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ActionAid, SSDO Organizes a Sensitization Rally on PVC Collection

The Nigerian general election comes up in the next five months. Voter registration is over, and citizens must pick up their permanent voter’s cards and exercise their franchises. Over time, data has shown that only a handful of registered voters come out to vote. In the 2019 presidential elections, only 37 percent of registered voters showed up on election day. 

We realize that there’s a lackluster attitude of citizens to casting their votes on d-day. Some have attributed this to election day violence, a lack of belief in the power of their vote making a difference, and others believe vote buying is such a big deal. While some say the level of corruption in the system is neck deep and their singular votes can’t make any difference. 

While there’s some iota of truth in their worries, it is paramount to understand that change starts from an individual. And ultimately, votes are what put people in power. The longer citizens shy away from exercising their constitutional rights, the longer mediocre leaders get to the corridors of power barely opposed. 

Understanding this, ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with South Saharan Social Development Organization, organized a civic awareness and sensitization rally on PVC collection. The message for the rally was simple: “Your votes decide the future. Your PVC is your voice. Your vote is your power; use it wisely.” 

PVCs registered from June 2021 to January 15, 2022, are ready for collection. PVCs registered from January 16th to June 30th, 2022, will be ready for collection in October. The PVCs registered from July 2022 will be ready for collection in November.

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NCF, SSDO Organizes a Sensitization Rally on Vulture Conservation

NCF, SSDO Organises a Sensitization Rally on Vulture Conservation

The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) and South Sahara Social Development Organisation (SSDO) have carried out a walk and sensitization of residents of Enugu State on the need to conserve vultures.

The walk, which is meant to commemorate International Vulture Day 2022, titled: “A Mile for Egyptian Vulture”, witnessed sensitization within major roads in Enugu metropolis for several hours on Thursday.

The aim of the rally is to create awareness on the importance of vultures to the ecosystem and why they need to be protected, especially the Egyptian Vultures. Vultures are scavengers and natural cleaning agents. By feasting on carcasses, they remove pathogens and toxins from the dead animals that would have infected the environment. This is possible because their stomach contains a potent acid that destroys the harmful substances found in dead animals. 

However, research has shown that the vulture population is on a steady decline and some species are fast going extinct. There is a healthy vulture population in Enugu state. These vultures existence is threatened by illegal killing and trading of vultures. 

Mr. Oladapo Soneye, Head of Communications, NCF, stated “There is a wrong cultural impression people have about vultures. People assume seeing vultures mean bad omen and then do everything possible to get rid of them.” “Others say vultures are ugly and have no usefulness and then proceed to harm them. Today we want to change the narrative of killing vultures and destroying their habitat.”    

Speaking, the Head of Programmes in SSDO, Mr Udochukwu Egwim, said the economic and health benefits of allowing the vulture do their naturally assigned role of environmental cleaning agents cannot be over-emphasized. Egwim noted that vultures ensure the “essential balance in the eco-system” and do much by their activities to protect life both of humans and animals in a given environment.

“We are on this to ensure that as change agent, which SSDO stands for, we ensure that our people do the right thing and ensure that international best practices meant to benefit every human on earth is done,” he said.

Egwim noted that it was unfortunate that about 150 vultures were found dead in Ihe community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state about two years ago.

“SSDO has carried investigation on the matter and did awareness with the residents of the community on vultures’ protection as well as set up a vulture volunteer watch group.

“The protection group, made up of hunters, farmers, youths and traditional authority, will watch-over and preserve vultures in the community henceforth and report any threat to NCF and SSDO,” he said.

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SSDO & Caritas Nigeria Reach Out to Schools Through Block Grant

South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) in partnership with Caritas Nigeria, CCFN, provided 30 desks each for Community Primary Schools in Ozalla and Umueze in Nkanu West LGA. The provision is part of a block grant in the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program that will see 150 children benefit from the intervention. 

In a ceremony in the school premises on Wednesday, 23rd of September 2022, the headteacher of Community Primary School Umueze expressed her gratitude by thanking the organizations for their effort. “We appreciate SSDO and CARITAS for this work. As we start the new academic session, the classrooms will be more conducive for the teachers and students alike.”

Stakeholders present include CCFN OVC Program Officer, Wisdom Uso, SSDO’s Head of Programs, Udochukwu Egwim, SSDO’s OVC Program Manager, Obinna Anyanwu, Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) chairpersons, teachers, and community representative of the schools amongst others. 

The project aims to improve access to education for indigent and vulnerable children, which will also reduce the risk of violence and abuse. Also, ensuring that they are enrolled and remain in school.

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OVC IMPACT: The Numbers

A successful project requires applying skills, processes, methods, and experience to achieve the project’s objectives and goals. Thus, ensuring that the final deliverables are achieved. Throughout the project life cycle, there’s a need for constant monitoring and evaluation of determined milestones. 

The case isn’t different for the 4GATES Orphaned and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) Project. Federal  Ministry of Women Affairs Heaquaters, Abuja.  Enugu State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development and Caritas Nigeria conducted a joint national assessment. The assessment was to determine progress made on the project, gather feedback for the various government agencies, and use the findings to shape the ministry’s effort toward women and children. 

The assessment was an avenue to review the progress made on the OVC project in the year under review. 

– Over 5,000 children have been registered and provided with food, emergency health, and transport support. 

– 70 beneficiaries have received Income Generating Activity support. 

– 13 beneficiaries received cash transfers. 

– 24 adolescents have been enrolled for vocational training.  

– 110 children enrolled in school.

Households of beneficiaries and facilities were also visited during the assessment.

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SSDO COMMEMORATES AUGUST MEETING IN IHENYI AND OBINAGU COMMUNITIES IN ENUGU. 

The mother’s congress, popularly known as August Meeting in Igbo land, is a time where Igbo women from the cities and diaspora return to lend helping hands to their communities. They embark on projects to improve healthcare, peacebuilding and educate the community. 

To show solidarity in projecting and supporting the roles women play in family and community development, South Saharan Social Development Organization, through her Sister Guardian Initiative project, visited two communities to commemorate this year’s August meeting with them. They include; Obinagu in Enugu East LGA and Ihenyi in Isiuzo LGA both in Enugu state. 

SSDO Gender and Protection Programme Lead built the capacity of the women on causes and effects of domestic violence against women and girls, how to report it, where to report it and how to follow it up. The event aims to create and intensify awareness of women’s rights and the law. 

Other pressing issues discussed during the capacity-building event include economic empowerment, political inclusion, violence against women, female genital mutilation, and advocacy.