Tag: africa

01May

WATER POVERTY IN ZOKUTU, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Beyond the radiance and lushness of Nigeria’s Federal Capital City – Abuja, some communities around the city centre live in abject water poverty which has greatly posed serious health-related challenges to the lives of the people and continually limit economic growth in the country.

Image may contain: outdoor, water and nature — Water Source for Zokutu Community, Abuja

Surprisingly, there are several villages, shanties, and slums that lie around civilization yet lack of basic amenities and infrastructures to reflect national development. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1 in 3 people, that is, 2.4 billion, live without sanitation facilities while 663 million people still lack access to safe and clean drinking water. In 2017, this estimate changed to 2.3 billion people without sanitation facilities and 844 million people without access to safe and clean drinking water.

Zokutu community located in Kuje Area Council, one of the six area councils in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory is included in these statistics. Clean water is considered a luxury by the residents of Zokutu community exemplifying the enigma of deficiency in the midst of plenty.

Seyifunmi Adebote and Jimoh Oluwatobi Segun of Media for Community Change took a trip to see how 3000+ people lived in Zokutu Community without access to water.

A cave, 6 feet below ground level is the only source of water in the community, filling an all-purpose gap: bathing, laundry, cooking and drinking – without any form of purification. It is pitiable, yet true to posit that the level of development in Zokutu is next to nothing reflected in the poor road networks, the mud houses and limited telecommunication access.

Image may contain: 1 person, outdoor — A cave as source of water for Zokutu Community, Abuja

On average, women and young children in Zokutu community have to visit the cave 5 times daily, sadly, the residential area is quite distant to the cave. Left with no alternative, day and night, people have to pass through bushy paths to scoop the oily, dirty, coloured, and smelling water from the cave to meet their basic domestic uses.

Image may contain: one or more people, tree, plant, outdoor and nature — Women about to fetch water in the Cave at Zokutu Community

Because of the very steep slopes, women and children, mostly, have to ascend and descend the cave bare-footed to maintain a strong and firm grip. There have been cases of people falling and insects attack on people fetching water from the cave. Not surprising that the residents of Zokutu community are largely exposed to numerous health hazards, particularly, water-borne diseases and this is complicated by the absence of functional health facilities.

“I have lived here for over 30 years and this is the only source of water we have. Many times, people in the community fall sick because of the water they drink and when we go to the health centre, the people to attend to us complain that there are no drugs. Most of us are not in good health.” Danlani Mudu, the Security Chief (Seriki n pada) of Zokutu community lamented.

MFCC Speaking with Yoana Bauta, Chief of Zokutu Community.

The Head of Zokutu community, 62 years old Yoana Bauta confirming Mudu’s position explained, “Sadly, the cave is the only option we have. The absence of a functional hospital has made things worse, in fact, some of our children have died in our hands. We are pleading that a borehole or other healthier source of water should be provided for the community”, Bauta grieved.

The unavailability of water has also affected the hygiene of ladies and women in this community, exposing them to menstrual health infections and illnesses. Another resident, 14 years old David, said that water poverty in the community has posed a threat to his education, as well as, that of his siblings and friends.”–

Titilope Fadare, For Media For Community Change Initiative

Abuja, Nigeria.

05Apr

HOPESPRING, WATERAID, MFCC LAUNCHED WASHCLUB IN SCHOOLS

Hope Spring Water Charity Foundation, as a Non-governmental Organization with a core focus in alleviating water poverty and providing WASH education in communities, found it imperative to extend WASH education to schools by establishing WASH clubs in Nigeria schools under the ‘Hope Spring WASH to School’ (W2S) Initiative.

With the knowledge that a child spends an average of 6 hours in
school. While it is predicted that about 50% of schools in Nigeria do not have any source of improve water supply, 80% of schools lack WASH education, these daily exposes school children to grave health risk.

ABOUT THE WASH QUIZ COMPETITION:
The aim of the WASH Quiz competition organized by Hope Spring Water Charity Foundation was to create more awareness about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) among Nigerian students. The event held on 20 March 2019, at IBI Training Centre, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, it is the first of its kind in Nigeria and was supported by WaterAid Nigeria, Media for Community Change, AgroNature Nigeria and EnvironFocus Nigeria.

In attendance were 58 students from 5 schools (both public and private schools.) List of schools in attendance includes;

Junior Secondary School Karmo, Sabo
Junior Secondary School Apo,
Solid Rock International School, Abuja.
Covenant International School, Abuja.
Junior Secondary School, Idu Koro.

THE WASH QUIZ CONTEST:
Solid Rock International Schools was the overall winner with a total score of 85 points, after one hour of interesting WaSH quiz session. The questions were tailored towards assessing the contestants’ knowledge of WaSH and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Covenant International School, JSS Karmo, JSS Apo and JSS Idu Koro recorded 75, 60, 35 and 35 points respectively. A Life Straw Community Water Dispenser was awarded to the winner. Branded bags, shirts and caps were handed over
to all participants.

Hope Spring Water remains committed to expanding reach to more schools across the federation and are following up with potential sponsors and partners who are passionate about imparting lives through providing water resources.

We look forward to strengthening and sustaining these collaborations to achieve the goal of the WASH Club initiative in Nigerian schools.

14Feb

#VOTE4WASH: MFCC PARTNERS WATERAID

Elections come with various opportunities, one of which is presenting the people an opportunity to exercise their fundamental human right by voting responsible public office holders. As millions of Nigeria head to poll, Media For Community Change has partnered with WaterAid Nigeria to educate people on the need to #Vote4WASH during the #NigeriaDecides2019 and thereafter.

This is very important to our organization seeing that poor or no access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facility is a big challenge in most local communities where we work. We understand that if leaders prioritise WASH sector and provide necessary infrastructures in their communities, it will transform the standard of living and improve health status.

Delivery of WASH services acts as a primary barrier to disease transmission and hygiene promotion, particularly handwashing with soap, has been identified as the most cost-effective disease control intervention. Yet 87% of the population do not have basic hygiene facilities and almost a third (29%) of hospitals and clinics in the country do not have access to clean water; the same percentage do not have access to clean water; the same percentage do not have safe toilets and one in six(16%) do not have anywhere to wash hands with soap according to a World Health Organization report.

Ekene May of MFCC explaining why you should #vote4WASH

Access to water, sanitation are crucial for good outcomes in health, nutrition, education & livelihoods and inadequate or poor WASH services have an impact on virtually all aspects of human development, disproportionately affecting the life chances of women and girls. No one should have to live without these basic life-saving services. Ensure your vote counts and demand these social services from your candidates and duty bearers.

18Jan

Out of School Children in Nigeria: NGO Sent 31 back to School

To reduce the current high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria estimated at 13.5 million by UNICEF, and to combat the menace of illiteracy in Nigeria, Mr. Ibezim Chike Victor, the founder of the Mil-Vision Foundation has announced his organization’s plan to send 3 million out-of-school children back to school by 2030. Mr. Ibezim made this public during the official launch of the foundation’s activities at LEA Primary School Tunga-Maje, Abuja.

“Our vision clearly states that by 2030, we will send 3 million out-of-school children in Nigeria back to the classroom. We recognize that it is a very big task; however, we are committed to achieving this through the goodwill and donations of our partners, adequate monitoring, evaluation and reporting of our activities, as well as, maximally leveraging the individual and collective strengths of our volunteers.”

According to the Headmistress of LEA Primary School Tunga-Maje, FCT, Abuja, Hajia Usman Takwa, “We currently have 1812 boys and 977 girls but we still have so many out-of-school children out there in Tungan-Maja. The community is quite big and densely populated but we have only 97 teachers and limited infrastructure so it is beyond my power to get more students to school.”

At the official launch of the Mil-Vision Foundation which took place at LEA Primary School Tunga-Maje, Abuja on Thursday, January 10, 2019; thirty-one (31) indigent students benefited from a 100% per cent scholarship covering tuition fee, school uniforms, school bags, and writing materials.

According to the founder, “Our organization remains committed to providing quality education to indigent kids. We understand that education builds a nation. Developed countries today have invested heavily in education and it works for them.” Victor opined, “Primary school education is the most important stage in a child’s life, if a child is giving primary school education, it is easier for such children to speak for themselves, learn skills and live a more responsible life.”

To assist Mil-Vision Foundation to achieve her aim of getting 3 million out-of-school children back to the classroom, visit www.themilvisionfoundation.org.

04Sep

MFCC TO DOCUMENT HOPESPRING WATER IN NIGERIA

Three out of every ten Nigerians lack access to safe and clean water source close to their homes. With a population of about 182 million people, this implies about 57 million Nigerians lack access to improved source of water supply.

Families in both rural and urban areas find it difficult to access safe and clean water for their domestic needs.

On this bid, The Hope Spring Water, a charity organization in the UK have its operation in Nigeria which is targeted at alleviating water poverty in both urban and rural areas in Nigeria through construction of boreholes, wells and water education.

The Hope Spring Water NGR chapter under the administration of Mr Temple Chukwuemeka is working closely with a corp member; Mr Eseoghene Johnson to construct a borehole for Jidu Community – An under-served community in Abuja, Nigeria.

To remind you of our our theory of change which is to amplify the voices of the marginalized using the power of media, Media For Community Change is working with Hope Spring Water, Nigeria-Chapter to document the provision of clean water to Jidu Community in Abuja, Nigeria.

To make this a success, we engage with the local leaders of Jidu community over the weekend, they told us how hard life can be without clean water.

Y’all should anticipate for full documentation!

Cheer.

22Aug

NGO PROMOTES READING CULTURE THROUGH BOOK DONATION

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela

To attain the #GlobalGoals, innovative methodologies must be adopted to fit into various specifics across location and cultural scopes. At Media for Community Change we constantly celebrate the efforts of non-state actors in this regard, especially at local levels.

WholeLife Initiative for Development in Africa (WID-Africa) is one of such organization whose contribution to sustainable development impresses and inspires us. On Saturday, June 30 2018, this group facilitated a Book Donation Campaign which eventually led to a school establishment of a library at Calvary Love Academy in Jikwoyi Phase 2, Abuja.

The aim of this NGO – WholeLife Initiative for Development in Africa, is to resuscitate and promote the reading culture among students in Nigeria through the Book Donation Campaign and establishment of the school library.

For them, the declining success rate of students, especially in the northern part of Nigeria was a challenge and through this project they hope to instil the zeal to learn and make available learning materials for students, who otherwise, will become miscreants and threats to national development.

To a great extent this drive by these young Nigerians led by Ms. Chimere Olukwu has greatly contributed to drive #QualityEducation – #SDG4 in Nigeria while inspiring many more groups to do more.

23Jul

The Role of Communication in Creating a Social Change

Communication finds its place at core of the social development agenda, whereby it welds together marginalized and isolated communities, diverse s and subcultures, groups and individuals, and combines the efforts of change.

Communication plays a crucial role in education, social, and economic progress by not only facilitating trade and transmitting ideas beyond boundaries, but also promoting human development in the remotest corners of the globe.

Media will continue to play a major role in changing our society by driving people to participate in strengthening democratic processes and implementation of social initiatives, thereby promoting inclusive, holistic and sustainable development of the nation.

We are Media For Community Change Initiative, we are working to create an UNUSUAL CHANGE using the power of media.

We are open to partnership and collaborations that will trickles down our impact to the marginalized. Write us;
info [at] mediaforcommunitychange [dot] org

16Jul

ILLITERACY: SPELL AFRICA PROMOTES ADULT LITERACY IN NIGERIA

With 65 million Nigerians illiterate, it is time for government, schools and individuals to take action. In 2015, UNESCO’s National Programme Advisor on Education, Dr Mohammed Alkali recently revealed the results of a UNESCO survey that showed that despite improvements to the country’s education system, 65 million Nigerians remain illiterate.

This statistic is alarming for a number of reasons. Illiteracy has adverse impacts at both an individual and societal level. People who are illiterate are far more likely to live in poverty, facing a lifetime marred by poor health and social vulnerability. Economically, the impacts of illiteracy are also sizeable; workplace productivity, unemployment rates and even national GDP are all affected by a country’s literacy levels.

With this alarming number of illiterate youths and adults in Nigeria, a Volunteer project of SPELLAFRICA – B2S Adult Literacy has took up the responsibility to transform for free, the lives of over 65 million adults in Nigeria to read & write out of extreme poverty.

Image may contain: 1 person, sitting and indoor

Since its inception in 2016, the organization has transformed the lives of over 200 adults and youths to read and write, and still counting.

We visited the SpellAfrica B2S Adult Literacy center in Lagos state, Nigeria to witness what they’ve been doing over the years.

We had an interview session with Mr Erezi Edoreh, the Director of Spell Africa Initiative and the highly esteemed volunteer teachers at the literacy center that are working ceaselessly to transform the lives of illiterate youths and adults in Nigeria.

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, sitting and indoor

Our interview would be published on NGOpodcast Show shortly, Keep on tab!

Cheers!