ONE Ambassadors Present Over 187,000 Signed Petitions to Nigerian Senate President

Congratulations to all of us who put in tremendous effort to push the #MakeNaijaStronger campaign with the aim of getting the Nigerian government to increase budget allocation to healthcare and reform the health sector. 187,240 signatures were presented to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday at Abuja by ONE Ambassadors, Waje, Desmond Elliot and Alli Nuhu.

ONE Ambassadors and ONE Africa Executive Director presenting the petitions to Nigerian Senate President

 This is a big step towards getting better health care for the hardest to reach people particularly women and girls.

This is no small feat as the Nigerian health sector has been in a deplorable state for several years now.
We have to continue working to make sure the government keeps their promises. The promises made mean that we are closer to getting other key parts of the Health Act like basic medical insurance.
Together, we can #MakeNaijaStronger

ONE Ambassador, Waje and Nachilala Nkombo, ONE Africa Executive Director (Interim)

 Kicked off early in 2016, the Make Naija Stronger Campaign has shed light on the deplorable state of healthcare in Nigeria while calling on the Federal Government to help save millions of lives and create a more healthy, prosperous and secure nation. The Townhall meeting was organised by ONE Campaign in partnership with Connected Development and The Wellbeing Foundation. 

Save Our Needy Launches M.E.T Girls

In commemoration of the UN Universal Children's Day, Save Our Needy implemented the M.E.T Girls program. On Friday, November 18th, notable speakers converged in New Era Girls High School, Lagos, to inspire, motivate and educate young girls to take the lead and become successful in every sphere of their lives. 

Two public secondary schools in Lagos State namely New Era Girls High School and Ajigbeda Girls Senior Secondary School were selected to participate in the program which aims at Motivating, Educating and Training young girls to become leaders.

The guest speakers gave the girls compelling reasons to believe in themselves and in their abilities to become successful leaders in whatever they choose to do in life. There was an interactive question and answer session where the girls had their questions answered.

Speakers at the event were; 

Mrs Scholastica Lan, a fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists and Program Manager at Nigerian Academy Of Science. She urged the girls to enrol in STEM classes and break barriers in the world of technology in Africa.

Kate Ekanem, a writer and a Girls' Rights Activist. She is the first Nigerian to represent the African Union at the global Girl20 summit, Turkey. She is a Vital Lady of the Vital Initiative Africa, a Delegate for Development Dialogue Nigeria, a Queen Young Leaders awardee, and a Global Media forum scholar. 

Anu Adelakun, a passionate Gender Advocate, journalist and Development practitioner with years of experience working on issues affecting marginalized girls and women in Nigeria. She is dedicated to empowering, and creating opportunities for girls and women in rural and underserved communities.

 

Being a very grave issue affecting every Nigerian today, the ONE "Make Naija Stronger" Campaign was highlighted at the end of the program. Participants were urged to sign petitions that will be presented to the Nigerian government in December to put pressure on them to improve healthcare in Nigeria.

Save Our Needy strongly believes that investing in girls education, health and safety is a key to ensuring they reach their full potential as well as improve Nigeria's development. We believe that the provision of quality education for girls is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty.

The MET Girls program supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of promoting girl-child education as well as ending extreme poverty and gender inequality by 2030.

This initiative was implemented in partnership with ONE Campaign and Waje Safe House.

 

Influential Singer and Ambassador, Waje, Joins Save Our Needy Advisory Board

We are thrilled to welcome amazing singer, philanthropist, UN Ambassador for Peace, ONE ambassador and influential African woman, Waje, to Save Our Needy Advisory Board.

Welcome certificate from Save Our Needy

 

Waje

Waje at an event

Waje comes on board as the first celebrity to officially acknowledge our good works and a willing partner to help end extreme poverty in Africa.

Award-winning singer and songwriter, Waje

Aituaje “Waje” Iruobe is a respected, multiple award-winning Nigerian singer and song writer. She was found singing in church as a young lady. Her love for humanity led her to study social work at the University of Nigeria (UNN). 

Waje with Jerry Odili, Program Manager, Save Our Needy and Marvella Odili, CEO, Save Our Needy

In 2012, Waje became the founder of Waje Safe House. Through her non-profit organization, she teams up with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help raise funds for their various causes. She supports NGOs with laudable causes and helps them achieve their goals and targets. The first project supported by Waje Safe House was the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC), assisting Project HELP (Help Educate the Less Privileged) which aimed at raising funds for vulnerable children in Makoko (a disadvantaged community in Lagos) to continue their education.

Waje with her bestie, singer Omawumi

Waje in a selfie with Jerry Odili, Save Our Needy Program Manager

Waje is a United Nations Ambassador for Peace and a ONE Ambassador. She is deeply concerned about women issues as well as the welfare of the disadvantaged in the society.  Little wonder she leads ONE #MakeNaijaStronger Campaign urging the Nigerian government to increase budget allocation to health care and reform the health sector.

 

L-R: Aliko Dangote, Waje and Bono of U2 (Co-founder ONE)

Waje with her daughter, Emerald

Waje, who wants to be known as more than just a great, beautiful artiste, was recently a judge on the panel of The Voice Nigeria. She is mother to beautiful Emerald.

Waje, Desmond Elliot and Toolz Attend ONE ''Make Naija Stronger'' PSA Campaign Launch in Lagos

Dateline: October 12th 2016.

The #MakeNaijaStronger Campaign got further push as ONE launched the PSA Campaign, "I AM IN...To Make Naija Stronger'' in Lagos and Abuja.
 

L-R: Dr. Francis, Toolz, Alli Nuhu, Nachilala Nkombo, Waje, Desmond Elliot

Nachilala Nkombo, ONE Deputy Director, Africa, was on hand to formally launch the campaign in Lagos. She made a beautiful speech urging Nigerians to put more pressure on the Nigerian government to increase investments in the health sector and increase budget allocation to health care. She stressed how distressing it is to note that millions of women and children are still dying in Nigeria yearly due to preventable diseases and lack of a befitting health sector for a great country like Nigeria.

Round-table discussion after launch with some ONE members

Celebrities and influential Nigerians like Desmond Elliot, Tolu Demuren (Toolz) and Alli Nuhu (face of Northern Nigeria) who recently joined the campaign also graced the event.

ONE ambassador, award-winning artiste and philanthropist, Waje, was very present at the event. She gave a very inspiring speech and participated at the round-table discussion after the launch.

Marvella Odili, (CEO, Save Our Needy) and ONE Ambassador, Waje

Nachilala Nkombo, ONE Deputy Director, Africa and Marvella Odili

Round-table discussion on the journey so far

Hon. Desmond Elliot

Marvella Odili and Toolz

Jerry Odili (Program Manager, Save Our Needy) in a selfie with Waje

Nigerian celebrities including Yemi Alade, Basketmouth and Kate Henshaw have all joined this very important campaign for better health care in Nigeria. You can lend your voice to the #MakeNaijaStronger campaign by signing the petition here:

https://www.one.org/africa/take-action/make-naija-stronger/

Kindly follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @SaveOurNeedy