Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and its joint venture partner, First E&P have boosted the lives of less privileged with N50.3 m donation to five NGOs who will channel the funds to the identified needy.
The donation was made in Lagos recently through the newly launched ‘Impact First’ initiative. The initiative is designed provide much needed support to NGOs that are addressing critical issues ranging from healthcare access, education access, poverty alleviation and empowerment to vulnerable people and disadvantaged groups across the country.
In this maiden edition of the initiative, Irede Foundation, Cerebral Palsy Centre, OISA Foundation, Human Development Initiatives (HDI) and Niola Cancer Care Foundation emerged as beneficiaries of the financial grants.
The IREDE Foundation, notable for providing custom-made prosthetic limbs to child amputees, received a N20.4m grant which will enable the foundation to provide prosthetic limbs to child amputees. The Cerebral Palsy Centre, the first organization in Nigeria dedicated to working with children with cerebral palsy and established in 2010, got a grant of N10m to continue providing quality therapy and care for children living with Cerebral Palsy.
Also, the OISA Foundation known for transforming lives through education and healthcare interventions received a grant of N10m to support initiatives ranging from scholarship programs for indigent children to the establishment of digital innovation learning hubs. While the Human Development Initiatives (HDI) which aims to empower vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, across Nigeria got a grant of N10m which would support them to provide vocational skills training to widows in selected regions. Lastly, the Niola Cancer Care Foundation, renowned for championing colon cancer awareness talks and screening got a grant of N3m to expand its colon cancer awareness and screening efforts and provide medical support for colon cancer patients.
The selection of the beneficiary organizations, according to the donors followed a rigorous selection process which kicked off with nominations of deserving charities by the Joint Venture’s stakeholders.
At the event, Bala Wunti, Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), commended the selfless work of the beneficiaries of the Impact First grant. Wunti, represented by Edith Lawson, Deputy Manager, External Relations, NUIMS, said, “NNPC Ltd is a firm believer in the power of corporate social responsibility. We are committed to working alongside our partners to make tangible differences in the lives of those who need it the most”.
Also speaking on the initiative, Emmanuel Etomi, Executive Director, Corporate Services FIRST E&P, said, “As an organization, we remain committed to contributing towards improving societal well-being and socio-economic development; and we firmly believe in the power of collaboration and community engagement in driving positive change.
In her acceptance speech, Crystal Chigbu, Founder of IREDE Foundation expressed gratitude to NNPC Ltd & FIRST E&P for the opportunity to be one of the beneficiaries of the grant, explaining that more than 10 children will be provided with prosthetic limbs from the Grant received.
