From left: Head, Strategic Marketing & Communications, Segun Olalandu; Sponsorship Communications advisor, ActionAid Nigeria; Oluwakemi Segun; Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi; Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, AIICO Insurance Plc, Abimbola Shobanjo, Staffer of AIICO; Head, Shared Services Division, AIICO Insurance Plc, Olusanjo Shodimu; Fundraising Advisor Lagos, Anawiyat Yakubu and Communications Manager AIICO Insurance, Ademola Adenekan at the event.
* Gives N100 out of every retail product sold for the project
Leave a comment and share
Chuks Udo Okonta
Worried by an obnoxious cultural beliefs in some communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which promotes that a child whose mother dies from childbirth or while nursing a baby, that the baby is evil and must be buried (alive) with the deceased mother and that twins and set of triplet should also be killed, AIICO Insurance has once gain donated the sum of N1.47 million to ActionAid Nigeria to stem the menace.
The Head, Shared Services Division, AIICO Insurance Plc, Olusanjo Shodimu, at the presentation of the N1 million donation, today in Lagos, said the underwriting firm has a principle on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), stressing that the company esteemed the belief that without people there is no business.
He noted that the company is very keen on selecting companies it partnered and that the company was glad to partner ActionAid Nigeria owing to its track records.
Shodimu posited that as part of the firm’s commitment to the partnership, the company had pledged to set aside N100 from every retail product sold.
He implored other corporate organisations to join the fight against infanticide, stressing that such obnoxious act should not be tolerated in modern day Nigeria.
Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, AIICO Insurance Plc, Abimbola Shobanjo, said the firm would not relent on its support to the project, stressing that ActionAid Nigeria is notable for its integrity and pedigree.
Head, Strategic Marketing & Communications, Segun Olalandu, noted that the core of the company’s business is impacting lives, hence, the firm was delighted to partner ActionAid Nigeria and would continue to support the project.
The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, said in 2018, ActionAid Nigeria’s investigations revealed that children of multiple births: twins, triplets) were considered taboos and killed in some communities in the nation’s capital, adding that natives of Bassa-komo, Gbariyamma, Ganagana tribes in Abuja still believe that if a mother dies from childbirth or while nursing a baby, the baby is evil and must be buried (alive) with the deceased mother.
“In some other communities, children with albinism, born with down syndrome, birth defects and even those who grow their upper teeth first are victims of these barbaric practice. Infanticide in the FCT remains a practice shrouded in secrecy with very few people speaking openly. The process of killing these babies involves different methods such as poisoning (with a mixture of deadly plants and herbs), starvation and suffocation.
“Fortunately, some of these children are being rescued by Vine Heritage Home, a children’s home run by a missionary couple in Abuja. Whilst we applauded the rescue and support of Vine Heritage Home to the children rescued over the last 10 years, ActionAid Nigeria is committed to helping the children rebuild their lives.
“The support provided by ActionAid Nigeria with funding support from the European Union includes: construction of a new dormitory for the 168 children and their carers; construction of a block of 3 classroom for children below 5 years; setting up of vegetable garden, poultry and fishery for nutritional support and provision of dairies for infants and life skills and skills acquisitions training for older children.
“ActionAid Nigeria is also working with the communities, the National Human Rights Commission, Local Government Areas and relevant government agencies to end this barbaric practice. Relevant government agencies are working with ActionAid to sensitise all identified 57 communities, and to set up case management systems to address issues around denial of child’s rights in the communities and at the national level. About 8 communities already stopped the practice,” she said.
From left: Head, Strategic Marketing & Communications, Segun Olalandu; Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, Abimbola Shobanjo and Head, Shared Services Division, Olusanjo Shodimu at the event.
She maintained that it was in view of this, that ActionAid Nigeria began to seek collaborations with organisations to mobilise action towards abolishment of infanticide in FCT, stressing that it was pertinent to say that, besides the funding received from the European Union on this project, AIICO Insurance is the first private organisation in Nigeria to donate in support of the project with a N3.1 million donation made to install a borehole water submersible at the new site and sponsorship of the educational needs of 40 children. Worthy of note is that AIICO is also the first insurance company in Nigeria to partner with ActionAid Nigeria on product partnership for a social cause, she added.
“We are indeed proud to say our efforts at abolishing infanticide in FCT has been productive. Earlier in the year, a set of triplet were reunited with their parent and representative of the community with a commitment to protect the children. These children are also being monitored by the National Human Right Commission.
“The method of fundraising by AAN are (1) Child Sponsorship, (2) Institutional Funding and (3) Community Sponsorship, working in the areas of: Women’s Rights, Food and Agriculture, Humanitarian in Conflict and Emergency (Violent Extremism, youth empowerment, women empowerment, migration, etc.), Governance (anti- corruption, Public Finance analysis) working with the Youth), Social Mobilsation (Youth Digital Engagement, Taxation and Tax Justice), Health and child education among others. We work in about 22.
“Whilst we appreciative of the generous donations from the EU, AIICO Insurance and other corporate and individual donors, it is only with continued donations that we will be able to complete the work we have started,” she posited.
From left:Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, AIICO Insurance Plc, Abimbola Shobanjo; Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi and Fundraising Advisor Lagos, Anawiyat Yakubu at the event.
According to her, as the new site is nearing its completion, if more organisations like AIICO come onboard, ActionAid Nigeria would be able to complete the perimeter fencing and equip the facility such as provision of bed and beddings; provide educational support to the children so they can work their way out of poverty; reinforce behavioral change sensitizations across the practicing communities and the case management systems in place, while supporting their families with sustainable source of income.
She submitted that on behalf of the Board of Trustees of ActionAid Nigeria, Management, Staff, Vine Heritage Home, and the children who have continued to be resilient despite the challenges and circumstances they have faced from a tender age, “I say a very big thank you to the management and staff of AIICO Insurance plc.”
She implored other corporate partners passionate about the cause just as her firm, and will like to support the cause, should contact ActionAid Nigeria’s resource mobilization unit.
