Niger Governor, Bago, commends group for easing hardship faced by women, youths

Niger State Governor, Umaru Muhammed Bago has lauded the Committee of Friends for Humanity (COFFAH) for its sustained efforts to alleviate the plight of struggling women and youths across Nigeria.

Bago made the remarks while speaking at the investiture of Augustina Igbokwe as the 7th president of COFFAH and the N300 million fundraising for the construction of its skills acquisition centre in Lagos.

Describing humanitarian initiatives in health, education and empowerment as critical to improving the lives of Nigerians and complementing government efforts, Bago said: “These women have chosen humanitarian work so that they can bring support to our people. It is godly and this is what we need.”

The governor further described the initiative as a demonstration of corporate social responsibility and pledged continued government support for programmes that uplift vulnerable.

Speaking at the event which held under theme, ‘Build the future today’, the newly installed COFFAH’s president, Augustina Igbokwe expressed gratitude to the group for entrusting her with the leadership of the organisation that has been in existence for over three decades.

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Igbokwe, who is a legal practitioner, assured the organisation that she would not take such opportunity lightly, pledging to serve with dedication, integrity, and a commitment to advancing the group’s vision.

On the theme of the event, she said: ‘Build the future today’ is not merely a slogan. It is a call to action. It is a reminder that tomorrow is created by what we choose to do now.

“The future we desire for our children, our women, our widows, our youths and our communities cannot be postponed. It must be built deliberately, courageously and compassionately today.”

She recalled that COFFAH in the past three decades has restored dignity and hope through impactful projects such as building and equipping the emergency centre at Isolo General Hospital; renovating the female ward at Apapa Health Centre and donating a – 20KVA generator; renovating of Children’s Ward “B” at General Hospital Ikeja; donating of kidney dialysis machine to Gbagada General Hospital; conducting quarterly street feeding, paying hospital bills, and supplying medications for indigent patients.”

On the idea behind N300 million fund raising, she said that it aimed to complete and equip the group skill acquisition centre in Lagos, adding “when the centre is completed, it would restore confidence, create economic independence, and reduce vulnerability”.

However, she called on corporate organisations, philanthropists, public servants to partner with the group, emphasising that great societies are built not only by governments but when compassionate people decided that another person’s pain is their concern.

The guest speaker, Senator Uche Ekwunife, described the occasion as more than a ceremonial transition of leadership, saying it was a celebration of vision, compassion, service and the enduring power of women united by a common purpose.

Ekwunife, who was represented at the event by a former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rita Maduagwu congratulated the new president.

Ekwunife said the future was shaped by deliberate actions and investments made in people.

“The future is not a distant reality waiting for us to arrive. It is being shaped by the decisions we make and the actions we take every day. Every child we educate, every woman we empower, and every life we uplift contributes to the kind of society we hope to build,” she said.

Speaking earlier, the immediate past president of COFFHA, Nkechi Ali Balogun expressed the optimism that the newly installed president of the organisation would build on existing achievements and take the group to greater heights.

On her part, the Chairperson, investiture organising committee, Christy Ray Okoye commended the group’s donors, adding “our donors are undisputedly the true architects of this uplift. Again, it is a truism that the most minute act of kindness trumps the grandest intention.”