NAYD NIGERIA

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NAYD Nigeria Monthly Report for November 2007
1. The annual youth convention of staying power Christian assembly took place at Numan Adamawa state – North East Nigeria.
NAYD was represented by the country Coordinator who presented papers titled “HIV/AIDS what future for the youth”
The paper centered on life building skills and HIV and AIDS prevention.

Despite the tragic death of seven members of that community in one day in a motor accident, a total of 400 youths (110 females and 290 males) still attended the program.
Evidently, we shifted emphasis from the usual faith based approach and went into the rudiment of HIV and AIDS amongst the youth which largely is caused by risky sexual behaviour among youths who are said to be sexually active group of a countries population. Youths pledged to be of good behaviour and exemplary to other youths.

The program gave birth to another up coming program come January 2008 and that program is in line with one of the NAYD five point agenda of action for 2008 - Moral and Social Values (honesty, truth, discipline, hard work, Respect, etc).

2. The meeting of NAYD Nigeria took place in the month of November 2007 (27th November 2007). NAYD members within the North central zone attended the meeting that took place in the NAYD Nigeria office at the Haga plaza Gada biyu Jos plateau state.
Among other things, we deliberated on the resolutions earlier on adopted in the second meeting and the five point agenda of NAYD international for 2008. Certain decisions were reached, this includes:
• Registration of NAYD Nigeria – we found out from the Corporate Affair commission (the authorities responsible for registration of companies and organization) that all organization operating within Nigeria shall register with her despite the registration of the mother body (NAYD International) outside of Nigeria. Hence, we have resolved to register despite the cumbersome nature of such registration.
• That we would continue to operate as an entity before the registration is concluded; and that the certificate of registration of the international would aid our own registration, as the CAC does not register “NETWORKS”.
• On the creation of NAYD Nigeria national secretariat, we agreed that upon registration and other formalities, we would be thinking of owning a national secretariat (Building) but on the interim, the International Center for Accelerated Development ICAD would continue to host NAYD Nigeria.
• On the zonal arrangements, we also added that their should be state focal persons so that the hierarchy or method of reporting can be made less cumbersome for the country coordinator. Based on this, a number of appointments were made representing the interest of NAYD zones present. The orders of appointments are:
1. North-Central Zone Mr. SUNSHINE OCHALA. (Organization - VISTAS)
2. North-East Zone Mr. ANDREW FRIDAY (organization - staying power international)
3. North-west Zone Muhammed Lawal Of National Council Of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO) Sokoto state
4. South-East Zone – Chisomaga Anyanwu – Youngster solidarity forum

State focal persons
1. Plateau state - Mary o. wuya of the Organized center for empowerment and advocacy (OCEAN FOUNDATION)
2. Kogi state – Mr. Gideon Attah of the ONE STEP foundation
3. Lagos state – Charles Onyebuchi Joseph – Association of women living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria (ASHWAN)

Activities
Going by the five point agenda which include
• Moral and Social Values (honesty, truth, discipline, hard work, Respect, etc)
• Human Right Values
• Environmental Values
• Development Communication
• NAYD and Development in Africa
We have resolved to do social mapping of youth organization in Nigeria and categorize them so that our activities would be better carried out by this organization working this field(s). Contac with young star foundation – a youth organization in Jos was suggested.
Individuals who registered online should be included in the scheme of affairs, as their contributions would contribute to the general growth of the organization.
We agreed that come next year 2008 we shall be organizing a national youth conference, to this end, bid have been thrown open for zones and states to host the conference.

Membership
Membership of NAYD Nigeria should be first thrown open to people and organizations and after a considerable time, we commence registration of member thus attracting charges for registration. This is to show commitment on the part of members and to have funds to run the organization.
The meeting said the current effort in the country coordination should be sustained.

Funding
With respect to funding, we agreed that there is need for advocacy visit to institutions within the zones in the country such as:
1. National planning commission,
2. National Orientation agency-NOA
3. Ministry of Women Affairs and social development
4. Ministry of youth and sports
5. Millennium Development Goal Fund, the presidency.
6. Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation
7. ECOWAS secretariat Abuja
8. State and local governments. Etc.
Opportunities
The country director advised that members access the net to get information and that member organization should make available their proposals for posting on the NAYD website for would be interested sponsors/partners.

Collaborations
An organization Youngster Solidarity Forum coordinated by Chisomaga Anyanwu the NAYD Nigeria southeast coordinator, have approached NAYD Nigeria for collaboration in hosting a 3days candlelight memorial conference in Owerri from 16-18 may 2008. The program is on HIV/AIDS and its aim is to remember those that lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. Thinking inviting various youth in Nigeria to attend the conference.

The executive Director of CADA Nigeria Ifeanyi Uzoh has extended a hand of fellowship to NAYD Nigeria to be part of the in-country coordinating team for the African Youth Peace Conference coming up in Egypt this was made known in an Exclusive telephone chat with the country coordinator NAYD Nigeria.

NAYD Nigeria monthly report for October 2007
This month has been eventful in the life of NAYD Nigeria. In consonance with our earlier projection to meet within the third week of October, it became glaring that meeting within the third week was not possible due to much commitment by most member organizations considering that they are trying to round up most projects before the year winds up.
We therefore fixed a meeting for November where we would strategies the way forward.

1. NAYD Nigeria paid a visit to the regional director of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation – North central zone. We where received by the director. Alhaji. I. N. Batagarawa who expressed delight in such noble effort by NAYD as uniting Nigerians, and building Africa. He stated that the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation would like to associate with NAYD, as this would bring about cross-cultural pollination and boost tourism for Africa and for Africans. The visit brought about the idea of study visits for fellow Africans. This is to bring about learning the way of life of people in different regions of Africa with the understanding that we are one. We were given souvenirs, which was extracted to form part of the NAYD Nigeria page on the website and have since been kept in the NAYD Nigeria library.

2. The country coordinator representing Optionaid Nigeria was at Abeokuta Ogun state – south western Nigeria in a meeting of the Network of NGOs Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour NACTAL- supported by UNICEF.

In the cause of the workshop, he advanced the cause of NAYD as a veritable force for curbing the menace of child trafficking and dehumanization of our brothers and sisters, a trend that is fast becoming another form of slave trade.

Excerpts from the workshop - below

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
Objectives of the workshop are as follows:
- To build the capacity of NACTAL member organizations in the areas of monitoring and evaluation techniques; care giving, rehabilitation and reintegration of child victims of trafficking, abuse and labour.
- To build the capacity of these organizations on ways to access funds from donor agencies and identify other means of raising funds locally.
- To develop referral strategies on rehabilitation, re-integration and repatriation of victims.
- To collate reports on interventions by NACTAL members on the prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of vulnerable children and victims of child trafficking, labour and abuse.

PRESENTATION/SUBMISSION OF ORGANISATIONAL REPORTS
As an antecedent to the reports from the organizations, Prof. Oloko appealed to the member organizations to give honest reports which may be quantitative as well as qualitative (in the absence of genuine statistical data). Following this, each member organization represented at the Meeting, presented its report of activities from September 2006 to September 2007. .

Generally, funding was considered a major challenge by the organizations. The presenters were asked to submit to the Workshop Secretariat, both hard and electronic copies of the various reports presented.

Afterwards, some participants responded to the reports. Some of the responses included the following:
- That there is need to have proper knowledge of the focal areas
- That accurate and precise data collation is important
- That proper and intensive counseling is needed by withdrawn or rehabilitated children before commencing a rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. That patience and prayer are also needed.
- That media involvement at NACTAL Workshops is essential for adequate public awareness creation.
- That formation of child protection networks within each of the NGO’s constituency which will comprise of community – based key officers such as health workers, community development officers, teachers and religious leaders is useful for the achievement of NACTAL’s objectives.
- That widows can also be included in the target group of the NGOs.
- That there is need for the inclusion of value orientation for parents with respect to parenting.
- Those NACTAL members who have a close relationship with government can use the opportunity to muster funds in establishing rehabilitation homes or shelter facilities.
- That a strong networking mechanism be established among NACTAL members so that each member organization in the different zones can be sensitized on the activities of their counterparts.
- That the film on child trafficking and child labour should be made available at the next holiday in the areas of operations of member organisations.

PRESENTATION ON FUND RAISING TECHNIQUES
Ms. Sharon Oladiji of UNICEF gave the presentation on Fund Raising Techniques.
She gave a profile of the Nigerian Child Care Institutions Report, 2004 and pointed out that the first item identified as the problem of institutions surveyed was poor funding. She said this was and has been a general challenge of NGOs. She further went on to point out basic concepts on fund raising and resource mobilization. She noted that underlying principles for fund raising include transparency, accountability, economy, efficiency and effectiveness, sustainability, partnership and human resource capacity development.

On profit planning, costing and budgeting, she extensively explained that the organization must have the capacity to prepare and implement a budget, establish and justify what resources are to be used for, and state quantities and quality of resources required.

Giving tips on proposal development, she stressed the fact that it is important that a proposal includes the title; introduction; objectives which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound; target; a detailed methodology as well as budget.

Explaining resource mobilization as a means to sourcing for funds, she gave four steps to follow such as –
- Having a profile or brochure
- Having a mailing list of would-be supporters
- Writing letters, and
- Giving reasons for raising funds in the letter.

Ms. Oladiji also pointed out that it is important to supply names and phone numbers of professionals who may help the donor execute financial arrangements, ask for the right amount and provide multiple opportunities to give.

In conclusion, she remarked that in organizing a successful fund raising event, it is important to plan and be well organized, choose actors or volunteers, document or show case success stories, allow the children to participate, choose a fund raising product, be accountable to the donors and have integrity.

Following the presentation, the participants were divided into five groups and each group was required to develop a proposal on one of the following activities –
1. Shelter/Rehabilitation Needs
2. Research
3. Awareness creation
4. Skills acquisition
5. NACTAL activities.

STRATEGIES IN THE REHABILITATION OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTED BY MRS. S.A. ADEKUNLE - Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons & Other Related Matters (NAPTIP),

She introduced the concept of trafficking and identified ten steps in the complete rehabilitation of a victim of trafficking. These are:
1. Reception
2. Identification
3. Sheltering
4. Counseling
5. Family Tracing and Revision/Social Integration
6. Career/Vocational Training
7. Repatriation
8. Follow-up/Aftercare
9. Disengagement
10. Effective utilization of products of successful intervention in the rehabilitation of others.

Following the questions, answers and comments it was agreed as follows:
- That NAPTIP should have more offices and shelters around Nigeria to make referrals of victims easier.
- That NAPTIP should be better equipped in terms of personnel and financial assistance in order to be able to handle the heavy workload and huge responsibilities it is required to carried out.
- That there should be a smooth relationship between the Ministry of Women Affairs, CSOs and NAPTIP since it is part of the responsibility of the Ministry of Women Affairs to take care of victims of child abuse.
- That the problem of internal trafficking of girls in Nigeria should be given more preference compared to external trafficking.
- That value orientation should be done for the girls in order to boost their self esteem.

It was pointed out by all that a major challenge faced by stakeholders is that victims of trafficking are not always ready to testify against the traffickers when the latter are arrested.

FILM SHOW ON TRAFFICKING
To enable Workshop participants to understand the phenomena of child abuse, a film entitled ‘Tumini’s Song’, was shown. The film portrayed the traumatic circumstances of a girl, named Tumini, who lived with pain and rejection. As a child, she was abused at the age of 6, rejected by her mother and tormented with the pain of living with the stigma of a rape victim.

Participants were asked to comment on the film and possible intervention for the girl. Some of the comments on the film include:
- The fact that counseling be provided to the family of the girl including her parents and siblings.
- That the girl be given a value orientation to boost her self esteem and value system.
- That guidance and counseling Centers be instituted in schools to provide counseling to in-school adolescents who may be having these kinds of painful experiences.
- That there is need to look into a victim’s past when counseling him or her as a way of providing appropriate counseling.
- That the counselor should not be emotionally attached to the counselee.
- That as a counselor or social worker, one should look forward to making referrals to appropriate places or alternatives in difficult cases.

REFERRAL PROCEDURES IN THE REHABILITATION OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTED BY MRS. S.A. ADEKUNLE
Mrs. Adekunle identified the need for care providers, governments, law enforcement agencies, CSOs and many other actors to work together in assisting victims of human trafficking. This is because no single institution can provide all that is required for victims’ assistance. Hence, the need for referrals. Mrs. Adekunle listed out the objectives of referral, the institutions/stakeholders involved and their roles.

The stakeholders are –
- Government (at Federal, State and Local levels)
- Local Community
- Organized Private Sector
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
- Foreign Governments
- International Agencies and Donors
- Mass Media
- Individuals/Philanthropists.

She listed out the guidelines in a referral procedure since many organizations will need to work together for victims’ assistance because as earlier pointed out, it is impossible for only one organization to attend to all the needs of the victims.

The strategies applied in the referral system for the rehabilitation of human trafficking include –
- The use of the draft National Policy for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking in Nigeria
- Sensitization
- Use of coalition groups to locate victims at the local level and for referral purposes
- Creation of trafficking information and referral hotlines on 24 hours per day
- Use of websites to provide information about possible assistance for the rehabilitation of victims
- Advocacy visits to sensitize people on referrals
- Use of informants/intermediaries to obtain information on victims of trafficking; and
- Reports by concerned individuals on the plight of victims of human trafficking.

In conclusion, Mrs. Adekunle said it is important to harmonize the resources and facilities that is available among existing benefactors for a coordinated approach to be adopted in the rehabilitation of victims.

The comments thereafter are summarized as follows –
- That after the vocational training is done for the victims, collaboration should be done with other organizations for their economic empowerment and the victims are followed by and monitored.
- That the media should be trained in respect to human trafficking.

PRESENTATION OF NACTAL’S INTERVENTION IN THE RESCUE AND
REHABILITATION OF VICTIMS AT THE ABEOKUTA QUARRIES BY MRS. VERONICA UMARU – executive director wotclef.

A bilateral agreement was made between the governments of Nigeria and Republic of Benin for the rescuing of Beninois children trafficked through the borders of Ogun State. A lot of these children are engaged in exploitative work at the Abeokuta quarries and are housed by Republic of Benin citizens in Abeokuta. However, NACTAL decided to take up the mandate of sheltering these children in Abeokuta despite the challenge of getting a place for sheltering these children.

During the discussion at the Workshop, the National Coordinator of WOTCLEF, Mrs. Veronica Umaru, informed the house that the WOTCLEF’s founder, Her Excellency, Mrs. Titi Abubakar – wife of the former vice president of Nigeria had agreed to pay a one-year rent for a transit shelter in Abeokuta and also provided fourteen (14) beds and some chairs for the victims trafficked to Abeokuta from the Republic of Benin and transferred to NAPTIP’s shelter after sheltering the victims for a short period of time.

2ND NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING SUMMIT
THEME “ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE”
ENUGA 16-19 DECEMBER 2007
The National Youth Leadership Training Summit is an annual event where young leaders from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria are brought together and taught on thematic issues that relate to the development and empowerment of young people. The Center for Sustainable Development and Education in Africa (formally Youth Initiators Nigeria) in collaboration with the International Women’s Health Coalition, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, International and the Alliance Francaise will be organizing the Second National Youth Leadership Training Summit in Enugu between 16th and 19th December 2007. The summit will be focusing on the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of young people (especially girls) and how this could help in reducing poverty and open windows of opportunities for young people. The summit will also create awareness among young leaders and policy makers, review policies and traditional laws that address the sexual and reproductive health and rights needs of young people, identify the gaps and come up with a resolution for young leaders in Nigeria to advocate to communities, government and policy makers to address the identified sexual and reproductive health needs of young people. All completed applications should be submitted before 7th December, 2007 via email to info@csdea.net. Scholarships to cover transportation, accommodation and meals are available to all selected participants from within Nigeria. Interested young people from outside Nigeria can also apply but will have to support their own participation. *Preference will be given to young persons between the ages of 15 and 25 years. Females are encouraged to apply.

MEETING HELD ON JULY 21ST AND 20TH AUGUST 2007 AT THE HAGA PLAZA AND PLATEAU AIDS CONTROL AGENCY AUDITORIUM.

The meeting which was organized by Actionaid International Nigeria and Christian Health Association of Nigeria- CHAN and hosted by Civil society against HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN) served a dual purpose as it coincided with the date fixed for meeting to adopt the agreement of the earlier meeting held at the International Center for Accelerated Development Haga plaza office with the principal motive of establishing NAYD NIGERIA country office. Some of the NAYD Nigeria members are registered members of CiSHAN hence the gathering provided an ample opportunity to fast track the earlier meeting held on the 21st of July 2007.

Members from other part of the country that could not make it to the 20th August meeting sent in consent letters or phone calls accepting representations by proxy. Members of NAYD Nigeria met to discuss the matters arising from the last meeting and came out with the following resolutions.

RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

• The Network of African Youths For Development (NAYD) is a big entity and as such should be registered with the state governments and federal government of Nigeria through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja in order to gain recognition of citizens, government and International donor communities in Nigeria.

• The International Center for Accelerated Development office located at Haga Plaza Gada Biyu Jos should remain as the National/ country office until such a time when NAYD Nigeria gets a permanent office.
It shall also serve as the secretariat of NAYD Nigeria for collation and dissemination of information.

• Owing to the fact that Nigeria is very large in terms of landmass, people and organizations, it would be appropriate that the country be divided into the current zonal arrangement. That, six (6) Zones be operational to take care of all member organizations in Nigeria. With this arrangement, NAYD Nigeria would be zoned as:

1.South-East - (Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi)
2.South-south - (Rivers, Cross rivers, Akwa ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo)
3.South-west - (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti)
4.North Central - (Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Federal Capital Territory –Abuja)
5.North-east - (Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba)
6.North-west - (Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa)

• We would use the constitution prescribed by NAYD International so that our operations are guided uniformly. While we draw a byelaw which would take care of the disparities and differentials in the NAYD International constitution.

• The purpose of the network is to bring smiles to the faces of Africans on both the short-term and long-term as such we would look at the activities and programs of all the NAYD Nigeria organizations in relation to the needs and peculiarity of the people and create/adopt/fine tune/replicate where necessary. Such programs/activities is not limited to Nigeria alone and would be all encompassing and cost effective.

We would solicit for assistance regarding website design and hosting from philanthropist for any member project or organisation. While hoping the International office of NAYD would forward to us, if there is any, working materials that may accrue to the NAYD Nigeria Office.

• Coordination so far has been appropriate with consistent information flow regarding activities of NAYD Nigeria and NAYD international. We express vote of confidence on the Current Country Director – NNADI Kevin of the International Center for Accelerated Development. Hoping that the zoning would make for effective running of NYAD Nigeria.

• Funding is paramount to the success of NYAD Nigeria hence we would source for money through organizational Membership registration, donations and grants. As such, a committee would be set to look at the modalities for fund raising for the management and running of the NAYD Nigeria office/project.

The country director ensued for continuous support cooperation for the success of the organization in Nigeria. The meeting ended with a resolve to assist NAYD Nigeria succeed in bringing relief to the generality of deprived Nigerians and people of Africa s a whole.
Another meeting was slated for third (3) week of October. It is hoped that by that time organizations would have submitted proposed projects/proposals, which would be evaluated in relation to – Poverty Eradication/wealth creation, gender mainstreaming, access to health and hygiene etc, and sent to potential donors who may be interested in funding the projects.

Individual members who have joined through the WEB