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Technology Distribution extends love to physically challenged, vulnerable kids
By Sandra Nnaemeka
Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost distribution company, Technology Distributions Limited, (TD) has lent its voice to the call for greater engagement and support for the physically-challenged and other vulnerable members of the society as a means of restoring their dignity and helping them achieve their innate potential.
Anchored within its Corporate Social Responsibility programme tagged – ‘This is Me’, the first instalment of TD’s outreach saw Executive Management and staff of the company visit the Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun, Ikeja where it hosted the boys and the special needs children of the Modupe Cole Foundation to a great time on Friday October 26th 2018.
Also on ground were representatives of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development.
In her speech at the event, Managing Director, TD Mobile, Mrs. Ijogun noted that the physically-challenged as well as Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) make up a significant proportion of Nigeria’s population, a situation that calls for greater action to cater to this essential segment of the nation’s human capital.
“Our physically-challenged brothers and sisters as well as the vulnerable orphans and children must be engaged and trained for worthy causes instead of being encouraged to be beggars on the streets of the nation. Presently, not a lot is being done to correct this anomaly and engage this critical segment of the nation’s population.”
According to her, there are a lot of failings within the socio-economic system responsible for the poor state of affairs with respect to the level of attention given, noting that TD is determined to lead the vanguard of correcting the status-quo.
“This is Me speaks to our aspirations to kick-start a movement to identify with you; This is Me is a determination to tell you boldly that we are one; that irrespective of the physical challenges and circumstances that you face today, you are strong, you are powerful and you can rise above any limitations and achieve whatever you aspire to.
“There are still some tall buildings in this country without elevators or wheel-chair entrances to cater to the needs of the physically challenged in Nigeria. There are so many young boys and girls out there, orphaned, deprived but with immense potential that, if harnessed properly, will go a long way in taking Nigeria forward.
“At Technology Distributions Ltd., we do not think that we can change this situation overnight. But in line with our tradition of taking on big challenges and surmounting them, we will not be silent. Our voices will be heard and loudly too. Gradually, the society, the Government and other stakeholders will take notice and begin to make the necessary adjustments to policies, practices and other procedures to accommodate this most critical segment of our population,” she concluded.
Items donated by TD
For over 40 minutes, the children within the age range of 10 and 18 were grouped into 3 categories for pep talks by other TD Executives including Coordinating Managing Director, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, MD Operations, Mrs. Shade Oyebode and TDX Entity Head, Mrs. Chizoba Ezike.
In a comprehensive way, the children received inspirational messages on how they can discover and improve their talents, the importance of vocational aptitude and good education and the need to stay focused, disciplined, prayerful and imbibe good morals, among other virtues needed to achieve success.
Summing it up, Group Executive Director, Mr. Stanley Okpaeleke advised the children to form good habits and commit themselves to be better persons. He affirmed that the visit is the beginning of a new relationship and charged them to remain determined by taking control of what they would become tomorrow, irrespective of any challenge.
As part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities, some tech appliances, food and clothing items, consumer goods and stationery were presented to the school and also to the special children of Modupe Cole Foundation.
Reacting, Principal of Correctional Centre for Boys, Mr. Salau Abolaji Wasiu expressed appreciation for the relief materials and the presence of TD executives whom he decribed as role models. On her part, Coordinator of Modupe Cole Foundation, Mrs. Abdul Gafar also expressed deep gratitude to TD on behalf of the foundation.
Featuring most prominently among other activities engaged in on the day by the kids and TD staff was a quiz session on Current Affairs, a choreography session, sack race and a keenly-contested dance competition.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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