those that have been abused and oppressed.

    She said the NGO, among other things, will be providing counselling and referral support to victims as well as developing manual on juvenile delinquency for schools.

    She also added that awards would be given to distinguished students able to change in the course of the project to encourage others for better behavioral attitudes with the school and at home.

    Representative of the Divisional Police Officer of Igando Police station, ASP Favour Justina Omo, said the Inspector General of Police is committed to eradicating abuses against vulnerable, especially sexual molestations of pupils.

    She noted that the police is up and doing when it comes to the ugly trend of the girl-child abuse, adding that several suspects have been arrested over the years and prosecuted while others are still being investigated.

     

  • Nigeria too vulnerable to blackmail

    SIR: The ensuing scarcity for fuel on our country once more points to the fact that Nigeria is ever vulnerable to cheap, calculated blackmail. In most cases this trend is due to mercantilism personal interest and political vendetta.

    The scarcity of fuel which is re-current decimal during festival seasons is a constant reminder that our country is divided along multiple causes. A nation that is the sixth exporter of petroleum crude with a large potential for domestic processing is so often blackmailed by selfish and vindictive people.

    The marketers to whom the scarcity was traced has since recruited other persons and institutions of state to their ranks. Passing the ball from goal post to goal post the marketers and others are claiming innocent. In our environment this is understandable. This is a country where politicians exploit every soft sport to embarrass government and to inflict unnecessary punishment on the populace.

    The marketers mischievously wait till festive periods to complain about price like in their delivery process, urging government as usual to increase pump price, this time to about N180 per litre. The marketers, their collaborators and handlers may be having their laugh now, but this laughter can’t last as the present social and economic dislocation will soon peter out.

    One has to salute the Nigerian motorist, the ordinary market men and women who are made to suffer for sins they did not commit. The power struggle among the elite as usual has resulted in to a devastating effect on the populace. Then, shouldn’t we rise up by daring these saboteurs to continue? Is there no limit to which they can stretch their luck? The answer is obvious in the long run, right will be right.

    Beside this momentary dislocation, the government should plan to process much of their petroleum requirement in this country. Government does not need to run refineries directly, but it can certainly encourage multi-nationals including the many billionaires in our midst to organize themselves to run refinery projects. Government might be scared up to a point since much capital project that were established in the past have become ghost, the essential of manufacturing and management having been subverted by greed or inefficiency.

    The Ajaokuta Steel Complex, the few refineries in our country, the collaborative projects and many other capital projects in Nigeria bear testimony to government inefficiency, unwieldiness and petty stealing that are hallmarks of these investments. Yet we cannot afford to hands off, leaving our fate to the importation of these vital products. Apart from the much drain on our external reserves, Nigeria is constantly being derided by outsiders who are quick to write off this country as incompetent and visionless.

    In my younger days in the Western Region, apart from annual budget, there use to be Time Frame Economic plans for three years, five years etc, during these long periods, the execution of capital projects which cannot be completed in a budget period could conveniently be executed in two or three plan periods constituting the time of periodic plans of five to six years. We should remember S.O. Adebo, Jerome Udoji, Maitama Sule and others who succeeded in large measure in running and stabilizing the government of the time.

    Nigeria should cease being traumatized periodically by opportunists whose so aim is to achieve deep pockets.

     

    • Deji Fasuan MON; JP

    Ado Ekiti.

  • A vulnerable policy

    A vulnerable policy

    Federal Government’s payment to the poorest Nigerians deserves a second look 

    The plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to introduce a form of social security targeted at the most vulnerable in the society generated controversy even during the electioneering campaign. The party explained that payment of N5,000 monthly to those identified to be within the net would rescue them from crushing poverty. The conditional cash transfer (CCT) commenced in the New Year in Borno, Kwara, Bauchi, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Cross River, Niger and Kogi states.

    However, political opponents, some economists and social critics have wondered aloud what the amount, less than N200 daily, is worth in today’s economy.

    We accept that the rationale behind the move is sound enough and the Federal Government is to be commended for starting a form of payment to the poorest in the country. Anyone who has been to the rural areas and slums of the towns and cities would wonder how the inhabitants are coping with life. Some Nigerians go to bed without one meal a day. It is also commendable that the payment is only part of the Federal Government’s social investment programme.

    The youth have the N-Power scheme to get the unemployed engaged, while there is also an on-going recruitment of 500,000 teachers to be trained and posted to the states; the recruitment of 10,000 policemen and the school meal programme that would ensure that primary school children have at least a balanced meal daily at government’s expense.

    Despite the objections, we consider these laudable objectives.

    We are however concerned if enough work was done before the announcement of the scheme’s take-off. The social security fund being coordinated by the vice president is said to have taken off in nine states, while work on compilation of data is still on in other states.  Many Nigerians who believe they ought to have been covered by the scheme have cried out that the criteria applied are unknown. A policy like this ought to be made very transparent. How many have been recruited, what is the breakdown per state, how could those qualified check if they were successful and others enroll? We are concerned that the method adopted leaves room for corruption of the process. Our fear is that if care is not taken, it could become another cesspit like the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) of the immediate past administration.

    While the scheme has taken off and should not be halted at this stage, the government should consider more sustainable programmes that would gradually move Nigerians away from poverty. It is worrisome that the scheme is coming up at a time state governments and some federal agencies are finding it difficult to pay salaries. Pensioners have accused the Federal Government of neglect; in many states, the state component of pensions is more regularly paid than the federal. These have weakened many of the senior citizens who spent most of their active years serving the country. They have been made involuntarily vulnerable by actions of the same government that is pledging to rescue them.

    Although it has been argued that government’s injection of fund is needed to lift the economy out of the woods, the Nigerian structure could, in the long-run, make the scheme unsustainable. There are not many people who are permanently vulnerable. In other countries, those on social security are closely monitored and assisted through policies to exit, and as soon as they do, they are delisted from the scheme. Is the Nigerian government in a position to do this? Are measures being adopted to achieve this? Are there other schemes in the pipeline into which CCT could be accommodated in due course?

    It is worthwhile to know how long the scheme is expected to last. If the states are not cooperating, Nigerians deserve to be informed, and, if money is the consideration, it should be communicated to citizens. Many public policies fail at the conception stage because popular support is not enlisted. This should not be the case with this programme. In addition, government should introduce schemes for geriatric care in public hospitals. Since the APC controls 25 of the 36 states of the federation and more than three-quarters of the local government councils, it should be easy to get the other tiers of government to buy into government’s programmes.

    The local government areas and non-governmental organisations have been neglected for too long. This is one scheme that could benefit from deploying them for enumeration and administration under close supervision. We are in support of any scheme that would reduce inequity in the country, but government should design more long-term policies that would ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.

    President Muhammadu Buhari will do well to reassess his economic team, carve out a vision and regularly touch base with Nigerians with a view to climbing out of the cave. He should remember that whatever he makes of his policies would decide how the pendulum swings in 2019 and beyond.

  • NGO lauds stores’ donation to vulnerable women, children

    Save Our Needy (SON), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that caters for the needs of vulnerable women and children, has lauded PEP Stores for donating items worth over N1 million to the less privileged.

    The items including clothing, toys and baby nappies, were presented to  SON’s Chief Executive Officer Ms Marvella Odili and the Programmes Manager, Mr. Jerry Odili as part of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Ms Odili said the items would be distributed to widows, single mothers and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    She said that since 2011, the NGO has been in the business of “ending extreme poverty through the promotion of education for vulnerable children as well as youth and women empowerment.”

    Ms Odili urged widows, single mothers and unemployed young women interested in any of the items to send on-line requests to saveourneedy@gmail.com. She urged them  to explain how the donated items would assist them in starting up small businesses and how they would manage them.