In celebration of the birthday of its founder and Delta State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh, the Goodnews Emamusi Obiodeh Foundation has launched a ₦5 million empowerment outreach aligned with the “Opportunities for All” pillar of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda.
Chairman Organising Committee, Obibi Onamakowho Marvins in a statement on Friday said the initiative targets women and students across Isoko Nation through economic support and academic recognition.
Supported by a dedicated team of Darlington Akpoturu, Praise Ejiro Kisson, Oletu Oghogho Joy and Ubara Obaro as secretary, will manage the transparent execution of the outreach.
Two women from each community in Isoko South will be empowered, provided they operate verifiable small-scale businesses within their localities.
Similarly, one student from each of the 24 wards in Isoko South and Isoko North will receive financial support, subject to confirmation of enrollment in a recognized tertiary institution.
To encourage academic excellence, students who emerge overall first in their classes from JSS1 to SSS2 in secondary schools across Isoko South will also receive cash awards. These interventions aim to strengthen grassroots development and promote educational advancement, in line with the state government’s human capital development strategy.
Aside from the ₦5 million earmarked for empowerment and educational support, the committee is also expected to visit two orphanage homes—Ogholeh Orphanage, Oleh, and Gilga Orphanage, Irri, to donate food items as part of the celebrations marking Obiodeh’s birth anniversary.
Through this initiative, the Emamusi Obiodeh Foundation reinforces its commitment to empowering local communities while supporting Governor Oborevwori’s drive for a more inclusive and opportunity-rich Delta State.
Today, eGov Foundation and Compliance Professionals Plc, announce a historic partnership to improve governance in Nigeria through open digital public infrastructure deployments.
eGov Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to improve the ease of living for people through ensuring effective service delivery and good governance.
Compliance Professionals Plc (CPP Limited) is a subsidiary of Compliance Professionals Plc Group (CPP Group) that helps individuals, organizations and states achieve peak performance while complying with local and international laws and regulations.
The CPP Group is an aggregation of several companies and professionals in various sectors under one umbrella with a common mission to impact the Nigerian and African space positively.
The partnership between eGov Foundation and Compliance Professionals Plc will facilitate the deployment of eGov Foundation’s DIGIT platform in Nigeria with the ultimate goal of promoting e-governance, ensuring statutory compliance, optimizing revenue generation, and improving government performance.
DIGIT is an open, interoperable, free-to-use platform that offers solutions for citizens, first-mile employees, administrators, commercial players and policymakers.
DIGIT uses a building block and shared data registries approach that ensures it can be reused, repurposed and extended to new sectors to solve pressing problems. DIGIT has been adopted in ~1500 cities and 14000+ Villages in India with over 250+ million citizens served.
It is often said that the economic growth of a country is significantly impacted when exposed to indicators of bad governance. However, different indicators influence the degree of impact.
A lack of regulatory policies and frameworks, government’s ineffectiveness, lack of control on corruption, unaccountability, lack of transparency and compliance with the laws of the country have always been linked to poor economic growth and development.
The DIGIT Platform will aid the effective functioning of government bodies and also promote e-governance.
“We are excited about the digital transformation possibilities in Nigeria leveraging the DIGIT platform. We will facilitate this by providing the necessary support, documentation, and knowledge.,” said Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation
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“Compliance Professionals Plc will drive the transformative and institutional change required by government bodies in adopting DIGIT Platform for effective e-governance,” said Ifueko M. Omoigui Okauru, Managing Partner, Compliance Professionals Plc.
It is our belief that this partnership will foster a strong bond between eGov Foundation and Compliance Professionals Plc, and meet the common goal of improving governance in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he was leaving behind the foundation of free and fair election that has produced the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Buhari stated this Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the Biography of the mother of Emir of Kano and Emir of Bichi, titled “Maryam Ado Bayero: A Woman of Royal Virtue”.
The book chronicles the life and times of Hajiya Maryam Ado Bayero, Mai Babban Daki, mother of two First Class Emirs of Kano and Bichi, Alhaji Aminu and Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero.
Buhari who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, described late Maryam as an extraordinary mother full of compassion and love for all who came her way.
His words: “Mr President finishing his eight years term in office strong and well, leaving behind many legacies, which include the foundation of free and fair election that has produced the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“It has also produced the legacy of achievements in the area of diversification of our economy, reforms of the petroleum industry and infrastructure. Few days ago, we saw him commission the second Niger Bridge, major parts of Kano-Abuja expressway as well as several roads and bridges. And, of course, he is finishing strong and well in pushing back the enemies of Nigeria through insurgency and other form of criminalities.”
Buhari further described the late Maryam as the embodiment of tradition and modernity, a thorough-bred royal who lived a life of a trailblazer, compassionate, human, generous and warm.
He added: “As a professor of political science and a student of history myself, I am yet to stumble on a more interesting personality such as my late elder sister, who in her life time had the good fortune of being the granddaughter of an emir, the 7th Emir of Ilorin; daughter of another emir (8th Emir of Ilorin) and wife to an outstanding revered Emir of Kano, late Ado Bayero and mother of two Emirs (Bichi and Kano). This should have entered the Guinness Book of Records. By virtue of this great piece of history by Ambassador Sani Hajo (author), we have captured and immortalised her life and works for future generation to rely on as a compass.”
Also, the Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said the decision by the government of Kano state to immortalize the late Mai Babban Daki by supporting the book project was informed by its desire to inspire younger generations, particularly girls, to learn the lessons of life from a distinguished mother.
He said documenting the life of a distinguished mother was a service to history, knowledge and development, adding that “every part of her life is but a mirror for the present and future generations.
According to him, late Nana Maryam Ado Bayero has been recognized for her humility, generosity and unassuming, and despite her position, she lived a simple life worthy of emulation.
“The idea behind the book is in itself unique. It started as a discussion between the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and myself during the period of mourning of her departure, when he briefed me about her royal pedigree from the eminent scholar and leader, Sheikh Salihu al Alimi, the founder of modern Ilorin, through many emirs.
“The state government will also support the establishment of a foundation to continue with the good work she had been doing when she was alive which included the building of a Friday Mosque, an islamiyya school as well as sponsoring an annual Maulud at the Kano Emir’s Palace and Qur’anic Recitation Competitions. Therefore, as a step forward, proceeds from today’s launch will be directed to that foundation.”
Commenting on the life and time of the late Maryam, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi who described her as her mother, urged Nigerians women to train up their children properly for them to bring glory to their mothers.
He said: “Our late mother is a virtuous woman and I am proud to identify with her. I will urge Nigerian women to train their children so that one day they will bring glory to them.”
The O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation will continue to fulfil its mission of implementing sustainable interventions that enhance the quality of life for under-served persons, Chairman of the Foundation, Dr Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs has said.
She made the pledge during a special thanksgiving service held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday 21 September 2021 to commemorate and kick-off what will be a yearlong 20th anniversary celebration.
The well-attended event also coincided with her 63rd birthday and the 13th anniversary of the Chapel of God International Worship Center over which she presides as Senior Pastor.
“This is 63 years of God’s faithfulness in my life; 20 years of God’s grace in the life of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation as we continue to serve mankind and 13 years of God saving lives through the Chapel of God.
“Two decades of consistent and impactful interventions in the lives of under-served persons, across communities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta is a milestone accomplishment. We feel honoured by God to have been able to bring hope to thousands of families and many communities, we otherwise may not have reached,” Mrs. Lulu-Briggs said.
On the impact of the Foundation’s work, Mrs. Lulu-Briggs said that “since 2005, through 34 Free Medical Missions it organized, the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation has provided high quality health services, including surgeries, to 132,591 men, women and children in rural and semi-urban Niger Delta communities.” Inmates of the Correctional Facilities in Port Harcourt are among beneficiaries of the Foundation’s Free Medical Missions which, she said, aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 that aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all age.
Through its Access to Clean Water and Sanitation programme, according to Mrs. O.B. Lulu-Briggs, the Foundation has taken potable water to 33 communities across the Niger Delta region. It has also built and donated toilet and sanitary facilities to enhance public health and wellbeing.
“So far, we have provided 10,450 households in 25 communities of the Niger Delta with access to potable water,” she said.
“In the last 20 years, through our interventions in the education sector, we have empowered 1,316 persons with scholarships for formal education and training programs from Nursery to tertiary levels, including the Nigeria Law School. We have also provided funding to 30 teachers and trainers and built an Information Technology Centre for learning.”
Visibly elated, Mrs. Lulu-Briggs expressed gratitude to all who have contributed to the success of the Foundation in the last twenty years.
“We are grateful and humbled that, today, we can look back at 20 years of programming and appreciate the impact that we have achieved in touching and improving the health, well-being, and livelihoods of people in several communities on account of the boundless generosity of my husband of blessed memory, High Chief (Dr) O. B. Lulu-Briggs, OON, DCF, DSSRS, our grand benefactor. We trust that God will continue to enable this Foundation to work for humanity.
“We wish to acknowledge and to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, all the people and entities that have supported our work over the years. Your support has been crucial to our success! Let me assure you that all that we have accomplished in the last 20 years is nothing compared to what we will achieve in the next twenty years.”
The Presiding Pastor of the Thanksgiving Service, Pastor Dubem Okwuosa while commending Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs for her vision, asked the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation team to continue to draw its strength from God.
On her part, Hilda Desmond-Ihekiare, Chairperson of the Rivers State Branch of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), one of the Foundation’s institutional partners said the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation has offered hope to many widows in the Niger Delta region through their partnership which provides free legal services to widows in Rivers State.
According to a statement released by the Media Lead of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Barr. Oraye St. Franklyn, other activities lined up as part of the yearlong 20th anniversary celebration are a Free Eye Clinic held on 23rd of September 2021, which attracted thousands of beneficiaries from across Rivers State. A Free Legal Clinic is to hold on the 24th of November 2021 among other programmes to be unveiled in the course of the celebrations. According to Barr. St. Franklyn, an anniversary lecture, and gala night are scheduled to hold in February 2022, which would afford the foundation an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate its partners and volunteers.
The O. B Lulu-Briggs Foundation was founded in 2001 by Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs in the name of her beloved husband, High Chief (Dr.) O. B. Lulu-Briggs, OON, DCF, DSSRS, (1930-2018), to honour, celebrate and institutionalize his legendary giving.
The Foundation’s mission is to implement sustainable interventions through these five programmes: Care for Life, also popularly called, Care for the Elderly; Free Medical Missions; Access to Clean Water and Sanitation; Education and Micro-credit and Entrepreneurship.
The menstrual health and hygiene needs of adolescent girls were placed on the front burner when 1,500 female adolescent students in Agege, on Tuesday, July 27, received free personal hygiene kits.
The packs which were handed over to them at the Annual Free Summer Empowerment Day – Care Pack Initiative being driven by Ornaments of Grace and Virtue (OGAV) and Cakasa Ebenezer Foundation (CEF) held at Government Senior College, Agege, contained reusable sanitary towels and underwear, toiletries, face masks, hand sanitizers and writing materials.
In his speech at the occasion, the Chairman, Cakasa Ebenezer Foundation and Managing Director, Cakasa Nigeria Limited, Engr. Philip Balami Yaro said that the NGO was proud to be identified with the initiative because empowering young girls was fundamental to their objective of enhancing the lives of women and children.
Represented by General Manager Financial Services of the company, Mr. Mohammed Shuaibu, the NGO’s Chairman said, “We are ardent on empowering the adolescent girl because adolescence is a critical period in the transition from childhood to adulthood.”
Engr. Yaro revealed that from the CEF partnership with OGAV, 10 girls were already enjoying scholarships up to tertiary level.
According to him, “All over the world, girls face unique challenges during adolescence, with the ominous prospect of increased school dropout, child marriage and pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and HIV infection, and, even more sadly, the experience of violence.”
Engr. Yaro continued, “Researchers have noted that better sanitary care and reproductive health education for indigent schoolgirls does indeed improve school attendance by adolescent girls and does indeed reduce the risk of school dropout.”
He admonished the girls to live a purpose-driven life.
“Please note that having a good life, which includes education, access to good health services, and participation in the community, is your right. It is not an option. An empowered girl child means you would have healthier families in the future. It also means that you will not be poor. Education will bring you a steady income. Beyond all these, it means Nigeria would have a better economy because not only men would be driving big companies, but you will also. And more than anything, it is always the right thing to do – that everyone must be empowered to do great things.” He concluded.
In her remarks at the event, the Lagos State Tutor General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Titilayo Margaret Solarin, said that “changing the narrative of empowering the girl child starts from the home because the family is the first change instrument which a girl encounters.”
She stated that a girl must be treated specially as training a girl is equivalent to training a nation.
Mrs Solarin then admonished young girls to be focused as the future belonged to them.
Speaking with journalists on the occasion, the President and Founder, OGAV, Mrs Busola Kolade said, “The main objective for the day is to support the girl child as times as these are very unprecedented times which expose the girl child to many hazards.”
“In supporting the girls, a hand of fellowship extends to the parents because we are giving the girls, not only personal hygiene items but school materials and food items as well. The girl child is not in isolation and so we are looking out for her in totality. As we look out for the girl child, we are looking out for their parents as well. Instead of closing our eyes to them due to the pandemic, we have decided to reach out to them in one way or the other. This one-day exercise to bond with them and most of the girls today will attest to it that they have gained something.” She stated.
Mrs Kolade revealed that beneficiaries of the Care Pack Initiative were 1,500 from public schools in Lagos State only; 1,000 in Agege, while the rest will be shared in Surulere and Obalende over two weeks.
The students expressed excitement for the orientation they got and were grateful for the care packs which were distributed to them.
Adjete Happiness, an SS 2 student of Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, expressed appreciation for the initiative and said it had become a burden to protect the girl child from the evils that are prevalent in society.
Members of the Parents’ Forum who were present admonished the girls to be useful ambassadors to the nation as they go out into the world.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that an estimated 1.2 million still die each year – mostly from preventable causes.
In the same period, an estimated 23 million adolescent girls become pregnant.
It reports further that maternal mortality – in many cases linked to child marriage – is a leading cause of death for girls aged 15–19.
In a bid to complement government’s effort in the provision of healthcare for Nigerians, a non-governmental organization, Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organization conducted a free medical outreach programme .
The medical outreach programme held in conjunction with Saint Augustine Catholic Church, ibuzor Delta State , was held on Wednesday, July 28th 2021.
A group in the church, Saint Vincent De Paul Society collaborated with Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organization to provide free medical checkups, free medicines to the less privileged in Ibuzor, Delta State.
Chief Mrs Magdalene Nwaka Agada, the President of the foundation believes the medical outreach is the foundation’s medium of giving back to the society and giving a life-line to the less privileged.
It was all smiles and happiness as indegenes and residents of Ibuzor converged in their numbers at St Augustine Catholic Church in Ibuzor , for a free medical outreach, the first of its kind in the warm and happy town.
The Medical Outreach was put together by the Open Hands Amazing charitable organization New York USA and UK, anchored on the philanthropic dispositions of Chief Mrs Lolo Magdalene Nwaka Agada, President, CEO and founder of the charity.
The people especially the elderly and the indigent ones turned out in their hundreds and besieged St Augustine’s Catholic Church Ibuzor premises with expectant optimism. Many came with various underlying and unsuspected health issues with a silent prayer that all will be well with them afterwards. That prayer was answered and more, because first, they were given numbers for ease of consultation which started with a visit to the vital signs section to find out their blood pressure and sugar levels, afterwards they proceed to the biometrics area were they are profiled before they interface with the health professionals.
The consultation areas were divided into eye, general health check and internal medical checks with a pharmaceutical area stocked with drugs of different types: analgesics, antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, multivitamins and supplements, heat rubs, cholesterol and blood sugar and pressure medications, gloves, face-masks for the patients and health professionals, eye care kits like glasses and appropriate drugs and many more medications too numerous to mention here.
The patients who are mostly women after going through the health checks and collecting their prescribed drugs from the pharmacy section then proceed to the food section for a sumptuous lunch to aid their healing and recovery process.
Some beneficiary’s interviewed expressed immense joy and appreciation to the funders of the medical outreach, the open hands Amazing charitable organization New York USA and UK, under the distinguished leadership of Chief Mrs Lolo Magdalene Nwaka Agada for braving the odds of economic hardship to reach out to the poor and needy in Ibuzor and environs.
This medical outreach is coming on the heels of two previous charity events targeted at the physically challenged and the elderly.
First it was an event to support physically challenged and less previleged persons with cash gifts and other aids followed by the payment of 5000 stipend to 41 elderly persons in Ibuzor.
All these interventions are coming with an assuring promise by Chief Mrs Lolo Magdalene Nwaka Agada that more medical Outreaches will be held in Enugu and Ibuzor later in the year with a plan to take support those who have need for various serious medical issues needing eye and other surgeries to get back to good health.
Aside these acts of charity she has also empowered some young people with allied industrial training, providing them with working tools and seed funds running into hundreds of thousands. Plus numerous individuals she has supported financially to help them get through the tough economic times in Nigeria.
Speaking after the event assistant Parish Priest of St Augustine’s Catholic Church Ibuzor, Rev Fr Nicholas extolled the selfless disposition of Chief Mrs Agada with the instrumentality of her Open Hands Amazing charitable organization New York USA and UK and prayed God to bless and protect her to continue to to do good.
In his remarks shortly after witnessing the medical outreach, the Uwollo of Ibusa, Chief Amaechi Nwonye said the efforts of Chief Mrs Lolo Nwaka Agada has resonated Al over Ibuzor and left a good taste in people’s mouths and a good feeling in their hearts and called on other well meaning indigenes to emulate her good gesture.
Also in an interview during the outreach, Chief Charles Okonkwo (Odogwu of Ibusa) thanked God for giving Ibusa such a Daughter in Chief Mrs Lolo Nwaka Agada and using her to touch the lives of Ibuzor people, he also prayed for God’s blessings on her.
With over 400 people receiving medical care in the medical outreach, it was all shades of joy for them as they marveled at the quantity of drugs giving to them free of charge after being checked by the medical practitioners.
Among the institutions on ground to coordinate affairs are St. Vincent De Paul Society, Ibuzor medical outreach group and the host parish St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Ibuzor with Rev Fr Stephen Onyiah as Parish Priest.
According to Winston Churchill “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” and Kahlil Gibran once said “It is when you give of yourself that you truly give”.
Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organization New York USA and UK has started a a revolution to change lives with uncommon acts of kindness and philanthropy.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Monday categorically stated that it did not offer members of the House of Representatives or their leadership any monetary grant in respect of the Control of Infectious Disease Bill, 2020.
Country Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Paulin Basinga said this while appearing before the House Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the bribery allegation levelled against the House by the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
Mr Basinga said his organization has always adhered strictly to professionalism in its dealings with other organizations in Nigeria.
“Any such allegations are entirely false and without merit. To be clear, the Foundation has not offered any financial incentives to any member of Nigeria’s legislative branch for the passage of legislation nor has it offered any grants to organizations in Nigeria in connection with the same.
“The Foundation adheres to strict ethical and legal guidelines across all areas of its operations. What drives the Foundation’s work is the simple and compelling belief that all lives have equal value and that everyone deserves to lead a healthy productive life,” Mr Basinga said.
Meanwhile, the House had given the CUPP Spokesman till Thursday, 21 May to appear before it or send a presentation to it on the bribery allegation he made against it or the panel would be left with no option than to conclude its work without his input and submit its report to the House.
The chairman of the investigative panel, Henry Nwawuba maintained that though he was just seeing the purported court papers for the first time at the hearing, the panel would not entertain any submission on behalf of the Spokesman or CUPP.
“What you are trying to do is to thwart the process of this investigation to determine the veracity or otherwise of the allegation by CUPP Spokesman, that was an ambush and that is unacceptable.
“We give your client till Thursday to appear before the Committee or communicate through a presentation. Failure to do that, we will do our job, conclude the investigation and present our report to the House,” Nwawuba said.
The chairman also urged media houses to continue to partner with the Legislature in its effort to move the nation forward, while adding that thorough verification of issues should always be carried out before publication to avoid unnecessary clashes.
There is nothing worse than leaving a beauty shop with the wrong kind of product for your skin- in this case foundation. While there are usually representatives in store to assist with selections, more often than not it happens that a lot of people still walk out with the wrong products.
Sure, many brands have upped their color selections to be more inclusive, but that doesn’t mean the process gets easier. If you’re not a shade-matching pro, we’ve got you covered with a few simple steps that can help you on your next shopping trip. Be sure to take these down.
Determine your skin undertone. Whether you have cool or warm undertones, your foundation selection should rely on where you land on that spectrum. Many brands have specific shades dedicated to each, and the last thing you want to do is wash out your complexion with an unflattering formula.
Use natural light. This one might seem obvious, but lighting matters. Just because a shade looks like it matches indoors doesn’t mean it will appear the same in natural light. Take a sample home for testing or compare shades while standing next to the nearest window.
Try 3 different shades. Makeup legend Bobbi Brown suggests the trial and error process, using three different shades. Choose the ones that seem to match your skin tone best, swipe two strips of each onto your cheek and step into the light.
Use the right applicators. Not blending properly can result in a blotchy mess that feels completely unnatural. The right brush or sponge is key.
Ask an Expert. Lastly, if you really can’t figure it out, ask a pro. Some sales representatives are only about making a sale and will thrust what they feel is OK. Ensure you visit shops that have knowledgeable beauty experts to help with any questions you may have. Plus, shade matching is a free service. This way, you know your perfect shade and if you choose to shop online next, you know what exactly to ‘add to cart’.
