By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The Regalo Hope Foundation (RHF) has trained humanitarian workers and recipients of the Nigerian Volunteers Award on leadership, grant management, Artificial Intelligence (AI), financial management and emergency response.
The Founder of RHF, Dr Chinenye Onuorah, said that the training, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Volunteers Award, was part of activities to mark its partner’s 10th anniversary on Aug. 20.
Onuorah said that the training was designed to equip change-makers with practical skills for sustainable impact.
She said that participants were trained on brand strategy, AI tools for proposal writing, money management, workplace safety, emergency response and strategic impact measurement.
According to her, every humanitarian worker should possess critical skills that will improve service delivery and organisational effectiveness.
“Part of our objectives at RHF is leadership training and empowerment, which help to build the capacity of individuals to impact their organisations.
“Leadership requires empathy and strategy, while measurable results can only be achieved when humanitarian interventions are guided by clear plans and objectives,” she said.
The RHF founder, who spoke on brand identity and strategy, highlighted the impact of branding on an organisation’s image.
She urged participants to take advantage of the programme to enhance their organisations and individual profiles, to ensure meaningful impact in society.
Onuorah said that the foundation, established 16 years ago, had impacted communities across 20 states through health, education and technology-focused interventions.
“Part of our health interventions include vaccination tracking, health sensitisation and free medical screenings for diseases such as HIV, diabetes, malaria and typhoid.
“In education, we have provided scholarships, mentorship and skills development for undergraduates and graduates.
“Children are also not left out, as we engage them in graphic design, animation and other technology-related programmes,” she said.
Also speaking, a communication expert, Mrs Oghene Ogunlusi, emphasised the importance of strategic and empathetic leadership in the humanitarian sector.
Ogunlusi, who spoke on “Strategic and Empathetic Leadership”, identified the three pillars of effective leadership as the head, the heart and the hands.
She said that the head signified strategy, the heart represented empathy and passion, while the hands represented execution.
“Without a combination of these three, leadership impact will remain limited,” the communication expert said.
She said that humanitarian work should be people-centred, stressing that leaders must understand the needs of those they served while developing practical strategies for implementation.
According to her, informed decision-making remains critical for non-governmental organisations seeking sustainable impact in communities.
Ogunlusi advised participants to carefully evaluate available resources, stakeholders and external factors before making key decisions.
Another facilitator, Mr Adebayo Shodunke, a Project Manager at Business Sweden in Lagos, educated participants on the ethical use of AI in project implementation and proposal development.
Shodunke said that AI could improve efficiency, productivity and response time but must be used responsibly to avoid misinformation and regulatory violations.
He warned organisations against exposing beneficiaries’ personal information through AI platforms without obtaining proper consent.
According to him, compliance with Nigeria’s data protection regulations remains essential for both profit and non-profit organisations.
Participants commended the organisers for the impactful programme, saying that it provided insights and practical strategies needed to improve their work and drive meaningful change in society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training also featured safety and emergency response sessions and fire drills. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
MIL/FON
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Edited by Florence Onuegbu