By Damilola Nubi

A non-governmental organisation, Menitos Charity Foundation, says it has empowered no fewer than 2,000 children through its ‘Back2School’ projects

Its founder, Ms Daramola Toluwalope, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

According to her, the projects aim at taking children off the streets.

Toluwalope said the programme, launched about a decade ago and had turned to be an annual event, plays a pivotal role in supplying essential school materials to underprivileged children.

She said that the foundation, a crowd-funding platform, provides school essentials like notebooks, textbooks, bags, and other items, at ensuring that disadvantaged students stay in school and not drop out.

“When the programme started over a decade ago, we empowered over 200 beneficiaries every year. But, in 2022, we exceeded that for Back2School.

“We introduced feeding programme in 2019 and as at that of 2022, over 7,000 under-privileged pupils have benefited.

“We focus mainly on those that can’t afford notebooks, bags, shoes despite free education and those that are not lucky to afford two to three meals a day.

The founder said the beneficiaries, mostly identified through schools and community engagement events, are invited to a centre, where they receive the empowerment materials.

She added that this endeavor not only equips children with the necessary tools for education, but also fosters hope and motivation for their academic journey.

Toluwalope said that the foundation runs a school lunch intervention programme to improve school attendance among the disadvantaged children.

This, she said is done by offering nutritious meals to children that attend school, regularly.

“We, therefore, call on parents to prioritise education of their children. At our foundation, we do not only tackle hunger-related barriers to education, but also foster a supportive environment that values and nurtures children’s overall well-being.

“At our foundation, we are dedicated to eradicating child abuse as an instrument in shaping a brighter future for communities in need.

“Through our multifaceted approach, we empower children to enable families, and entire neighborhoods break free from the cycle of abuse and fostering a society where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

“Funding our numerous projects is through voluntary donations and sponsorship from people who support the vision to reduce and possibly eradicate school drop-out rates in Nigeria.

“With a shared commitment to education and community support, this initiative by our foundation seeks to alleviate financial burdens, instill confidence, and ensure equal access to education.

“We are therefore soliciting for more help from well to do indigenes to be able to expand our scope and increase the numbers of beneficiaries.

“To be a part of this cause, in making a difference in the lives of deserving children, please click this link: www.menitosng.com or Info@menitosng.com.(NAN) www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Olawunmi Ashafa

The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN) on Friday graduated 44 dancers from its K-POP Dance Academy in Abuja.

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN) on Friday graduated 44 dancers from its K-POP Dance Academy in Abuja.

The KCCN Director, Mr Kim Changki said he was happy that Nigerian youths are takingpart  in the K-POP Dance Academy and doing so well.
“Here in the Centre, we have K-POP Dance Class annually. Last two weeks, we had a K-POP Dance Competition in Lagos and I am very happy about it. Nigerians are talented.
“The Centre is about K-POP, K-Food, K-Beauty, etc which has a touch of Korean culture that Nigerians can benefit from.
“From my observation, Nigerian youths are good dancers, but they have to do more exercise to be flexible. This makes dance easy. In Korea, dancers do a lot of exercise.
“We graduate about 44 students this year. And every year, we have K-POP Dance Class in the Academy and especially this year we will have K-POP Vocal Academy for the first time in Nigeria,” Changki said.
Similarly, a professional choreographer from South Korea, Jay Kim said Nigerian youths are talented and have ability and energy, adding that they need to learn details of K-POP Dance.
“It is about details. Nigerian youths are cooperative and care for one another. They are good and I appreciate and enjoy working with them.
“My advise to them is that they should try to be creative by creating their own styles and not strictly copying the styles of others,” Kim said.
One of the graduates, Jethro Luka Damina from Kaduna state said he was excited about the dance classes.
“We have been coming for classes for four weeks for practice. We learned a lot of dance movements and it feels so amazing to be here at the graduation ceremony.
“I feel happy. What is next for me now is that I am planning of starting a K-POP Dance Group here in Nigeria. I will try to push it to the next level.
“Nigerian youths and dancers should not relent. They should keep pushing. Try to do other styles of genre and dance to explore and belong to a dance community.
“If governments can support dancers in Nigeria, it will go a long way to help get youths off the streets,” Damina said.
Another K-POP Dance Academy graduate, Miss Success Nwaeze said she never felt intimidated when dancing with the opposite sex, adding that she is bold and would always want to be the best.
She explained that the academy was good, but that it was a bit challenging.
“We were working with people from different background including non-dancers. So as a team, we had to cooperate to be on same page.
“The Jay Kim is an amazing man. He has a lot of stuff and I wish I can keep learning from him for the next two months, because he has so much to give out.
“He is a versatile dance coach. The way he shared us into groups made us to know ourselves and communicate better.
“I will use the knowledge and apply it to my day today life; in my dance and fitness classes, and it will help me a lot.
“For the female dancers, keep doing what you are doing; go for your dream, don’t settle for less and be the best you can be,” Nwaeze advised. (NAN)
CMY/NAN
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(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)
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By Cecilia Ijuo

Sen. Shehu Sani has inaugurated a foundation, “Go to School Support Project”, to cater for out-of-school and special needs children.

Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central, unveiled the foundation at the School for the Deaf on Friday in Kuje, Abuja.

He said his desire to touch the lives of the vulnerable in the society, particularly children, led to the establishment of the foundation.

Sani also donated items ranging from office equipment, mattresses and other forms of beddings to kitchen wares to the students and management of the school.

“Two weeks ago, I was here to familiarise myself with the school.

“It is part of my passion, principle and conviction to come to the aid of people with special needs.

“To sustain the actualisation of this passion, I decided to establish a nationwide programme called ‘Go to school Support Project.’

“The project focuses on out-of-school children and children affected by insurgency and banditry across the country.

“We are also targeting children in rural areas who have no access to education,” he said.

Sani said it was high time government and relevant stakeholders prioritised education.

He said until that was done, Nigeria would continue to grapple with insecurity and economic challenges.

“Education is the solution to economic problems, security challenges and other problems we face as a people.

“We are faced with so many challenges because we failed to educate the children of the poor.

“Today, those children we fail to educate are coming after us and making life unbearable for us,” he said.

Receiving the gift items, the management of the School for the Deaf thanked the lawmaker for his kind gesture.

They commended his concern for the less privileged, adding that his show of love was overwhelming. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

CJM/ACA/VAO

By Emmanuel Oloniruha
An NGO, Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF), has donated over 1000 garments to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) at Durumi, Abuja, in commemoration of “2023 World Youth Skills Day”.
The Executive Director of LMF, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya said the garments were made by youths between ages 12 to 18 from the just concluded Incentivized Pilot Sewing Schools’ Championship 2023 (SSCP23) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Osikoya said the SSCP23 had a participation of over 1, 000 youths across the six Area Councils in the FCT, where three schools and some individual winners received over 50 Sewing Machines including industrial, manual and special purpose sewing equipment.
She added that the SSCP23 was initiated by LMF, supported by UNESCO, FCT Education Secretariat and other relevant partners.
Osikoya encouraged the youth at the IDP camp to embrace skills acquisition for personal financial empowerment, saying the garments being donated were made by youths like them.
The executive director said the garment industry has the potential to lift millions of Nigerian youths out of poverty.
“We are actually saying education cannot solve all our problems. The clothing industry in Nigeria, if properly harnessed, will compete with other countries like India. Bangladesh and the rest of world while our economy is also growing,” she said.
Osikoya opined that education provided a platform for mentorship and nurturing but emphasised that more attention should be paid to skills, especially for the younger generation.
“Imagine if every school in Nigeria is providing workshop for skills training, we will be able provide solutions to our basic needs of shelter, food and clothing and not just to speak English”, she stated.

While handing over the garments to the IDP, the Vice Chairman of LMF Board, Kashim Ali, charged youths in the Camp to rise up and take hold of their destiny by learning a skill.
On his part, the Secretary General, Nigerian National Commission (NATCOM) for UNESCO, Dr Olawale Olagunju, said future of the country’s development lies on the firm shoulders of skilled youths.
“The world is changing rapidly; hence, it is crucial that we empower young people to navigate these changes effectively,” Olagunju said.
Olagunju, represented by Mrs Omotosho Bukola, said that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was strategically placed to improve access to the world of work.
He stressed that TVET would ensure that skills gained are relevant, recognised and certified, promoting green skills and practices, and offering skills development opportunities for youths of all cadres, either educated or not.
In his response, Dr Sanwo David, who received the garments on behalf of the IDP Camp, thanked the LMF for the gesture, saying it would go a long way to improve the wellbeing of IDPs.
He said the gift was timely as the people in the IDP were less privilege and clothing was also a challenge to them
David commended the LMF for the initiative in promoting skills acquisition among the youths especially in schools, and urged other NGOs to emulate the gesture.
The theme of this year’s World Youth Skills Day is “Skilling Teachers, Trainers and Youth for a Transformative Future”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Isaac Aregbesola

Some of the beneficiaries during the outreach on Monday. Photo: NAN

By Naomi Sharang

Members of the Rotary Club of Wuse Central in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday offered series of free medical services to residents of Dakwo community in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the medical outreach which took place at the Primary Health Centre, Dakwo, witnessed scores of pregnant women, nursing mothers and youths coming out to partake in the exercise.

NAN also reports that the residents were given mosquito treated nets, while each pregnant woman among them received a set of baby delivery kit.

President of the club, Kelong Alkali, said no fewer than 80 residents benefitted from the gesture which he described as synonymous to Rotary Club worldwide.

Alkali added that the gesture was part of the commemoration of Rotary Club’s maternal and child health month scheduled for July.

“This event is a key focus area in Rotary Club. As you may be aware, Rotary Club is an international organisation that carries out humanitarian services, projects friendship and conflict resolution too.

“Every month, we pick one critical area and work on. And in this month of July we are working on maternal and child birth. So today, we from the Rotary Club of Wuse Central are here to provide free medical services to the people of Dakwo community.

Alkali, President of the club attending to beneficiaries during the outreach Photo: (NAN)

“Some of the items we are giving them freely are: mosquito nets, free routine drugs which include Folic Acid, iron tablets, Vitamin C and other vitamins for pregnant women and nursing mothers so that they can have safe delivery, because maternal death is a big issue in some of our rural communities,” he said.

Also, Oluwasola Ajadi, Director, Projects/ Community Services of the club, said the outreach was aimed at paying attention to the endless needs of the downtrodden especially in their healthcare requirements.

She said that the large turn-out of beneficiaries at the event gave her the fulfilment that she had touched lives.

Ajadi also attributed the high number of the beneficiaries to why additional provisions were later made in a bid to reach more residents.

“After seeing what has happened here today, especially the large turn-out; I really feel that I have been able to touch lives in conjunction with my colleagues.

“Rotary Club is about touching lives and I’m proud to be part of this noble cause.

” I’m so pleased to see how happy the beneficiaries are; especially the women among them. I can assure you that Rotary will want to do more.

“The interesting thing was that we had to increase our provisions after witnessing an increased number.

” In fact, this is a plus for everyone who made this happen, ranging from the community leaders, the health officials and Rotary Club itself,” she said.

Dr Dorothy Ihegazie, Programme Officer in Charge of Health Promotion in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), expressed appreciation to Rotary Club for the gesture, she added that it was not their first time of supporting the community.

Ihegazie who is also the Overseer of AMAC Primary Health Centres (PHCs), revealed that ante-natal mothers topped the list of beneficiaries of the outreach programme.

She, however, called on other well-to-do members of the public and organisations to emulate what Rotary Club is doing in terms of giving back to the society.

In separate interviews with NAN, two of the beneficiaries who are pregnant women expressed appreciation to the club.

They said its gesture would go a long way in reducing the economic impacts of their gestation period in view of the current economic situation in the country.

Florence Stephen, a 21-year old newly married woman said the items given to her would help her safe delivery in few weeks from now.

Also, Jemmy Joseph, 32, a housewife said it was her first time of being assisted by any organisation during pregnancy.

She therefore expressed hope that the health tips received at the event would help her during pregnancy and after childbirth, while the items and drugs would provide a succour for her household.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Segun Giwa

A middle-aged man, simply identified as Glory, on Friday, lost his life at Bethel Estate, a community in Oba-Ile, Akure, as flood continued to ravage more communities in the state capital.

According to the landlords association, the man, who was said to be a Federal Government worker, was coming from work when he was swept away by flood on Friday.

The Assistant Secretary of Landlord Association of Bethel Estate, Oba-Ile, Pastor Gbenga Ojuloge, confirmed the incident while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure.

Ojuloge said that the community needed government’s intervention to help dredge the waterways to prevent future occurrence.

NAN reports that several communities suffered from severe flooding on Saturday, as many access roads were cut off due to the rainfall that started on Friday and lasted more than 24 hours.

Ojuloge said that the waterway had turned into death trap, claiming lives every year.

He said that all the efforts made by the community to ensure that the flood was kept at bay every year had not yielded any result.

“We are using this opportunity to draw the attention of governments at all levels to what is going on in our community.

“This is the main access road to the community but the flood is already taking what we have used our sweats to construct.

“Everything you can see on the bridge was done by the landlords in the community, but we discover that the flood will just come and push everything away. So we are calling on government to come to our aid.

“On Friday, we lost a person here. This is because all the waters coming from Ijapo, Alagbaka and Oja-Oba are passing through here. So immediately it rains, there is no access to our community again,” he said.

Also speaking, one of the landlords, Mr Olusola Osupala, said once it rained, access to the estate was always cut off.

Osupala said that the community had written to several intervention agencies to help save the situation, but all to no avail.

Another landlady in the community, Mrs Oluwtosin Ibitoye, said that the death of the young man was painful, adding that she was part of the rescue party to save his life.

Ibitoye said once it rains, the road would be cut off, while residents would not be able to go in and out of the work again. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Constance Athekame

The Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) has appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to establish a joint committee on electricity safety, security and enforcement.

The National President of LECAN, Mr John Etim, made this appeal while delivering an inaugural lecture at the inauguration of the Executive Members of LECAN, FCT Chapter.

The lecture was titled: “Addressing Epileptic Power Supply in the Federal Capital Territory: Perspective of Licensed Electrical Contractors of Nigeria.”

Etim said that the establishment of the FCT Joint Electricity Safety, Security and Standards enforcement committee would reduce epileptic power supply in the territory.

“The committee should comprise of members of LECAN, Works Department of FCTA, FCT Fire Service, FCT Police Command, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA),

“FCT, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCD), Representatives of works department of the Six Area Councils of FCT, representative of Civil Society Organisation working in the Power Sector,” he said.

Etim listed the functions of the committee to include ensuring that fake electrical materials in the markets of FCT are confiscated and the dealers prosecuted.

“Monitor electrical installations in FCT to ensure that NEMSA criteria for best practice are complied with.

“Identify quacks who carry out installations within and outside Distribution Company (DISCO) staff are prosecuted and also ensure that new installations are inspected and tested before connection to the grid,” he said

He said that the committee should not be seen to be taking over NEMSA’s job, but would rather be supporting it to deliver on it functions as provided by the new Electricity Act.

According to him, FCTA should consider safety reliability and quality standard in the electricity sector as a priority in its development agenda.

“This is to prevent incidents of fire outbreak, destruction of electrical equipment’s and gadgets and loss of lives,”he said.

While congratulating LECAN FCT Chapter new executives, he urged them to ensure safety in the discharge of their duties.

On his part, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr Temitope Fashedemi, said that collaboration between stakeholders is key to achieving significant result in the sector.

He was represented by Mr Bright Obidi, Acting Head, Regulatory, Safety and Certification Unit, NEMSA

He urged the new executives to take seriously the instrument of uniform professional standards by upholding the code of ethics of the profession.

” Using the mechanism of conflict resolution where required to ensuring seamless collaboration for the betterment of all in the sector, ”he said.

Earlier, retired Navy Captain, Umar Bakori , Commandant-General, Vigilante Group, Nigeria, said the event was apt considering the importance of electricity.

Bakori said that ensuring safety of the sector is everyone’s business.

”And we have vigilante in every local government in the Federation to ensure the protection of power equipment which is critical, ”he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Imelda Osayande

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has pledged his support for the real estate sector in Edo and Nigeria at large.

The pledge is contained in a statement by Mr Iguobaro Osaigbovo, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba on Sunday in Benin.

The statement said that Oba Ewuare spoke with the President of Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr Johnbull Amayaevbo, during a courtesy visit to his palace.

The king attributed the success recorded in real estate businesses in Edo to the abolition of Community Development Associations (CDAs) some years ago.

“When CDAs were vibrant, nobody could anything. Once in a while when I drive around, I see billboards, real estate this, real estate that. People can now build.

“They are doing surveying, they are doing evaluations now,” he said.

The king also pledged his support for the professional body, ahead of its Triennial Delegates Conference scheduled for Edo in 2024.

Earlier in his address , the president of the institute commended the king’s fatherly disposition, which he attributed to the growth of investment in real estate in the state.

Amayaevbo also commended the king for the donation of parcel of land to the institute for a proposed secretariat in the state years ago.

He therefore further solicited for royal blessings and prayers.

According to him, “Your Royal Majesty, I am very much aware of all that you have been doing not just for the people of this state, but for the entire country, especially in our sector.

“The real estate sector of Nigeria. We know the actions that your have taken in this kingdom which have led to rapid real estate development.

“We are also very glad and happy that some years back, the palace gave our professional body a land,” he said.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a plaque and souvenir to Oba Ewuare in recognition for his support for the 54-year-old. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede