Launch Of Peace Club Mentors’Guide and Inauguration of Peace Club in Pilot Schools in Kogi State.

PEACE CLUB is to bring about a change in awareness and patterns of thought which will lead to change in the behavior of young people. This will result in a way of living in which the values of mutual respect and tolerance for others and equal and just society will become a reality. It will be a society that regards peace as state of mind, a chosen value, a norm and a way of life.

The objectives of setting up Peace Clubs are not far fetch which are to improve young people’s leadership, cooperative problem solving and critical thinking skills that will aid their ability to become future leader and to improve young peoples understanding of cultural differences and similarities increase their respect and appreciation of diversity.

Mr. Oluwole Elegbede ably representing ActionAid Nigeria Country Director Mrs. Ene Obi giving a key note address at the program.

Participation Initiative For Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID and ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Office of the Special Adviser to Kogi State Government on Education and Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other stakeholders, put together a participatory toolkit that will contribute to peace building and the creation of more enabling environment where young people can actively channel their energies into positive endeavours towards national development and peaceful co-existence.

Pupils and Students of the schools present during their poem, Peace Club act and Drama presentation

500 Children from Igalamela/Odolu, Adavi and Lokoja Local Government Area were in attendance. The Program seeks to empower teachers and pupils with skills and knowledge of peace and conflict resolution.

500 Children present at the program

This will help them resolve their own conflict amicably at schools, homes and in the community and to carry out disputes and conflict prevention management in schools.

Goodwill Messages from Government Dignitaries, Non-governmental Organization, Association of Private Schools, Security Agencies and Religious Groups

This program has been designed to promote interaction between young people from a variety of backgrounds to build bridges for the future and to help strengthen a peaceful society in Kogi State. To help peace club members develop increased, leadership, cooperative problem solving and cross-cultural skills that they can use to promote friendship and improve understanding between their peers from diverse backgrounds

This project is self sustaining where we have the teachers of each schools as mentors and the project designed to spread across the State. – Mrs, Gift Omoniwa Executive Director PIBCID.

Mr. Anicetus Atakpu the program officer Human Security and Conflict Management in ActionAid Nigeria during a PowerPoint presentation at the program

The Main objective of the Club is to fight against Violence and adapt Peaceful methods to solve differences. It aims to prepare the pupils/students for building a peaceful world by empowering them with necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills. – Mr. Anicetus Atakpu Program Officer Human Security and Conflict Management ActionAid Nigeria

The Inauguration of the Peace Clubs in Pilot Schools in Kogi State by the representative of the State Governor Alhaja Yahaya Adoza Bello.

During the official launch of the Peace Club Mentors’Guide by the representative of the wife of the Executive Governor of Kogi State Mrs. Bolanle Ampitun the Commissioner of Women Affairs and social development.

Women with disabilities suffer a lot of discrimination in terms of participation in the society – AWWDI

A disability is an impairment that may be cognitive , developmental , intellectual , mental, physical , sensory , or some combination of these. It substantially affects a person’s life activities and may be present from birth or occur during a person’s lifetime. – According to Wikipedia

Advocacy for Women With Disabilities Initiative AWWDI in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID and ActionAid Nigeria AAN held a stakeholders forum with women living with this disabilities in Kogi State, Nigeria.

Gift Omoniwa – Executive Director PIBCID giving the welcome address to the participants at the forum

The forum demands that there should be urgent need to pass law that protects person with disabilities against discrimination from the community and also need for the civil society mainstream capacity building of persons with disabilities especially women with disabilities

Miss Bilikisu Yakubu – Chairperson AWWDI Kogi State Chapter presenting the plights of Women with Disabilities

Stereotyped and negative attitude towards people with disabilities devalue us. Most of the discrimination experienced by women with disabilities is based on implicit notion that we are not the same as the other women. – Mrs Bilikisu Yakubu.

Queen Christopher a member of AWWDI moderating during the experience sharing section.

Stakeholders at the event commending the effort of the organizers

Group photos of the organizers and the participants at the forum.

SI4DEV sets to partner with the key stakeholders in ending the misuse of drugs in the State.

Strategy and Innovation For Development Initiative SI4DEV Kogi believes in the power of people and communities to lead social change and sustainable development and also partner with local change makers to offer capacity building.

Drug misuse commonly known as abuse is a term used commonly when prescription medication with sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, or stimulant properties are used for mood alteration or intoxication ignoring the fact that overdose of such medicines can sometimes have serious adverse effects.

Drug abuse makes youth violent and often makes them unstable. Drug abusers can pose threat and harm to the society or neighborhood they live in as their sudden outbursts of angers are unpredictable. Students under the influence of drugs, addicts act out violently.

The violence affects the entire family physically and emotionally. They might pose harm to them resulting in serious injuries as drugs makes them lose their ability to think and this tend to affect their education as students.

SI4DEV in their believe of improving the health of communities and also the society visited National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA Kogi State Command and Kogi State Ministry of Health.

Alh. Idris Mohammed Bello NDLEA Kogi State Commander

On the 18th of July 2018, SI4DEV Team visited National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA Kogi State for support in sensitizing the youths on the negative effects of drug abuse especially on the school children who are victims of drug abuse in our society today.

Alh. Idris Mohammed Bello NDLEA Kogi State Commander welcomed the team and appreciates their effort in ending drug abuse, he promised to partner with the team and also work with them to end it. He also added that he will also offer to train the team and other youth focused group in Kogi State that has this same agenda as the technical support they will offer and other support in subsequent times.

Pst. Kolawole Johnson Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health representing the Commissioner Ministry of Health Kogi State Hon. Saka Audu.

On the 19th of July 2018 the team visited Kogi State Ministry of Health, Pst. Kolawole Johnson Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health representing the Commissioner Ministry of Health Kogi State Hon. Saka Audu received the team and was happy youth of such age can dedicate themselves in curbing this menace that is trying to take the youth of this generation away.

He promised to be of full support to the group in any way in make sure this sickness does not spread and affect the well being of thousands of youths in Kogi State.

Group photo: SI4DEV team with NDLEA Kogi State Commander with his team

SI4DEV Team

Peace is needed by all human nature that believe in a social environment which makes life more enjoyable and for the well-being of its populous. – World Institute for Peace WIP Kogi State Chapter

World Institute for Peace WIP Kogi State to be officially launched on the 21st September 2018 in commemoration of the World Peace day and as the objectives of the organization in promoting peace, enhancing humanitarian services and preserving people’s rights, WIP set to partner with other Non- Governmental Organization NGOs, civil society organization CSOs, Community Based Organization CBOs and key Stakeholders in maintaining peace in the State and the Country at large.

Peace is a lack of conflict and freedom from fear of violence between individuals and heterogeneous social groups. One of way of giving path to a peaceful society is for people to put in practice, where possible, ways that contribute in developing new avenues for co-operation as well as an end to violence, especially to organized and increasingly destructive violence.

WIP team with the Executive Director Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID (third from left) and staffs

Engr AbdulMalik Abdullahi Okino business tycoon, chartered Manager/Certified Business Consultant (Third from the right)

The WIP Team with Barr Tunde Irukera DG Consumer Protection Council CPC (third from the right)

The WIP team with Natasha Akpoti Founder, Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (third from the right)

The NGOs, CSOs, CBOs and key Stakeholders visited promise to partner with the group and show their support toward curbing menace and ensuring a State in peace.

The possibility of having a more peaceful society means that people need to view issues related to conflict as dealt with by common available alternatives that help in resolving disputes without recurring to violence. In many situations when a conflict rises, there are always alternatives that lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict that need to be exploited.

“See it as a call to improve the lives of others around you” Mandela Day – YALI Network Kogi.

Nelson Mandela Day not only celebrates Nelson Mandela’s life, but it is also a global call to action for people to recognize their ability to have a positive effect on others around them. The day hopes to inspire people to embrace the values that Mandela shared. These values include democracy, freedom, equality, diversity, reconciliation, and respect.

NELSON MANDELA

Many people and organizations around the world take part in many activities to promote Nelson Mandela Day. These activities include volunteering, sport, art, education, music and culture.

Mandela Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela , celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18 July 2009.

Nelson Mandela Day celebrates his life and achievements, but we feel that it should be used for much more than that. We see it as a call to action for them to improve the lives of the people around us. – Eunice Ciwon Emmanuel Baji Kogi State Coordinator YALI Network.

Young African Leaders Initiative YALI Network Kogi commemorates Mandela Day under the platform of #YALIServes with the Children in Lokoja School for Deaf Zango Daji Kogi State. YALI Network Kogi Team introduced the icon Nelson Mandela to the School and said the positive change in his struggles was the gift left to all of us by Nelson Mandela, but it can only become a living legacy if we take up his challenge.

Let us all emulate the servant leader we loved by becoming servant leaders ourselves because Nelson Mandela saw himself first and foremost as a servant of South Africa’s people, to whom he felt he owed a duty, and who he led by example. The team urged the students to make their present challenge as a stepping stone in attaining great success in future and make Nelson Mandela their mentor.

Mr. Arome Ibrahim Chairman JONAPWD Kogi State

The Chairman Joint National Association for People With Disabilities JONAPWD appreciated the group for this great opportunity, saying for we are glad to know the youths care about us. The Mandela Day celebration opened their eyes to the fact that I am physically challenged doesn’t mean I can’t impact positively on lives, especially Helen Keller who is the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts, and lived her as a servant being an activist.

Miss Sefiyah State Coordinator WIP

Miss Sefiyah State Coordinator World Institute for Peace WIP stressed that the day remembers Mandela’s achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights and peace.

Mrs Halima Oiza Sadiq Program Officer Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID

Mrs Halima Oiza Sadiq Program Officer Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID said to the students; Mandela Day is not just about the icon but an everyday man who made the choice to lead by serving. So make him you mentor and let him influence you positively.

Jonathan ActionAid Nigeria Activista

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1918 to December 5, 2013) was a nonviolence anti-apartheid activist, politician and philanthropist who became South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999. You all have to live your lives as if all the challenges you face are what you expect in the journey of life. For generations to come, Nelson Mandela will continue to be a source of inspiration for civil rights activists worldwide. – Jonathan ActionAid Nigeria Activista

Elder Anifowoshe (Deaf) the Proprietor of Lokoja School of Deaf Zango Daji Kogi

Elder Anifowoshe (Deaf) the Proprietor of Lokoja School of Deaf Zango Daji Kogi appreciated the team for coming and shared his story on how he came about establishing a school for the physically challenged like himself was not an easy journey but his chose that road to give to the community what he has received and also to save others like him from discrimination. He also viewed Nelson Mandela as an icon.

Bridget Ezeh a writer and member of YALI Network Kogi

Nelson Mandela Day celebrates his life and achievements, but looking at Helen Keller who is deaf-blind activist who campaigned for women’s suffrage , labor rights , socialism ,
antimilitarism , and other similar causes. This particular icon should inspire us that being physically challenged is never to be seen as a set back in achieving your desired goal in life. – Bridget Ezeh a writer and member of YALI Network Kogi

I appreciate this group who took out their time to visit us and we will continue to take care of ourselves- SSA to the Governor 0f Kogi State on People With Disabilities PWD Hon. Hassan Ahmed

Cross section Students of Lokoja School of Deaf Zango daji recieving gifts for active Participation

Cross Section of the Team and the Children

Group photos of YALI Network Kogi team and the school managements

Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative SI4DEV Kogi sensitized Schools and Colleges on the Negative Effect of Drug Abuse.

The abuse of prescription drugs is a national crisis – one that has state and federal government agencies scrambling yet making scant progress in curtailing. In the last ten years, stimulant prescriptions have seen an increase from 5 million to 45 million. The increased availability of these drugs, coupled with general misperceptions regarding the safety of “doctor-prescribed” medications, has led to exponential growth of drug users, as well as drug abusers.

Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative (SI4DEV) Kogi Team set out today to Schools and colleges to sensitize the students on the negative effects of drug abuse on them as young leaders of this generation.

The Team with Bishop Delise College Lokoja prefects.

Abused drugs includes;

Cocaine from Coca, Codeine, Marijuana from Cannabis, Tramadol (Pain relief for accident victims), Inhalants and Heroin

In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to.

Drug abuse and addiction also affects other areas, such as broken families, destroyed careers, death due to negligence or accident, domestic violence, physical abuse, and child abuse. – Elias Unekwu State Coordinator SI4DEV Kogi

Abusing drug creates both changes in behavior and in the way the brain works, specifically in the areas of education for students. Continued abuse of drugs can be a warning sign that an individual is beginning to lose control over their drug use., which may lead to crimes such as stealing, raping, homelessness, unwanted pregnancy as for the girls to mention a few. And also not to jettison the symptoms of drug abuse to the body system especially the brain (Mental health).

Let Us all Come together to put an end to this Menace that threatens to destroy our generation.

SAY NO TO DRUG ABUSE!!!

Group Photo of SI4DEV Kogi Team at Bishop Delise College Lokoja.