The launching which lasted 1hour 30mints had the President of ACHA, Amb. Prof. Okama Ekpe Brook chaired the meeting by welcoming everyone & stated the aim and objectives of the project launching… Amb. Okama had the privilege of introducing & inviting the Project Coordinator of the Voice Programme in Nigeria, in person of Mrs. Ijeoma Okwor for the opening remarks…

Mrs Ijeoma who spoke extensively on the deteriorating poverty situation in Nigeria, the high rate of youth unemployment and the need for all to work together to provide employment of Opportunities… Referring to the poverty situation in Nigeria, Madam Ijeoma shared link of evidence here

The ACHA Executive Director gave her 10mints speech on the project launching…. According to Okama, “The Now Us Award: Celebrating Inclusion project provides us the opportunity to learn from our past innovations in project management using an inclusive lens to empower the youth, women and indigenous right holders. We tested this methodology and saw that it can effectively and efficiently support sustainable development from the community level upwards. We are now at the scale up level of this creative approach with a focus on human- centered innovations that are contextualized  and relevant in Nigeria to empower and amplify the voices of right holders to participate fully in society and help them to influence policy dialogue. As we prepare to begin implementation of the Now Us Award program, funded by the VOICE Initiative OXFAM in Nigeria and OXFAM Hivos (Netherland), we invite you to be part of the conversation, let’s plan to make some noise.” She concluded her speech as she invited 3 volunteers giving each five minutes to share their experiences in the last ACHA project.

The full names of the volunteer coordinators are written below:

1. Mike Maikumo Gideon _ Volunteer Coordinator for Karu Community.
2. Abdullahi Ado Bwari – Volunteer Coordinator for Bwari Community. But will be represented by Ibrahim Mohammed Aliyu.
3. Yusuf Abdulmalik Gambo – Volunteer Coordinator for Kuje Community.

Another guest speaker who spoke extensively at the event was Dr. Badewa T. Adejugbe-Williams, who applauded the organizers of the event, and encouraged them to keep up the good work, in touching the lives of both young & old in Nigeria.

Dr. Badewa T. Adejugbe-Williams is an Educational Specialist and Therapist
(Educationist with core specialization in pupils with Disabilities), She’s a Writer, Director, Producer, Stage Manager, and Actress. She is currently the General Manager of the Abuja Film Village International Ltd and also the founder of the Royal School of Educational Therapy Foundation, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic services for persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities and learning disorders.

Dr. Williams is furthermore the Executive Director of the Nigeria Diaspora
Summit Initiative (NDIS), the Chair and Coordinator of the Nigeria Diaspora
Investment Summit (NDIS). Beyond these, she has chaired and served on many technical and voluntary committees professionally as well as voluntarily especially on diaspora related matters through the Nigeria Diaspora Alumni Network (NiDAN) and for the presidency.

The project director, Mrs Aisha Barde explained in a 15mints speech on how the new project will be executed… There was room for questions & answers, as the meeting was ended by Emmanuel Oladele in a 10mints closing remark.

To be a part of THE NOW US AWARD project, visit: https://www.afrocaribbeanalliance.org