• By SANMI FALOBI –

As Child Rights Advocates, especially in Africa commemorates the Day of the African Child, celebrated on 16 June every year, Government of African nations as well as Policy Makers, Support Groups, Organizations, Parents and Care-givers have been called to ensure that children are consciously integrated into development initiatives.

Speaking to sdnonline to commemorate the 2018 edition, which has the theme, ‘Leave No Child Behind for Africa’s Development’, Mrs. Oruoma Odum, a UNICEF trained child rights advocate and Senior lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, said it was imperative that all hands are on deck in ensuring proper development of the child.

“That we ‘Leave no child behind” is one the laws embedded in the Child Rights Charter CRC, (1990) and Child Rights Act, CRA, ( 2003). This means that the child ( boy and girl) must come first in anything we do. ”We” here, means parents, Caregivers and Government at all levels. This includes education, health and the general development of the child (Physical, body and soul)” she said.

Speaking further, she noted that the African child, and in particular, the Nigerian child is being deprived of some rights and neglected in many things that is needed for proper development and growth.

Mrs. Oruoma Odum

“If you look at it generally, the Nigerian child is not independent, the Nigerian child does not have the will to do certain things, the Nigerian child is kind of neglected. For instance, in the home, till now, most parents believe that the child should not eat meat and that there are things the child must not take. I think it is ignorance because a child needs meat, needs food because the child needs to grow into an adult. So if you don’t feed that child well, the child will not grow well, the child will not have the mental capacity to absorb the stress of life later, even as an adult. So the Nigerian child generally is not properly taken care of, the Nigerian child is not given that right to be him or herself.”

 According to her, every child should be given what is needed to grow and develop well. “We know that in our society, the child is not giving any form of chance to be able to express him or herself. It is what the parent says, that is taken; it is what the society says that the child obeys. The child does not even know that he or she has a right to education; the father will decide who should be sent to school, especially the girl child. The girl-child in our society is seen as somebody who will marry later and answer somebody’s name so there is no need educating her in any form, so she ends up as a full time or glorified house help in her husband’s home.”

 She lamented that society still permits some cultural practices, which adversely affects the development of children, especially the girl-child.

 “Some society still practice female genital cutting. This is bad. God has put it there for a purpose, but when you cut it, you put the child through some pains and the child grows up with low self-esteem. Some people go to the extent that instead of severing it, they sew it up and put that child in pain for life. That culture is bad. It is a societal construct. We should not accept it”, she noted.

 “Early child marriage is another. A child is a child. Imagine a child that you should still be teaching on how to clean herself, you send out for marriage. Early marriage is a very wrong culture. There is also this issue also that the yorubas call ‘Abiku’. They say that because ‘Ifa’ or whatever says that the child would die young, they then have to carry the child and use him or her to go and beg. It is a wrong culture. These are things and norms that we carry on that are not good for the children and these must stop.”

 “I pray that the government will take what concerns the child very seriously”, she noted. “And to the African Child, do not be frail, keep hope alive, persevere, tomorrow will be better that today”, she added.

Day of the African Child, celebrated every year on 16 June, was set aside to remember the young people of South Africa who were massacred in Soweto in 1976 for protesting against apartheid system of education.  The 2018 theme highlights the need to ensure that no child is left behind by specifically targeting those who are not benefitting from Africa’s growth and development.  The theme also underscores the need for inclusive development for children, that is, whenever undertaking to develop programs and policies for implementing Agenda 2030, children should be at the centre-stage and Member States should ensure that no child is left behind in the drive towards sustainable economic development.

* Feature picture courtesy of Unbongo.org

-By Funmi Falobi-

United States Consulate General Lagos in collaboration with Baltimore-based Global Air Media, has concluded a two-day drone technology workshop for students and women STEM leaders. The training which held at the Cedar STEM & Entrepreneurship Hub, and American Corner at Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), both in Yaba, Lagos was conducted by a team of three drone experts led by Global Air Media co-founder, Eno Umoh.

According to a release by Temitayo Famutimi, Information Specialist, Public Affairs Section (PAS), U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, thirty elementary and high school students were coached on the basics of building a drone from the scratch, as well as the requisite skills for piloting and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

In addition to the students’ seminar, thirteen female STEM leaders were mentored on the evolving technology needs of the 21st century, particularly in the fields of real estate and construction, cinematography, as well as humanitarian and emergency response.

Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate Lagos, Ms. Darcy Zotter, explained that the hands-on workshop was designed to stimulate the interest of the participating students in math and science, as well as careers in the STEM fields.

“STEM enables us to find solutions to some of the most pressing issues of today such as alternative energy or even food security. Creating inventions to solve global challenges can be a catalyst for a country’s economic development,” Zotter said.
According to her, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has funded a number of projects to increase STEM education in different parts of the country. Whether at home or abroad, she added, promoting STEM education is a top priority of the U.S. government.
“Last March, we hosted a 16-member delegation of senior women technology executives and professionals from Silicon Valley, California. The visiting delegation held a mentoring program for over 70 Nigerian female STEM leaders.
“In December 2017, we funded the establishment of a technology hub in Lagos designed to host training and mentoring sessions for persons living with disabilities in various technology-based skills. We also hosted RoboRAVE, a robotics education program in Lagos and Abeokuta in October 2017,” she explained.

=By our correspondent=

Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, has appointed Dr. George Uzoma Chima, President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Administration of Nigeria as a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration in recognition of his great impacts in business and the academia.

Professor Daniel Ayandiji Aina, the Vice Chancellor of the university and his team said the appointment followed Professor Chima’s practical industry experience, entrepreneurial and business management expertise and academic prowess.

The Vice Chancellor and his team added that the appointment would afford the Master of Business Administration (MBA) students of the university, the opportunity to acquire both quality academic knowledge and practical experience of entrepreneurship and business management from the versatility of Professor Chima.

Preceding to the appointment, Professor Chima had acquired a Ph.D in Entrepreneurial and Business Administration from California University; another Ph.D in Management from Universidad Empresarial De Costa Rica and Master of Public Administration from the University of Lagos.

Meanwhile, in his congratulatory message, Professor Gabriel Emecheta, Professor of Accounting and Financial Management and Head of the Department of Accounting, Banking and Finance at the university said Professor Chima’s appointment is well deserved. He added that Entrepreneurship and Business Management today have gone beyond textbook theories and stressed that Professor Chima is thus better practically equipped to teach Entrepreneurship and Business Management, given his industry experience and immense academic ability.

Professor Emecheta further hinged his inference on Professor Chima’s distinction on the popular religious maxim that “You cannot be more Catholic than the Pope.”

Professor Chima is a Management Consultant with over 30 years’ professional experience in leadership roles, organisational development, human resource management, entrepreneurship and change management.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administration; Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria; Institute of Directors, Nigeria and Institute of Professional Financial Managers, UK, Professor Chima who is also an Associate of the Institute of Administration equally holds a BSc in Business Administration, and is author of “Organisational Leadership Strategies in a Developing Economy” and “New Leadership Approach: A Paradigm Shift”.

=By Funmi Falobi=

In contributing to efforts to reduce unemployment in Nigeria, the Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD) centre of the Foundation for Skills Development, has inducted 20 new trainees into its skill acquisition programme for 2018. The trainees, who are being sponsored by NAGODE industry, will undergo training in fashion, catering and hairdressing among others. Similarly, NAGODE will provide them with equipment and interest free loan to start their own businesses, upon completion of the training and acquisition of requisite vocational skills

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony for the new set of trainees, FSD Founder, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde said the vision of the Centre is to give people skills so that they can work, earns a living and reduce unemployment.  She said: “There are many work opportunities outside, but no skill. We try our possible best to ensure the trainees are thorough. We are extremely strict. You can’t be a business person if you are not self disciplined. It’s not about your skills alone, we teach integrity and discipline.

Commending NAGODE for solving economic problems in the lives of people, she recalled that the partnership with NAGODE has helped to birth entrepreneurs. “Our relationship with NAGODE started in 2017 and that has led to the training and graduation of 20 trainees. They learnt and started small businesses of their own. The organization empowered them with equipment and today, they will be given loan without any interest to grow their businesses. There is growth in business if you have the tenacity.” She explained, adding that the Centre also follows up on the trainees after graduation and as well monitor their growth in business.

In his remark, Group Managing Director, NAGODE, Mr. Maneesh Garg, while urging the trainees to be focused and determined, said every dream starts with a step.
” We started our company with a container but today, we have thousands. It started with a step. Everybody starts with a single first step and gradually, you make progress. Don’t lose focus. The dream is achievable, ” he said.

On the unemployment and economic downturn in Nigeria, Garg said, “At one level, you see opportunities in Nigeria, at the same time, you see people struggling to make ends meet. People are not useless but are used less” he said. “Start the journey to contribute to yourself and the society”, he added.

NAGODE, which deals in industrial chemicals like cosmetics, paints, soap, ethanol as well as logistics, and has offices in Dubai, Kenya, Ethiopia among other African countries, is supporting FSD as part of the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

” We are in business to inspire Africa. We believe in supporting entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The biggest challenge to entrepreneurs is how to get capital. We help customers to succeed and FSD aligns to our core values, to give young people skills”, Garg said.

Past trainees at the event also commended the initiative and explained that skills acquired from FSD has helped them to start their own businesses and contribute financially in providing for their homes and sending their children to school.

While calling for more support, Ogunrinde implores other organizations to emulate NAGODE by supporting more trainees to be empowered. She noted the challenge facing FSD  is the lack of sufficient partners.  “People come to us because of our quality. Our singular challenge is partners. When we get partners, we will train more people”, she said.

“Aside NAGODE, FSD also has as its partners, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Consulate, Lagos, religious organizations and other organizations. For example, UPS will sponsor the training of about 100 people in year 2018 while the Lagos State government through its Lagos State Entrepreneurship Trust Fund, LSETF has given loan to trainees with 5% interest”, she added.