Shoprite Partners Save Our Needy On School Rehabilitation Project

On July 27th, Save Our Needy in partnership with the Shoprite Community Network (charity arm of Shoprite) commissioned a block of 5 classrooms at St Martins Nursery and Primary School, Mushin, Lagos. The entire school block was rehabilitated under the project ''Better Life Through Education.''

The project which primarily aims at improving learning conditions of pupils attending low-income (public) schools and promoting early childhood development (ECD), was attended by dignitaries and  representatives from Ministry of Education, Lagos State Basic
Education Board (SUBEB) and Mushin Local Government.

Official commissioning of school block by Adekunle A. Julius (Sole Administrator, Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA)

L - R: Teachers of St Martins Sch., Jerry Odili, Marvella Odili, Adekunle A. Julius, Mrs Nwankere (Head Teacher)

Inspecting work done on classes

Front gate of St Martins School

 

Commissioning plaque

During the course of the project, broken ceilings and leaking roofs were fixed, damaged floors were repaired, classrooms and the entire school block were painted. The classrooms were also equipped with whiteboards. 

St Martins School and the Mushin community were selected as beneficiaries of this phase of the project because of their high population density and high poverty rate. 

Classroom transformation (before and after)

Classroom transformation (before and after)

School block transformation (before and after)

In her speech at the joyous occasion, the CEO of Save Our Needy, Marvella Odili, emphasized that "quality education for every child should never be compromised. All children irrespective of their social backgrounds, have the right to study in a conducive and peaceful environment. That is non negotiable."

"Better Life Through Education" was launched in August 2015. More than three schools in Lagos State have benefited from the initiative so far.

Dance performance by pupils of St Martins School

Visit the Save Our Needy website to know more about this project and other ways Save Our Needy is positively influencing lives: www.saveourneedy.org
facebook.com/SaveOurNeedy

Twitter: @SaveOurNeedy

ONE loses former CEO to cancer

Michael J. Elliott

Global campaign and advocacy organization co-founded by Bono, ONE, lost its former CEO, Michael J. Elliott, to cancer on July 14th 2016.

Born in Liverpool, England in 1951, Michael J. Elliott was a British journalist and executive. He was the president and chief executive officer of the anti-poverty advocacy organization, ONE. Awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to journalism, Elliott previously held senior executive positions at Time magazine, Newsweek, and The Economist.

Elliott, who attended Oxford University, became the President and CEO of ONE in 2011. He oversaw the organization's global operations.

In his five years leading the organization, Elliott recorded outstanding success as ONE increased its global footprint and saw its membership rise from 2 million to more than 7 million, of which 2.8 million are in Africa. Elliott also oversaw the successful merger of (RED) with ONE in 2012.

He died a few days ago at the age of 65 after living with cancer for more than two years, having moved on to become a Senior Strategic Advisor to ONE earlier in the year. He is much missed by his family, friends and colleagues around the world.

RIP Michael J. Elliott.

Jerry Odili At The U.S. Independence Celebration

 

Save Our Needy Program Manager, Jerry Odili, was one of the few selected Nigerians who attended the U.S. Independence Celebration on June 30th, 2016.

Jerry, a Fellow of the Carrington Youth Initiative Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), had the rare opportunity at the event, to mingle and network with distinguished Nigerians who have made their mark in various fields as well as the American diplomatic corps.

Some of the invited guests include: Chief Ernest Shonekan (Former Head of the Interim National Government), Florence Ita-Giwa, Jimmy Agbaje, Liyel Imoke, Peter Obi, Dakuku Peterside, Pat Utomi, Emeka Anyaoku, General Theophilus and Daisy Danjuma, Sound Sultan, Korede bello and many more.

Jerry Odili with Emeka Anyaoku

Dakuku Peterside (center), Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

Sound Sultan, Jerry Odili (right)

Jimmy Agbaje (center), Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

Korede Bello, Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

Pat Utomi, Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

Liyel Imoke, Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

Nike Oshinowo, Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

 

Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Jerry Odili, CYFI Fellows

The United States has had a robust engagement in Nigeria for many years, maintaining a partnership which runs deep on a host of issues including elections, security, fighting infectious disease, and inclusive economic growth.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle gave a very insightful and memorable speech at the very well organized event. According to the U.S. Ambassador, the event held a special place for him and his wife as he will be ending his assignment in Nigeria shortly and completely retiring from the U.S. Foreign Service at the end of July after 35 and a half years.

It was indeed an evening to remember.

Five Reasons Why Nigeria Should Increase Its Health Budget #MakeNaijaStronger

It has become imperative that the Nigerian government allocates more funds to the health sector if more lives are to be saved. Read below five reasons why this is unavoidable.

1. HEALTH IS PARAMOUNT

They say “Health is wealth” and if you still doubt this, recollect the last time you had to spend the
night in a hospital. It does not matter how strong you are or how much money you have, if the services are not available (and yes, presently, a lot of these services are pretty much unavailable in Nigeria), then nothing else matters. Presently, Nigeria has unacceptable health indices, statistics show that we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world and Nigeria is one of the worst places to be a child. Deaths from preventable communicable diseases such as Pneumonia are very common and we have not even begun to look into the rising burden of deaths from non-communicable diseases such as cancer. 

2. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED TO INVEST MORE

In 2014, the National Health Act was signed into law. This law provides that the government must
direct one percent of the annual budget for the health sector. In 2015 President Buhari publicly
pledged additional funding for health, so that 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund would fund the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. As Africa’s biggest economy and making up almost a fifth of
the region’s population, Nigeria’s leadership and progress on health targets is crucial not only for the
country’s developmental gains and economic growth, but as a leading factor in progress of the whole region.

Through implementing the 2014 National Health Act, proceeding onwards to meet the Abuja Declaration, and rooting out corruption in the health sector, the Nigerian government now has
an historic opportunity to leverage global support, save millions of lives, and build a more prosperous and secure Nigeria.

3. DECREASE IN INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

It is no secret that the majority of our infectious diseases programs are largely funded by external
sources including the Global Fund. Over the years, this funding has reduced and there is a need for us to start looking inwards to funding our health interventions. By 2017, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization will no longer fund immunization; Global Fund has recently suspended funding of HIV, TB and Malaria programs in Nigeria. More than ever before, we need to start looking towards funding these programs internally. So, more money MUST go to the health sector or else whatever gains we have made in immunization, HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease prevention programs over the last couple of decades will be lost. 

4. RISING COST OF HEALTHCARE WORLDWIDE

Globally, there is an increase in the cost of health products and services due to international costing
and pricing mechanisms. Nigeria is by no means exempted from the effects of these rising costs so
we must prepare by ensuring that adequate funds are set aside for this all too important issue. By investing in health will ensure that vulnerable Nigerians such as rural women and children are
cushioned from the challenges this pricing increase presents. 

5. THE RIGHT THING TO DO! 

The current allocation to the health sector is insufficient to cater to the myriads of health
problems Nigeria is facing. If it is insufficient, the right thing to do is to INCREASE IT! After all, if
countries like Rwanda can do it, why can’t Nigeria?

We urge everyone to support the movement to ensure that Nigeria gets its health funding right in order to save precious lives. Please sign the petition by clicking here
Together we will build a stronger health system for Nigeria: #MakeNaijaStronger.

Culled from ONE Campaign blog.

UN hosts 2016 High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS- The Youths Need To Have Their Voices Heard

UN member states gathered in early June in New York for the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending HIV/AIDS, a meeting convened every five years for governments to reassess their past commitments and progress made in combating the epidemic.

At this year’s meeting, governments adopted the 2016 Political Declaration, the document outlining their commitments to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. However one alarming thing was noticed during this meeting: a lack of youth participation. Considering the fact that the adverse impact of the epidemic is mostly on young people ages 15-24, it is only natural that one will expect young people to play a role in this high-level meeting. Between 2005-2013, AIDS-related deaths declined among most age groups, but increased 50 percent among young people.

Governments must act immediately to halt the spread of HIV among its young populations, and

young people themselves must be at the center of these efforts. But young people thus far have
been noticeably absent from the decision-making process, and not for lack of trying. Only few youth organizations such as Youth Voices Count (YVC) were present during this meeting. Young people should be involved as partners, leaders and beneficiaries of such high-level meetings if any real impact is to be made in the world.

 At a panel on empowering adolescent girls and young women to access health care services, only two of the 14 panelists were young people. Young people know what’s needed to halt the
spread of HIV. They need governments to acknowledge their sexual and reproductive health
and rights and provide comprehensive sexuality education so they can deal with their sexuality in
a positive way and be armed with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and protect
themselves from infection. 

Provision of services and information is clearly not enough: Youth also face legal barriers such as
age-of-consent laws when accessing sexual and reproductive health and HIV-related services.
Young people need access to services and information in safe spaces that are free from
stigma and discrimination. 

According to L’Orangelis Thomas Negron of the Network of Positive Youth of Latin America
and the Spanish Caribbean, “We need governments that provide for us, instead of control us, control our bodies, and control our autonomy.”

Despite the lack of space for youth to engage and lead at the High-Level Meeting, the Political
Declaration did make some significant progress for youth in the HIV response. 

The Declaration calls for ambitious targets to halt new infections among adolescent girls and young women while also calling for the elimination of barriers, stigma and discrimination for adolescent and young people. Notably, it calls for governments to provide youth with “comprehensive education on
sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention” including knowledge of human rights, power in relationships, and gender inequality.

Although “sexuality” education is not included, this is a huge step forward from 2011’s Declaration, which called for abstinence and fidelity as a means to ending new HIV infections. A recent study has concluded that abstinence-only programming is completely ineffective for young people.

Moving forward, these commitments are important for ensuring the HIV response addresses youth effectively. However, if young people are not genuinely integrated in decision-making processes, design, and implementation of programming from the global level down to the community level, they will continue to be left behind in the response. Youth—particularly those living with HIV, young women, and key populations—know what does and does not work for them; governments must consult them if they are serious about ending AIDS by 2030.

THE SUN newspaper features ''Light Up The Beach'' AIDS Memorial

Last May 15, Save Our Needy joined the rest of the world to mark the 33rd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. The spectacular event was hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, under the theme ''Light Up The Beach.''

The event which aimed at honoring all those who have passed away from AIDS and raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, attracted participants from all walks of life particularly women and young people.

Nigeria's foremost newspaper, THE SUN, covered the event. Global advocacy organization, ONE, partnered the event. Other partners included Verdant Zeal, Stella Dimoko Korkus blog and Intellectual Magazine.

Read the full story here:
http://sunnewsonline.com/candlelight-memorial-for-aids-victims/

It is Day Of The African Child!

The Day of the African Child is celebrated on June 16th every year.

Children are the foundation of sustainable development. Unfortunately, they make up nearly half of the world’s extreme poor.
Poverty in childhood is often the root cause of poverty in adulthood. To break the cycle of poverty, we need to understand child poverty in all its dimensions. We must all join hands to end child poverty.

Early marriage is another issue that needs to be addressed. Every year an estimated 2 million girls, the majority of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa, give birth before they are 15. Many child mothers are forced out of school and face severe health risks. About 70,000 girls die giving birth each year. We have to support young mothers and prevent very early motherhood.

The African child is typically deprived of using modern technology. The use of technology equips
children with skills and confidence for a brighter future.We believe that every child should
have the opportunity to make, learn and play with technology. That is why we have initiated projects like KLIC (Kids Learning ICT Campaign).

For every child to thrive, he/she must be protected not exploited. Say NO to child labour.Violence against children is one of the worst crimes against humanity. Children deserve to be loved not abused.

Education and empowerment will lead to sustainable human development for children.

It is our responsibility to demand and drive change for a better future for every child, particularly the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. It is time to take ACTION!

We celebrate every African child today. #DayOfTheAfricanChild