Group vows to help the less privilege

Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) living in Ajah area and its environs in Lagos will soon have a course to smile as a civil society non-governmental organization the Community Empowerment Partners Incorporated (CEPI) have promised to keep donating education and other relief materials in batches to the children.
At the presentation of some education materials to some Orphans and vulnerable children in Lagbasa Community Primary School on Monday January 8 about 10 children were presented with various educational materials such as packs of exercise books, school uniforms, packs of biros, school bags, sandals, rulers amongst others.
The executive director of CEPI Mrs. Olubunmi Tejumola in an interview said that the presentations one of the ways the organisation wants to impact the community by identifying with the children especially the vulnerable ones.
“To us vulnerable children are the one who don’t have either the father or the mother of both parents or nobody to take cares of them, we therefore count it worthy to help them,” Mrs. Tejumola said.
She said that contrary to some opinions that OVCs are not many in Lagos there are many OVCs in the Urban-rural areas such as Lagos, “They are many Orphans and Vulnerable Children here, in fact we have over 200 of them here in this community,” she said.
Mrs. Tejumola in a show of care and affection adopted an OVC Ibrahim Taofeek who is been look after presently by an aged grandmother who is not too strong and he does not come to school regularly.
One of the trustees of the organisation popular actress, Mrs. Joke Silva Jacobs did the presentation on behalf of the organisation and promised that the organisation will not stop supporting the children.
Community Empowerment Partners was established in 2004 and since then has embarked on various training and community development programmes to achieve it vision of putting smiles on the faces of people that could not be reached and less privilege.

Group calls for eradication of Female Genital Mutilation

The audience were all appalled at the scene before them, some who could not endure such a show simply move outside the hall or turn their face away from the gruelling scenes emanating from the projector. Some simply whimper that the perpetrators be killed. It was indeed one horrible scene that can purge out the heart just like a horror film but this time it was real life.
It was a documentary on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation across Nigeria and Africa showed at the 7th International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditional practice organised by the Inter-African Committee (IAC) Nigeria on Traditional Practices affecting The Health of women and Children at the banquet hall of Ikeja Local government on Wednesday.
The film show was part of the programme aimed at projecting the damages that female circumcision and other hurtful traditional practices could have on women psychologically and physiologically.
Speaking on the reason for the theme ‘Role of men and boys in the elimination of FGM’ the Executive Director, IAC, Mrs. Oyefunso Orenuga said that since the practice is done in a subtle way and most times it is to please the men, then, if men are educated and informed about the dangers inherent in FGM they can help stop the spread of the practice.
For the children, she said the need to be informed and educated from childhood on the reason why it is evil and should be eschew when they grow up because as she put its “the men made the decisions on whether their children should be circumcise or not”.
She decried the situation where among medical practitioners FGM is been medicalised, saying that the organisation is also campaigning against the medicalization of FGM, hence, the sub-theme ‘Engaging health workers in the campaign to reach zero tolerance to FGM and early child marriage’.
Orenuga later did a demonstration on how FGM is carried out and the effect it use to have on women later in life especially when they want to deliver, which could render them childless or even destroy the foetus.
In her key note address, the President of IAC-Nigeria Professor Modupe Onadeko said that the programme was organised to call the attention of Government and other stakeholders to see the need to accelerate and implement actions to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria.
“Female Genital Mutilation is violence against women, it is violence against human rights of women and against the promotion of gender equality,” she said while stressing that men as the head of the family are in better position to make decisions against the practice of FGM.
Prof. Onadeko explained that children especially boys should be involve from the early stage of life by inculcating in them the right attitude so that by the time they become adult and get married they can say No to FGM.
“This partnership will work tirelessly to see that a law to criminalize this act and other harmful traditional practice should be passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly as a matter of urgency,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State represented by Mrs. Mojisola Kasim said that the role of collaboration cannot be over emphasis, hence, the administration will leave no stone unturn to stop the practice saying that the IAC should be rest assured of the support of the state ministry of Health in tackling the scourge.
On her own part the representative of the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Idoko reveal that over 140 million women are subjected to this harmful and horrible practice and call for the need to educate youths and children.
Chief Ade Omiata from the Ministry of Health and also a consultant with IAC talks about the importance of involving men in the elimination of FGM “men will have to say no, it is awful and evil,” he said. He later called for the message about the dangers of FGM to be taken to the rural areas.
The Inter-African committee on Traditional Practices (IAC) is made up of 28 Africa countries where FGM and early child marriages are been practice. It was founded in 1984 while the Nigeria office was founded in 1985. The International day on Zero Tolerance to female genital Mutilation was officially launched by the former first lady of Nigeria Mrs. Stella Obasanjo in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2003 and recognised by the United Nation

The Pain of Mission work

In the 17th, 18th, and 19th century missionary work is charactirse by a of encourgaement and pride. Leaving a comfortable life in England to heed to the call to become Missionaries in the jungle of Africa where many of them died of various diseases, some died while on the field working or due to the hostilities of the villagers is highly refer. Then, you became a missionary almost at your own peril because the support they got from missionary societies such as CMS, Baptist and Methodist organisations were not enough for them to survive but they keep coming and felt fulfilled that Africans were turning to Christ away from their primitive lifestyle. It is “an awful loneliness” Revd David Hinderer who was the first missionary to visit Ibadan once said. The words in the hymn above is one of the motivating words that keep the missionaries of the “Old time religion” going. The British government on the hand are more interested in the palm produce and the vast natural resources of Nigeria than spreading the gospel, hence, the fund were not forthcoming as expected. That was the scenario that characterised that century’s missionary work.That scenario is now playing itself out in this 21st century with the sorry state of missionaries all over the country. They are there in the thousands of remote villages scattered across the country living with strangers and winning souls for Christ. “Our only source of joy is seeing people give their life to Christ” one of them said.Ironically, some of these villages are even close to the urban areas where the big churches we have in this country are situated and the missionaries keep living in perpetual obscurity and abject poverty hardly eating three-square-meal daily. Their life is a pathetic one.For Pastor Samuel Adebayo, when the suffering become too much he had to start selling firewood and involved himself in other menial jobs to sustain himself and his family when the needed support was not coming as expected.“The Baale (traditional chief) of the mission field where I am based was always against me because we don’t contribute money for their sacrifice. They tried to kill us but they were not successful instead someone was killed at the back of my house and laid false allegations against me because I was charged by them as the murderer. But thank God that I was acquitted”.Pastor Adebayo who was called into mission work in Alabidun village, Ona-Ara local government of Oyo State in 2002 continued “another challenge is feeding; there was always a battle whenever we want to eat. Mission work is not an easy task due to the challenges which could be physical or spiritual”.For the Liaison officer, Nigeria Evangelical Missions (NEMA) representative in Lagos State, Pastor Edward Dooga when it comes to missionary having family, marriage is a big issue “It was difficult for a young man anchored with missionary responsibilities and good prospects in life to get a wife. Most of the fine girls refused because they felt I could not earn a living from what I was doing and I in return was not ready to leave the mission field for anything.But even in the mission field after the resignation, this young girl (facing his wife, Mrs. Mimi Deborah Edwards-Dooga) found me as her angel that was sent by God. Aside this, there are also many other challenges which include needs and conflicts but they are not challenges as far as God’s will to win souls is accomplished”According to him, family acceptance and problem was a big challenge for them as a missionary. He said: “My first and foremost challenge was my family who were Catholic. When I told them of my missionary ambition, they felt giving my life to Christ was just an indirect way of changing churches so my mother most especially opposed the vision. This became unbearable when I was travelling to Ghana. My mother said to me “if you are truly, truly my son you wouldn’t go on this mission trip” and I replied saying, “I am truly; truly your son and I would go for this trip”.For many that may be wondering why these people refused to give up in the face of all these challenges Pastor Dooga who started mission work in 1982 put it this way “Mission work is not negotiable, it is not by choice. It is what we Christians live for. This is the sole reason why we have the church in Earth. It is the reason for our being born again and still remains on the surface of the earth and not taken to heaven immediately.Mission is everything God had given the church, but the church has decided to rather embezzle the church at the expense of God’s mission. Even as the church has sufficient resources to accomplish missions’ work, enough to do missions in Nigeria, yet the church is not doing. It is not that the church does not want to do it but they don’t understand how it should be done.” he said.On his own part, Pastor Sunday Bakare whose mission field is in the interior part of Ogun state in a village called Ogunrobi, his tale is a gory one. For a man that has been involved in missionary activities for almost ten years, he is meant to be happy but his plight won’t allow that. Pastor Sunday Bakare a called missionary, born into a Muslim background, from Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State put it this way “they do not know the number of people in the rural areas are more than the people out there, they prefer their conducive environment, tithes and to build kingdoms for themselves all under the umbrella of offices and forget their fellow brethren in the rural setting”. He has been involved in the work of mission through drama ministry as a stage director with mission minded people for ministration, evangelism, and intercession. Presently, Pastor Sunday’s situation is highly pathetic as he feeds his family virtually from hand to mouth. They hardly have the normal three-square meals, they drink highly contaminated water, no electricity and no employment opportunities. He recounted his experience thus “when I arrived at Ogunrobi village, life was extremely difficult for me. I’ll go into the bush to get fruits which I used as breakfast, lunch is not always available and at night we eat whatever is available” he said. Breakfast is under may be, lunch is “don’t even think about it” and dinner is tagged “God will provide”In the case of the experienced missionary, Evangelist Jeremiah Williams his story would surely strike a cord when it is heard. In his words “When I heard the voice on January 1st 1992, it was like a joke because I was just preparing to eat the sumptuous new year meal my wife prepared when it came that I must live my house and go to a place God said he would show me.” He started “I have to obey the voice of God, so I told my wife, she at first complained but later supported me, so I left for the unknown trip which at the end of the day turns out to be Maba village” he narrated.Looking at the state of development of Maba then and what is attainable now, Evangelist Jeremiah said, “When I arrived here, Maba was a forest, virtually with no buildings. I have to walk for a long distance before I was able to site a building. In fact at some point in my wandering, I had to paused and tell God that if I did not see anybody or a building in sight I will turn back because I was already tired by then, but I heard a voice that said ‘just a little more’, it was like a journey that will not end”. At first the work at hand seems insurmountable, but with strong faith in God and determination he settles down to work. “The place was in darkness, their life when I arrived here was primitive in many senses, and they worship all sorts of gods. I wonder how I will live with such people, the water they used for drinking, washing, bathing and cooking are from the same source. Feaces from nearby bush will be floating on the surface of the water. We had no choice but to drink it with them, though at first it was painful but gradually we adapt to the system” he reminiscence.According to Evangelist Williams, his experience at Maba village can be described as a lonely one. He was virtually alone as no organisation came forth to help him cushion the effect of the sufferings, despite his constant pleas for assistance to organisation and Christians bodies it all fell on deaf ears until 2004 when a missionary body construct a nine rig well for him. The well is now the only source of clean water for the whole village. In fact the opening up of this village to any resemblance of developmental work can be attributed to the work of Evangelist Williams.In the outskirts of Nigeria most vibrant city, Lagos lives Pastor John Ochoche Ogangwu a missionary to the people of Ajegbemide village in Epe Local government with a population of about 500 people. Here medical service is a luxury and other basic necessities of life are difficult to come by. One might think because of the little support he is getting from Mission House International he is fine but even at that his condition is miles away from what is obtainable in the urban areas.Aminat Hassan a graduate of the West African Theological Missionary is also one missionary worthy of mention here, her work is with children of the Shuwa Arabs in Nigeria who resides in her community. She attends to their education needs as a way of bringing the people to Christ but her resources and ability is far below the effects she would have expected to have since the help are not forthcoming as expected.Away from all the complaints, the fact is that there exist some individuals and organisations supporting these missionaries and their mission work in their own little way but their effort are insignificant compare to the numbers of the missionaries and the magnitude of the work they are doing.One of such organisation is Journalists for Christ (JFC) who from time to time takes time out to visit missionaries on their mission field in order to identified with their problem and provide some of the material and resources that they need to do the job wholeheartedly. Missionary work according to the National Coordinator of the organisation Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin after a trip to a mission field “is not only the man on the field but also anybody who is supporting the work in one way or another. “ Another group contributing their own little quota to help these missionaries is the voice group made up of young Nigerians who live in the urban areas but have decided to occasionally visit these missionaries across the country. There findings have been a shocked to them and wondered why people doing the work of God should be passing through such agonies.Mission House International a Christian ministry dedicated to taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the remaining unreached people/groups of our generation headed by Tor Uja is another supporter that needs to be encourage. The missionaries they are sending forth made up a chuck of the missionaries in this country but support from other organisation has been slow, hence, drawing back this important work of God.The message in the book of Matthew 28:19 is clear “Go ye into the world and preached the gospel to all the earth baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit”. Has the gospel been preached to all the earth? The need to support this work passionately to fully obey the command of Jesus is now. All efforts must be put together to increase the mission work all across the world. Jesus Christ said he won’t come until the gospel has been preached to all the earth. When it comes to missionary work we can’t afford to go back to the old time religion we can only learn from them.

Behold The Lagos Traffic Mart

They have all it all. Just name virtually any product you need in your house or for your stomach and you get it. From tooth pick to vehicle parts they’ve got it. Welcome to the largest Traffic Mart in the world. The Lagos Traffic mart. Mart seems to be the best world to describe the life of traders on Lagos traffic.A small traffic congestion and what you see next are roads traders walking up and down the road showcasing their wares to you through your car window, they are even ready to un after your car if it requires that. Maryland, antonym, Ketu, Palmgrove, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and many pother part of the metropolis these guys abound.“I have been selling in traffic for the past five years and I have no regret since there is nothing else for me to do”“The amount I am getting form selling newspaper and magazines in the traffic is okay for me at least with it I am able to rent house feed myself and my siblings one of them will be writing WAEC this year”. The vibrancy and popularity of this people is now been threaten by the state government which has asked all traders on the streets and roads to live.

Nigeria gets more Campus Radio Stations

The National Broadcast Commission (NBC) once again demonstrated its commitment to community broadcasting with the formal presentation of licenses to 18 institutions of higher learning. These include Lagos State University, University of Ibadan, University of Jos, Babcock University, Sagamu, Bayero University, Kano, University of Abuja, University of Port-Harcourt, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto on March 4, 2009Others include University of Calabar, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, University of Uyo, Federal University of Science and Technology, Igbinedion University, Okada among others. This brings the number of campus radio stations to 27, since nine other campuses had earlier obtained the licenses within the last five years.Expectedly, the approval was greeted with euphoria in the broadcasting sector, just as many stakeholders joined CR to commend the Federal Government on the new development. Among other comments, the approval was seen as a positive step, which shall enable broadcasters cater for the underserved segments of the population. Also the new licenses would gradually propel the country towards true pluralism in the radio broadcasting sub-sector. In the words of Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of the Institute for Media and Society (IMESO) Lagos, the new licenses will give voice to various campuses, which need radio to aid learning and teaching. Akingbulu said the nation’s educational institutions are in serious need of radio, which could serve as a training laboratory for students in Mass Communication, Drama, Language, Marketing, Engineering and other relevant disciplines.

Living the faith

The essence of our existence is based on faith. We believe that there is a God who is watching our deed, who protects and sustain us, a God who cretaed the universe. This is based on the fact that when we prayed to him he answered us mostly at his own time which many believers don't understand.it amused me at times to find out that many if not most Christians that profess believe in God and Jesus Christ still find it hard to have strong faith in God. At times I look at my life and I have to conlude that if not for the divine intervention of God my life would be shapeless but my strong faith in God has put me through.We need to really have strong faith in God to put us through in these difficult times when the Global Meltdown is metling global economies, the flu sesson with the advent of the swine flu threaten the world coupled with terrorisn. We need peace but the only peace we should strive for is peace of the mind and the only place we can get that is in our faithful GOD

AFTER THE BAIL...

When the Yar’Adua administration started in May 2007, the Nigerian and International public were inundated with report of many staggering revelations of how highly placed public officers looted the tax payers money for their own personal use. This achievement indeed created a good image for this administration as most people were quick to conclude that this is a no-nonsense regime and one that wants to uphold the rule of law.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in performing its duties initiated the arrest of these people, charge them to court and also revealed all their atrocities to the public, this in turn earned the commission commendable applause from the public to the extent that critics praise the commission for its performance.

Despite this achievement one issue that has to some extent dented it is the unending state of virtually all the court cases brought against these corrupt leaders by the EFCC to the court. After they are charge to court, their lawyers will apply for a bail which in most cases is granted by the judge with a large sum of money and highly placed individuals standing as sureties. After this, the accused is released on bail and then little or nothing is heard about such cases again.
What usually follows these bails are jubilation by the supporters of the accused. To their friends and colleagues, to be released on bail mean freedom for him or her. The accused keep parading the streets and appearing at public functions as if they have been vindicated and acquitted of all charges level against them, some have even try to contest for elections. The court on its part is not doing much in this regard as they handle these cases at a snail speed which will eventually be forgotten by the public and won’t attract their interest anymore.

During this period when the judiciary is been praised for upholding our young democracy through some of the election cases it has upturn it obvious foot dragging to court cases against corrupt public officers, is absolutely uncalled for and could start breeding public distrust against the judiciary.

One other reason attributed to this phenomenon is the huge amount of money that the accused usually paid to get the bail and the calibre of people require who are always individual of high net worth. Take for example the N100 million require from one of the former governor arrested by EFCC for his bail and the calibre of personalities required before he was released.
This actions look more or less like a business transaction-get arrested, pay some amount of money (which they can always afford) for bail and you are free! This seems to be the scenario that is always played out when the news about their arrest appear on the front page of our newspapers.

The effect of this action is making this cases uninteresting day by day to the public, they seems to be fed up with the way the cases are been handled and are already accusing this government of paying lip service to the upholding of rule of law. In fact to the people all government officials in high places are probable whether the EFCC arrest them or not that is now their belief.
Nigerians would like to know what goes on after the bail; the court should be fast with these cases and judgement delivered on time bail or no bail. We should not forget that judgment delayed is judgment denied.