By NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Plan International Nigeria a Non-governmental Organisation has doled out N80 million naira to eight pro-girls associations to further solidify gender advocacy for the girl-child across the country.
Country Director of Plan International, Charles Usieannounced the donation at the organisation’s public presentation of a new country strategy (2024 to 2028) marking its 10th anniversary in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each of the association picked from the six geopolitical zones of the country and two associations that operate with persons with disabilities got the cheques of ten million naira each.
The Associations that got the funds include, Girls Get Equal Nigeria, the Special Physically Challenged Care Foundation, Tomorrow is a Girl Initiative, and Halima Isah Usman Charity Foundation.
Others are the Open Knowledge Development Initiative, Spring of Hope for Girl Child Development, Access to Learning and School (Atlas) Initiative, and Street Mentors Network.
Usie said the organisation recievee over 100 entries for the Youth Challenge Funds.
“We are matching our strategy with actions, and today we are going to support several youth organisations with 10 million naira each to go forth and make change for Nigerians, especially girls”
“Plan International has been in Nigeria for the past 10 years impacting the lives of children, girls, women, and boys across the country.
“We have so far served 36.9 million people in Nigeria; directly and indirectly.,It is a significant milestone for us and we are proud of these achievements,” Usie said.
He also said the organisation had renovated over 120 primary healthcare centers in Nigeria and handed them over to the government and expended over N150 billion on different projects across the country in the past 10 years.
“In the last 10 years, we have been able to attract, spend, and account for over 180 million euros; that is over N150 billion.
“We all know the situation in Nigeria; for you to be able to account for N15 billion naira and none of us in EFFC or prison; we have to be proud of our achievements.
“Plan International Nigeria listens to girls and we response appropriately to ensure that the girl (s) have a voice, capacity and ability to speak out and be involve in community and gender advocacy,” Usie said
He explained that Plan International recently signed a Memortadum of Understanding with the Ministry of Youth Development that would give the organisation a space to work for the next five years.
According to Usie, the organisation has a huge target and ambition for young people in Nigeria,
“We are also going to involve in livelihood empowerment and employment for young people. We’re going to be focusing on practical ways to support young people to gain access to live a decent life.
“And that’s why today, we presented almost 100 million Naira cash to different youth groups to go and do businesses, to do projects that will support young people,” he said.
NAN reports that the event attracted development partners, diplomatic community, gender advocates and other relevant stakeholders. (NAN)