Children Today, Adults Tomorrow

 A key action point from the Town Hall Meeting, to address the challenges facing the girl child, was for individuals to raise their sons with positive values to become responsible men and to raise their daughters to become strong women.

Our society needs men and women that will stand for the truth and remain undaunted in their pursuit for justice, equity and liberty; people that will seek the common good over personal gain. These much desired virtues are however taught and imbibed in people. To build a secure nation, devoid of miscreants, there is a dire need for our boys and girls to be instilled with the right values. These values will ensure they stand unwavering in the face of challenges and utmost difficulty.

There is a lot of chaos going on in the world at the moment, and all we can do for our children is to ensure they grow up to become strong, confident individuals who will always stand up for what is right.  Our young boys should be taught to be responsible, respectful, positive and treat all humans regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or race as equals. Our young girls must be taught to be responsible, respectful and positive. They should be aware that they have an equal place in society so they do not grow up feeling oppressed or less than they are.

Unfortunately, the Chibok schoolgirls are still missing and we hope that they are found very soon.  Their love for education has just been extremely tested. The abductors unfortunately were once innocent children that could have been taught value for life, property and the law.

It is therefore important that we ensure our children are raised with morals and clear understanding of right and wrong. 

Are there any other ways you would suggest individuals could help?  Or do you have any advice on how to raise our children to ensure they are well grounded for the grown-up world ahead?  Please leave a comment below for suggestions of practical solutions that individuals can apply to address the challenges facing the girl child and her family in the crisis areas.

Keep the Conversation Going- #BringBackOurGirls

A key action point from the WIMBIZ Town Hall Meeting was for NGOs, CSOs and communities at large to keep the conversation going about the Chibok situation and the girl child in Nigeria.

Over 6 weeks later, the kidnapped Chibok girls are still missing but international news outlets have kept the abduction at the top of their news agendas.  Key international figures, including the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, P. Diddy and Mary J. Blige have also joined in on raising awareness through the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.  The campaign has led to government action in Nigeria with help from the US, UK and France.

However as the girls have still not been found, NGOs, CSOs and communities must ensure that the world does not stop talking about it until every single child has been safely returned.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the other social media platforms have been great sources of information and have significantly increased campaign awareness.  NGOs, CSOs and communities must continue to post regularly about the kidnapping so that the government remains active in trying to locate the missing schoolgirls and the world doesn’t forget.

There are a variety of ways to keep the conversation going:   

• Ask a question – post questions about the topic using #BringBackOurGirls to prompt your social followers to engage with you about the topic.
• Share information – post relevant, up-to-date information about the topic using #BringBackOurGirls, which your followers may repost to their followers.  You can also repost information the people you follow post to share with your followers.

Are there any other ways to keep the conversation going?  Or do you know of any other avenues that will effectively raise awareness?  Please leave a comment below for suggestions of practical solutions that NGOs, CSOs and communities can apply to address the challenges facing the girl child and her family in the crisis areas.

Chibok and Beyond: Investing In The “Bottom Of The Pyramid”

A key action point for corporate organizations from the WIMBIZ Town Hall Meeting held on Friday, 16^th May, 2014 was the need to invest in the “bottom of the pyramid”.

More than 50% of Nigerians live on less than $2 per day, the global poverty line, which indicates that Nigeria has a large untapped market at the “bottom of the pyramid”.

There are many social and economic benefits to corporate organizations that invest in this segment of the economy, including the benefits of numbers.

Corporate organizations looking to invest may build elements of their business in disadvantaged communities in Nigeria, which is less expensive and has potentials for significantly improving the lives of people in the community by providing employment, etc. This approach to investing in the bottom of the pyramid will lead to more long-term, high gain rewards for the company, community and nation at large. For example, establishing an industry in a disadvantaged community and employing young people in that community will ensure the sustainability of the business, reduce crime and develop sustainable livelihoods for the community.

Are there any other ways you would suggest corporate organizations could help?  Or are you aware of any corporate organizations that are already investing in the “bottom of the pyramid”?  Please leave a comment below for suggestions of investment ideas that corporate organizations can apply to their business models to help build these crisis areas back up as they recover from the destruction caused by Boko Haram.