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  • NGO Trains Nigerian Youth on Skills Acquisition

    NGO Trains Nigerian Youth on Skills Acquisition

    From Leo Nzwanke,

    A socio- economic group, Societal Socialise village plateau state SOS has trained and graduated another set of trainees under its Next Eco comic Youth Employment Trajectory Programme.

    Recall that ‘Societal Socialise’, SOS is group that is More less a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO)aimed at ensuring every child has equal opportunity in the society.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the exercise in plateau state, the Training Manager of KRP Communications, an implementing partner of the project, Gyang Joseph Botsha said the three weeks Training has offered trainees various skills that would help the trainees to be productive in their respective fields of endeavor.

    Botsha also explained that the training teaches participants how to add value in their work place, adding that the exercise differs from previous editions as employers of labour were also invited to interface with the trainees who are job seeking graduates.

    Some of the participants, Tony Mairuwa, Dinatu Ubangiji and Auta Pius Rotkwat who spoke to reporters said the training has exposed them to realities in the labour market.

    The participants also narrated their next plan as they proceed for the next phase of the programme which is internship.

    An Employer of Labour, Penmwa Dashi said the exercise has bridged the gap between Academics that graduates undergo in schools and the realities faced in the labour market expressing satisfaction with the exercise which according to her would make the trainees productive when they are engaged by employers.

    She however, appreciated SOS Children’s Villages and implementing partners for the effort while calling on other employers of labour to give the trainees an opportunity.

  • NGO Tasks Benue Women on Violence Extremism And Child Trafficking

    NGO Tasks Benue Women on Violence Extremism And Child Trafficking

    A Non- Governmental Organization (NGO), Charles and Doosugh Abaagu Foundation has tasked women in Benue state on Child Trafficking and violent Extremism.

    This campaign was carried out at Star of the Sea Catholic Rectory, Gajir, Tombo Mbaya, Buruku Local Government Area, Benue state where the NGO sensitized members of the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) of the rectory on the ills of child trafficking.

    In a two part lecture, delivered by Mr Cliff Gai, Program Manager Women Environmental Programme (WEP) and the Deputy Executive Director, WEP, Mr. John Baaki they educated the women on the dangers of child trafficking while also exposing them to various aspects of the child’s right act.

    In his lecture, Mr Gai told charged the women to eschew all aspects of covetousness to avoid sending their children into slavery in order to acquire the luxuries of life.
    Speaking earlier before the lecture, the parish priest, Fr. Theophilus Osugh, had admonished the women to emulate the founder of the foundation, Miss Priscilla Achakpa who according to him has severally shown selflessness while pointing to the scholarship offered to 100 poor children in Agatu Local Government Area even as she had never met the children.

    Also present at the event were different Non Governmental organizations including Civil Society Organizations- Benue (CSO-B) as well a cross section of the beneficiaries of the scholarship, who also appreciated the foundation’s gesture.

    The highlights of the event also included a Thanksgiving mass in honor of Charles and Doosugh Abaagu as well as presentation of gifts to the women from the community and also an award of new batch of scholarships.

    The lectures and remembrance service were held as part of activities to mark the remembrance of Charles and Doosugh Abaagu children of Dr. Priscilla Achakpa, who set up the foundation to continue to support the vulnerable which was what her late children stood for, practiced and believed in.

  • NGO facilitates arrest of seven men for raping their daughters in A’Ibom

    NGO facilitates arrest of seven men for raping their daughters in A’Ibom

    The Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path-initiative FEYReP said it has facilitated the arrest of seven men for alleged rape and defilement of their daughters in Akwa Ibom.

    The founder of the organisation, Dr. Martha Emmanuel who is the wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor disclosed this in Uyo last weekend during an interaction with newsmen.

    Emmanuel who expressed worry over the disturbing instances of sodomy in the State said her organisation would ensure that the perpetrators are convicted fast.

    She added that FEYRep is in partnership with the Judiciary, Police and FIDA saying that she has mandated her staff to post on the internet the identities of rape convicts in the State for ‘shaming purpose’ inorder to deter intending rapists from the act.

    According to her, “as I speak we have about seven fathers in police cell awaiting trial for defiling their daughters. These issues trouble my heart a lot and I can assure you that Justice must be done.

    “FEYReP is in Partnership with the Judiciary, Police, FIDA. You see? Perpetrators cannot go scot-free. Anytime the cases that involve us would be tried in the court, we must be present. That is to tell you how serious it is. The judge will also know that we are very serious about these.”

    It could be recalled that the State Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Law 2020 has stipulated 21 years imprisonment for rape culprits.

    On that premise,the governor’s wife also told journalists that her pet project has secured the conviction of 10 rape culprits for the past six months.

    According to her, “I can say authoritatively that in the last six months, and with the help of all involved (Judiciary, Police and FIDA), we have secured conviction of ten culprits of rape and other gender based violence in the state.”

    On what spurred her into the campaign against GBV, she said, “most of the victims are vulnerable children, poor women, who do not have a voice. I am happy to lend my voice, to be their voice. To speak for them any day and anytime.

    “What would a 60 year old man be looking for in a two or three year old infant? Is that not devilish? We can’t condone such an abnormal behaviour in our society.”

    Speaking on other areas of her intervention, the First Lady remarked that she has in the last six years in office as the governor’s wife, placed premium on the family component of the society, stating that it remains the bedrock of a functional society.

    She said, “we believe that if we get it right at the foundational level, the society would have been better off. This is why we have invested so much in many Akwa Ibom families. All the programmes at FEYReP are towards projecting a successful family Unit.”

    On funding of her projects and the sustainability of FEYReP after office in 2023, she said “We get our funding from good spirited individuals and organisations. They see what we do and trust in us to always deliver. I’ve always said that FEYReP will outlive this administration.”

  • NGO, Bayelsa Govt inaugurate committee to tackle child health safety from oil spillage, pollution

    NGO, Bayelsa Govt inaugurate committee to tackle child health safety from oil spillage, pollution

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa.

    The Bayelsa state government in partnership with an NGO,the stakeholders alliance for corporate accountability, (SACA) has inaugurated committee to tackle child health safety from oil spillage, pollution in the state.

    The government stated this on Thursday at the inauguration ceremony of a project tagged: ‘The child-driven safeguarding project at at school level’ which was carried out by SACA inconjunction with the state’s Ministries of Education,Health and Environment as well as the catholic education board and the national association of proprietors of private schools(NAPPS),in Yenagoa,the state capital.

    In a goodwill messages delivered by the trio of the state commissioners of Education, Dr.Gentle Emelah, his Environment and Health counterparts,Hon.Iselema Gbaranbiri and Dr Pabara Igwele,represented by Dr Wisdom Sawyer,Permanent secretary Health,Mr Christopher Ewhrudjakpo,Permanent secretary Environment and Mr Ere Wakedei,Director,Climate change,Ministry of Environment,respectively,the government stated that it was ready to foster a stronger partnership with the NGO to safeguard the lives of both born and yet to be birthed children, across the state from oil related pollutions.

    The state government commended SACA for taking the awareness and advocacy campaign for an hydrocarbon pollution-free society to schools in the state,saying that the awareness created would immensely address the problems of environmental hazards associated with exploitation and exploration of oil across the state.

    Speaking on the rational behind the ceremony,Executive Director,SACA,Mr Kingsley Ozegbe decried the spate of oil pollution in the state,advising that all stakeholders must synergies towards a possible ending of the dangers occasioned by spills.

    He stated that the NGO was resolved to ending oil related environmental hazards in the Niger Delta region, just as he said research conducted by the NGO through its partnering organizations show that no fewer than 16,000 children had died due to living in environments not more than 20km distance from sites of oil spills.

    “Our children born and yet unborn are exposed to dangers of oil spills,our findings showed that about 16,000 children have died due to living in a distance not more than 20km from sites of oil spills acroos the Niger Delta”, he said.

    “So we wanted to bring this awareness to our children in both public and private schools across the state the the inauguration of the Child-Driven safeguarding project at the school level in the state”, he added.

    Meanwhile,the chairperson of the SACA project management committee(PMC) who also doubles as the chairperson, national assiciation of proprietors of private schools(NAPPS),Bayelsa state chapter,Dr (Mrs) Christiana McDonald have said proprietors of schools in the state have demonstrated their willingness to continue partnering SACA in the fight against oil spills and other hydrocarbon related environmental hazards.

    ” Permit me to remind us that both the rich and the poor, educated and uneducated
    all face the risks in terms of oil spillage but the most vulnerable i.e. women,
    children, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities are sadly more prone to
    become victims.

    ” Victims and their families face extreme poverty, in addition to the
    physical and psychological consequences but am hopeful that today’s event will utilize the power of the tripartite structure of the three ministries represented here
    today i.e. the Bayelsa State ministries of Education, Environment and Health with
    the Catholic Education Board and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) on the other side which represent a positive spirit of collaboration to improve on the challenges of oil spillages in Bayelsa State.”

    She restated that though her committee was recently inaugurated,the inauguration of the child- Driven safeguarding project at the school level was capable of fast tracking the advocacy by SACA,just as she commended the state government for showing commitment in the project.

    Part of the fall out of the inauguration ceremony was the directive by the Bayelsa state government to schools in the state to form a 20-member child safeguarding club in all the ‘child-driven safeguarding’pilot schools across the state on or before 9th,July,202,while SACA would assist the pilot schools to develop child safeguarding policy, amongst others.

  • NGO: Maikaya Foundation Boosting Nigeria’s Efforts to Reduce Poverty

    NGO: Maikaya Foundation Boosting Nigeria’s Efforts to Reduce Poverty

    By Abel Leonard/ Lafia

    Maikaya Development Foundation is a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the social, economic and health wellbeing of individuals and communities at large with key focus on peace, economic empowerment for women and youth, health and education. “We touch the lives of people or communities based on need, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender or political affiliation” This is in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) which are built on the principle of “leaving no one behind”.

    Nigeria is at a critical juncture. With the sharp fall in oil prices as a result of COVID-19, the economy is projected to contract by over 4% in 2020, plunging the country into its deepest recession since the 1980s. Government revenues could fall by more than 15 billion dollars this year, and the crisis will push an additional 5 million Nigerians into poverty in 2022.

    “ our priority is to engage the people in supporting the Government’s strategic priorities by taking a phased and adaptive approach,” said Musa Muhammed Maikaya, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. “To realize its long-term potential, the country has to make tangible progress on key challenges and pursue some bold reforms. Our engagement will focus on supporting Nigeria’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote sustained economic development in Nigeria at large.”

    Investing in human capital development by increasing access to basic education, quality water and sanitation services; improving primary healthcare; and increasing the coverage and effectiveness of social assistance programs.

    Additional investments in promoting women’s empowerment and youth employment and skills, especially for young women, will also help reduce maternal and child mortality.

    Promoting jobs and economic transformation and diversification by supporting measures to unlock investment and youths’ engagement.

    Enhancing resilience by strengthening service delivery and livelihood opportunities in all the regions grappling with insecurity,
    Strengthening the foundations of the public in supporting the less privileges in making ends means.

    “The beneficiaries of the Foundation in different aspects in 2020 alone run into thousands. As a result of the lockdown at the advent of COVID-19 we deliberately sorted out over five hundred women doing petty businesses and supported them with funds that enabled them maintain their engagements. We concentrated at this point on women because we know that even with limited funds, women can easily do businesses that will manage the house, family and still remain in business. Imagine giving making available N5,000 available (free) to any woman selling akara., moi-moi, akamu and all sort petty businesses. You will be surprised that her family will feed from that business, she will send her kids to school and still help keep the family intact.

    “The Foundation recognised this facts on the impact women play in the society and deliberately give them such amount, she will prepare Madidi before you know it she is running her Madidi business, she is not buying the material on credit anymore she is at peace with her self, the children are taking one or two “Madidi”from there do their roam around and still come back, the man himself will come back and meet some coco it’s still within and she is running her business we see that will make more sense and we adopted that in 2020”. He said.

    The Foundation also trained 500 youths on skills acquisition. They were certified after the 3-month program and some of them are employers of Labour today.

    “To achieve sustainable post-COVID economic recovery, the country needs to strengthen reforms that support the government in reducing the hardship caused by covid 19 Maikaya said Economics and Sustainability. “In close coordination will continue to expand its support for the youth in Nigeria.

    Understanding the Unity of Nigeria, the CEO said the Unity of Nigeria is not negotiable hence there is a need to love one another as Nigerians and to preach peace at all times that is why the Foundation usually organize football tournaments in various local government areas, especially in Nasarawa State to bring the various tribes together awarding cash prices to individuals who distinguished them selves and the winners of the the tournament.

    “there a lot of activities at some points at the peak of insecurity when people were suspicious of each other for one reason or the other, we try to organize football matches, we have tournament and people come from different places and exchange pleasantries thereby entrenching harmonious living.

    Maikaya Development Foundation furnished a science laboratory and complete classroom furnishing of a secondary school in Nasarawa State. The state government acknowledged the Foundation with a Commendation Letter for its support for education.

    The Social Welfare department of Nasarawa State also commended the Foundation for its support in healthcare, prisons and aspects of social engagements.

    Our correspondent gathered that the foundation is not restricted to Nasarawa state, it is currently going on in other States that is the but the headquarters is Nasarawa.

    Reacting to the challenges faced by the foundation, the CEO said “challenge come with opportunity, they are together challenge”.
    The challenge he said was the covid 19 pandemic where People were asked to stay indoors for their safety and the safety of the society, but to the foundation, it was an opportunity to help people in reducing poverty because they couldn’t go about their normal businesses.

    “These people have some activities they earn their livings from, now they are constraint to be at home, so us we restrategise and say this is an opportunity to identify some people and see how we could support them meager resources to create an impact in their lives by adding value”.

    One of the basic challenges is that the foundation is now overstretched as many people are now identifying with the foundation thereby increasing the numbers making it difficult to handle all issues at the same. “They are asking Maikaya foundation beyond what the foundation can handle”.

    The foundation is one of the reliable foundation in Nigeria with one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for development in the state and Nigeria at large. is taking broad, fast action to help Nigeria to strengthen the pandemic response. It is supporting public health interventions, working to ensure the reduction of poverty to the barest level, and helping the the people of Nasarawa state and the Nigerian people continue to operate and sustain jobs.

  • SEMA Implores International community, FG, NGOs to Intervene in IDPs plight as Bandits kill seventeen persons in Benue

    SEMA Implores International community, FG, NGOs to Intervene in IDPs plight as Bandits kill seventeen persons in Benue

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, in Benue State, Dr Emmanuel Shior has urged the international community, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as well as non governmental organizations to come to the aid of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state.

    The SEMA Helmsman who stated this while carrying out an assessment of the victims of Agagbe and Aondoana communities of Gwer-west Local Government Area where the IDPs recently attacked by Suspected Herdsmen Militia in local government were camped.

    The Executive Secretary condemned the attacks on Benue Communities by herdsmen, stressing that the victims were being deprived of their homes and lands which he said has given rise to the number of IDPs in the state.

    According to Shior, government is stepping up efforts to look for ways of ameliorating the sufferings of the victims.

    Also speaking, the Chairman, Gwer-west Local Government Area, Mrs. Grace Igbabon who condemned the attacks, appreciated Governor Samuel Ortom for standing against the Invaders who have rendered over two thousand people homeless.

    The Chairman who was represented by the Deputy Chairman, Mr Julius Utwav, explained that the local government has provided St Francis primary school Agagbe, St Peters Primary school Aondoana in the local government as camps for the Displaced Persons.

    The Chairman who also spoke with Journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House Makurdi, confirmed the Killing of seventeen persons by Suspected Herdsmen.

    Meanwhile, the Action Aide Nigeria has promised to provide relief materials for two thousand five hundred house holds in Konshisha local government area following displacement of people due to the Military operation in the area.

    The Country Director, Action Aide Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House Makurdi.

    She pointed out that the gesture was to compliment Benue State Government’s efforts towards cushioning the hardship being faced by the victims.

  • Tension in Taraba as suspected sponsored youths attacks NGO

    Tension in Taraba as suspected sponsored youths attacks NGO

    Palpable tensions have begun to grow in Taraba community following an attack on a Non-Governmental Organisation, Kurmi Movement for Sensitization and Environmental Protection (KMSEP), who are on a mission to Kurmi local government council to sensitize the people on the negative effects of deforestation.

    The NGO who have being on the forefront discouraging the falling down of trees, were said to have been attacked by youths suspected to have been sponsored by the Kurmi council chairman, John Joseph Amamzalla.

    The group who as at the time of filing this report are counting their loss, were observed to have been inflicted with various degrees of injuries, the situation which led to the hospitalization of some of them.

    Among the victims who could not fathomed why the council boss that ought to lead by example has turned out to be behind the tensions presently rising dusts in the area includes a University don , Arch Mono Bello and a lawyer, Danladi Gambo Tukura.

    The group whom our state reporter learnt came under heavy attack in Kpwaula village of Kurmi council, the country home of the chairman, said their attackers were sponsored by the chairman, whom they alleged have being feeding fat on the ongoing illegal logging activities in the council.

    The group as further gathered , were on their way to Baissa , the administrative headquarters of the council for campaign against deforestation when the hoodlums suspected to have been mobilized by the council boss descended on them which also led to the destruction of the eighteen seater bus conveying them.

    In a video clip made available to our correspondent by some members of the group who claimed to have narrowly escaped, it was observed that the hoodlums were heavily armed to the teeth with various weapons of destructions such as bottles , cutlasses, den guns, among others.

    Speaking with our correspondent, one of the victims, Bello who is a lecturer in the state University, could not fathomed why the council chairman went as far as preventing them from entering the council’s headquarters.

    Narrating how the “sponsored youths ” bounced on them , thereby destroying the eighteen seater bus conveying them as well as inflicting injuries on some members of the group “our attackers” he said ” were carrying den guns, cutlasses and many other dangerous weapons.”

    Sad that “our our good and peaceful mission was misunderstood by the council boss” the dream of the state governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, for putting an end to deforestation, he believed has been frustrated by the chairman.

    “Our mission” as stated by him “is to create awareness among the people of the area inline with the executive directive by Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku, the executive governor of the state that falling of trees should be stopped henceforth to save the environment.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman KMSEP, Barrister Danladi Gambo Tukura, said they are worried by the cutting down of trees as it is gradually exposing the area to a grave danger in a situation of natural disasters.

    Tukura said their intention is to sensitized their fellow youths on the dangers of defforestation which is seriously threatening the environment, affecting the entire ecosystem in the area.

    Calling on the governor to as a matter of urgency call the chairman to, the council, as observed by him, is at the verge being enmeshed by disaster following the ongoing massive deforestation.

  • NGO decries Nigeria’s 100,000 daily HIV infection rate

    NGO decries Nigeria’s 100,000 daily HIV infection rate

    A Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Heartland Alliance have raised an alarm over the scale of HIV infections in Nigeria currently standing at 100,000 per day.

    Mr Micheal Akanji, a resource person made this known at a media round table organised by the organisation and the AVAC 2020/2021 fellowship programme last weekend in Uyo while giving an overview of challenges of HIV prevention in Nigeria.

    Akanji who said that increased budget, improved access to prevention techniques and sustainability options would help to reduce prevention also expressed dissatisfaction over the continued high rating of Akwa Ibom in HIV Prevalence Rating in Nigeria.

    He explained that the country’s mode of transmission has risen to 83% but while the prevelance among the general population stood at 1.4%, that of men who have sex with other men, MSM, has risen to 22.9%, while that of female sex workers, BBFSW at 19.4% and has increased to 2.8% among people staying in correctional centres and other restricted spaces.

    He regretted that government’s continued funding policy and emphasis on treatment of infected persons rather than prevention has been counter productive but expressed hope that with results of recent researches and studies emphasis would soon shift to more funding for prevention.

    Akanji called on stakeholders to increase their advocacy on the area of prevention by discouraging cultural and medical practices which tend to discourage prevention of infection among the populace.

    Speaking on new biomedical prevention nomethods,the anchor of the AVAC 2020/2021 fellowship programme, Ms Josephine Aseme said that limited prevention technology options, low coverages, increased incidences and poor funding as some of the reasons for lack of access to new prevention technologies.

    Aseme stated that the Long-acting injectable Prep remained the most advanced and most potent prevention strategy and involved recieving an injection of the antiretroviral cabotegravir every two months.

    “Results of HPTN 083 released in 2020 showed that this method is safe and effective at reducing HIV risk especially among gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender women.

    “A sister study HPTN 084 also released early results in 2020 showing efficacy among cisgender women. Both are continuing as open label studies while the product undergoes regulatory reviews.” She explained.

    She called on the media to focus more on increased public enlightenment, gender and diversity responses, increased budgetary access to prevention techniques and sustainability options.

    The AVAC 2020/2021 fellowship program is anchored by Josephine Aseme and is a community-centered and policy change advocacy focusing on advocating for Supportive Policy and Programs for effective PrEP and other HIV prevention implementations for Key populations in Nigeria to ensure that proven available HIV prevention options are accessible by all persons at risk of acquiring HIV in Nigeria without cost or any form of stigma.

    However the meeting was aimed at delivering the importance of Government and donor agency commitment in endorsing newly approved and recommended biomedical prevention tools and utilization of media platforms to create awareness of available service delivery points to actualize increased uptake of HIV prevention and testing services for a better coverage.

    It also focused on the importance of GON and donor commitment to a wider array of biomedical prevention options as a game-changer in reducing new infections (Oral PrEP, Dapivirine ring, and injectable PrEP) and investment in community HIV prevention messaging tools across various media platforms and entertainment channels.

  • NGO, Uba Sani foundation, others to train 10,000 Youths, Woman

    NGO, Uba Sani foundation, others to train 10,000 Youths, Woman

    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

    An NGO, Gishirin Ma’aurata Skills Acquisition Centre on collaboration with Uba Sani foundation and kaduna State Government are training ten thousand women and youth across the three geopolitical zones in kaduna State.

    The women and youth empowerment training programme which involved male and female has already commenced training of beneficiaries on fisheries and pultry farming with 200 people graduated Saturday in kaduna Central zone.
    Speaking to journalists the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Gisghiri Centre, Alhaji Adamu Mohammad Gidado said the training commenced few days ago in the three zones, and also graduated 300 beneficiaries also in each of the two zones on Saturday.

    Gidado who spoke through his secretary Mohammad Inuwa Sabo Babasidi said those graduated were given their starta packs instantly to enable commence their business smoothly.

    The CEO of the approved Interprenourial development institutions, expressed delight with the initiative, assuring that at the end of the training of the 10000 beneficiaries, there will be alot of opportunities for jobless youth in terms of gainful employment and would eventually lead to reduction of crimes and criminalities.

    He also explained that the training centre’s intervention would go along way to assist Kaduna state in creating jobs opportunities, since government alone cannot be able to do everything. End.

    CEO at the centre, other officials at the graduation ceremony in Kaduna Saturday

  • NGO empowers TBAs, others in A’Ibom

    NGO empowers TBAs, others in A’Ibom

    A Non Governmental Organisation, Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE) has donated Personal Protective Equipments to 33 Traditional Birth Attendants in Akwa Ibom.

    It also donated food items to women, tuition fee to indigent students and smart tablets to 20 students in higher institutions of learning in it’s quest to improve capacity for women and students.

    Speaking shortly before donation of the items, the Executive Director of WUEE, Mrs Iniobong Frank said the decision to equip the Traditional Birth Attendants with PPEs especially in the period of Covid-19, was to forestall easy transmission of the virus during the process of attending to women in labour.

    Frank who announced that the NGO was established and currectly funded by the US- based Mrs Aniema Udofa and her partners, to empower women and other vulnerable groups in the society, said the objective of WUEE is to see a poverty and gender discrimination-free society.

    She appealed to the TBAs to make good use of the items donated to protect themselves, mothers and the new born babies delivered in their homes.

    Frank who also advised the tertiary institutions students on proper use of the phone tablets donated to them, said the items were meant to assist them carry out their researches than get distracted with social media activities which may impact negatively on their future.

    She assured that the NGO took time to select only indigent students for the school fees support to ensure that such help was directed only to those who truly needed such assistance.

    A representative of Mrs Martha Emmanuel’s Family Empowerment & Youth Reorientation Path Initiative. (Feyrep), Mrs Iniobong Ekanem in her remarks cautioned the students against negative use of the devices handed to them, adding that judicious use of such items could open wider doors into the world.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Esther Ebong, a Traditional Birth Attendant, commended WUEE for its timely and consistent interventions. She recalled that TBAs, before receiving enlightenment from the NGO were attending to deliveries with bare hands.

    “Let me sincerely thank Women United for helping us embrace safe practices which have really aided our safety, safety of mothers and of new born babies. Before they started visiting our homes to carry out enlightenment programmes, we used to attain to labour cases with bare hands, even our environments were not well kept.

    “It got so bad that our husbands were no longer accepting food from us because of our hygiene conditions. But when they came, they took us through some exercises on personal hygiene and safety, they equipped us with PPEs such as what we got today. Today, TBAs in Akwa Ibom can compete with other heath workers anywhere in the world.” Ebong said.