Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye Joins Save Our Needy Advisory Board

We are very pleased to announce that Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, CEO of Nike's Art Galleries is the first woman to join Save Our Needy Advisory Board. Please read a brief summary of her biography below:


Chief (Mrs.) Oyenike Monica Okundaye popularly known as Nike Davies-Okundaye aka "Mummy Nike" was born on May 23rd 1951 at Ogidi-Ijumu, Kogi State, Nigeria.

Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye

A woman of very modest beginnings, Nike Davies-Okundaye had no formal education because her parents could not afford to pay for her education.

She was educated in art by her great grandmother, a weaver and "adire" textile maker, whom she lived with after the death of her mother and grandmother.

Today, she holds several traditional chieftaincy titles due to the positive impact she has made in the lives of so many people through her work.

Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye

A professional textile artist and painter, Nike Davies-Okundaye is one of the most respected internationally known female artists from Nigeria. She is a member of several professional bodies including Society of Nigerian Artists, ASA of USA and Canada, ACASA, Society of Nigerian Women Artists, Member of Osun Support Grove, Board member of the National Heritage Council of
Nigeria, Member of the Board of Trustee of Osun State Centre For Black Culture and International understanding, amongst others.

A social entrepreneur and philanthropist, Nike Davies-Okundaye is the Managing Director/CEO of Nike Center for Art and Culture, Osogbo and Nike Art Galleries, Lagos.

In 1983, Nike, in her generous nature, took 20 girls off the streets, accommodated, fed and taught them how to earn their source of income through the arts. This led to the establishment of Nike Center for Art and Culture. To date, more than 3,000 disadvantaged youths have been freely trained at the Center.

She is the Founder and Managing Director of "Nike Art Productions Limited" and "Nike Research Centre for Art and Culture Limited."

Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye (mummy Nike as she's fondly called).

In 2002, Nike established an Art and Culture research center at Piwoyi village, Abuja equipped with an art gallery and a textile museum, the first of its kind in Nigeria which will provide functional platform for research into Nigerian traditional textile industry in Abuja.

In 2007, she founded the "Nike Art and Culture Foundation" which aims at fostering Nigerian cultural heritage.

Marvella Odili (Founder and CEO, Save Our Needy) with mummy Nike

Nike has been invited by Ivy League universities in America, England and Canada such as Harvard University to conduct workshops and give lectures on African batik, the technique of adire textile processing and African dyeing methods.

She has received several awards in recognition of her outstanding work,  one of which is the highest Italian national award of merit by the government of the Republic of Italy in appreciation of her efforts in using art to address and solve the problems of Nigerian sex workers in Italy.

One of Nike's artworks

Nike's painting is permanently featured at The Smithsonian Museum as of 2012, and her work is
also part of the collection of The Gallery of African Art and The British Library, in London.

A book was written about Nike by Kim Marie Vaz titled "The Woman with the Artistic Brush: A Life History of Yoruba Batik Artist, Nike Davies."

Chief Mrs Nike Davies-Okundaye is happily married with children.

ONE Health Walk To Mark International Youth Day

ONE Nigeria members took to the streets of Lagos and Abuja as they walked in unison to celebrate the #InternationalYouthDay yesterday, August 12th and today, August 13th.

The event also gave an opportunity to raise more awareness for the #MakeNaijaStronger campaign, a campaign geared towards urging the Nigerian government to improve healthcare and increase budget
allocation to the health sector.

Aerobics, medical screening on HIV, Hepatitis and malaria were conducted free on willing participants. There was entertainment as well as music and dance were part of the fulfilling day.

Passers-by were also encouraged to sign petitions to further push the #MakeNaijaStronger campaign.

It was indeed awesome!

Prof. PAT UTOMI Becomes Patron of Save Our Needy

We are delighted and we feel highly honoured to announce that Prof. Pat Utomi, distinguished scholar, is Patron of Save Our Needy.

Read below a brief biography of this extraordinary and well-respected Nigerian:

Patrick Okedinachi Utomi popularly known as Pat Utomi was born on February 6th ,1956 in Kaduna, Nigeria. He is a professor of political economy and management expert. 

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and a former presidential candidate. He has a passion for the dignity of the human person and the spirit of enterprise.

Prof. Pat Utomi is the founder of Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL) and the African Democratic Congress party. He has served in senior positions in government, as an adviser to the president of Nigeria, the private sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Volkswagen of Nigeria and in academia.

He was appointed professor of the Social and Political Economy Environment of Business and Pioneer Entrepreneurship Teacher at Lagos Business School in 2003. He has been a scholar-in-residence at the Harvard Business School and the American University in Washington, D.C.

Prof. Pat Utomi also belongs to many professional bodies. He is a member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Institute of Directors, IOD, Nigeria Economic Summit Group and Nigeria Economic Society. 

He coordinated the establishment of several civil society groups on good governance and accountability such as Transparency in Nigeria, the Centre for Values in Leadership, the Concerned Professionals, and the Restoration Group.

In the business sphere, Utomi was the vice-chairman, Platinum–Habib Bank. He is a columnist, and chairman, BusinessDay Media Limited and creator of Patito’s Gang, a television talk show.

He has served on the key apex private sector associations including the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. He is also the chairman of Poise Nigeria Limited, and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA). 

Prof. Pat Utomi is active on the international speaking circuit, especially on the subjects of growth economics, comparative development, leadership, oil and China’s economic surge and growing influence in Africa. He has collaborated frequently with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, and Chatham House, in the UK. He has also written commissioned papers for the UKs DFID including the latest collaboration with Colleagues from Oxford on the Political Economy of growth in Nigeria.

Among his numerous distinguished honors and awards is top ten Living Legends in the Vanguard/Silverbird Television Awards.

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.