WELCOME ADDRESS BY McSHIMANA JACOBS AKEM – PROJECT DIRECTOR, IDS ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF THE IDS-COMMUNITY SKILLS ACQUISITION CENTER AT ADO COMMUNITY KARU LGA, NASARAWA STATE NIGERIA, 5th May, 2010
His Excellency, Amb. Terence P. McCully- United States of America
Ambassador to Nigeria, Represented by Ms. Karen Mehring Ambassador's SSH Project
Coordinator
The Honorable Chairman, Karu LGC, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
The Division Police Officer (DPO) Karu LGA, Nasarawa State
HRH. Alh. Salihu - The Chief of Ado Community, Karu LGA
Mal. Haruna Bako, Social Welfare Officer – Karu Local Govt Area
Representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
Members of the Press
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
On behave of the board, management, staff and trainees of Integrated IDS. I welcome you all to the Official Commissioning of IDS – Community Skills Acquisition Center (CSAC) by the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria. His Excellency, Amb. Terence P. McCully, Represented by Ms. Karen Mehring - The Coordinator, U.S. Embassy Special Self Help (SSH) Project.
Before I proceed, permits me to introduce the Integrated Development Services (IDS). As a matter of fact, IDS is a registered non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2004 and dedicated to Socio-economic, Health and Educational development of the vulnerable women, youth and children through Research, Capacity building and Empowerment in Nigeria.
In 2007, IDS established the community skills acquisition center (CSAC) in Karu Local Government area of Nasarawa State with the aimed of training vulnerable Women, Youth and Children on livelihood vocationals such as Tailoring, Knitting, Hairdressing, Hat and Computer Operation to boost income generation, create employment opportunities and alleviated poverty among the targeted groups in the community.
The center has so far training over 100 women and youth of which over 60% of the beneficiaries have established their own small scale enterprises (SMEs) and at list 30% have got employment with the Government and the private sectors. We believe that with the US Embassy aid now, our target to train 100 women and youth yearly will be achieved.
Ladies and Gentlemen, It will interest you all to know that in 2010. The American Ambassador to Nigeria, through the Special Self Help (SSH) project, granted IDS Financial aid to acquired latest training equipments to improved on the facilities and train more vulnerable women and youth in Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large on various skills acquisition programs.
Once again, I wish to express IDS Board, Staff and Trainees sincere appreciation and gratitude to the American Ambassador to Nigeria for this kind gesture, we shall not end this Address without acknowledging the Project Coordinator, United States Embassy Abuja. SSH Project Coordinator, Ms. Karen Mehring for her kindness and doing every possible for Ado community women and youth to be fully empowered on various vocational programs for income generation, employment creation and poverty alleviation.
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, it is our commitment at IDS and the Community to ensure the development and sustainability of this project through mobilization of local resources to meet with our target of training 500 vulnerable women, youth and Children most especially those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, disability, sex workers and victims of human trafficking and early marriage by the year 2015 to help realized the united nation millennium development goals (MDGs) and Nigeria Vision 20-20:20
Finally, I want to thank all of you for finding time to grace this wonderful occasion,I prayed God to grant you journey mercies to your various places
VULNERABLE WOMEN (GIRLS) TRAINED ON LIVELIHOODS VOCATIONAL SKILLS JAN-APRIL,2013
Mararaba Gurku is an urban slum community located along Abuja-Keffi Express way in Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State Nigeria with an estimated population of over 4 Million people who are mostly low income civil servants working in Abuja, the Nigeria Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and petty traders as occupants with an average daily income of less than one US Dollar. The community is best known with violence and other criminal activities such as Prostitutions, Drugs addict, Alcoholism, Robbery and other societal vices. As part of IDS effort to improving on the living conditions of vulnerable young persons (girls) most especially those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, widows, victims of early marriage, disabled persons, commercial sex workers(CSWs) and displaced women and girls due to the upsurge of Boko Haram insurgency and other violence in the country through the provision of psychosocial support, livelihoods vocational skills and other empowerment opportunities aimed at promoting self-reliance, employment creation and poverty alleviations among youths at the community level. 21 vulnerable women (girls) were trained on various vocational skills programs including catering/decoration, detergents and cosmetics including entrepreneurships development and market access training for a period ranging from two to three months in 2013. The project beneficiaries were mobilized by Mr. Moses Alakali, a National Youth Services Corp (NYSC) member CODE: NS112C10466.
IDS Partner North East Regional Initiative(NERI) to Rehabilitate and Empower Insurgency victims
IDS-Intercommunity Development Social Organisation and North East Regional Initiative (NERI) partnership is to provide technical assistance for productive ventures as well as counseling in an intensive manner to farmers’ cooperatives, groups and associations in Borno state by strengthening their organizational capacity and democratic power structure to become legitimate (formally registered with appropriate government authority), set up or acquire business addresses (office and farm sites) and then initiate or improve administration (EXCO/board members, bank accounts, financial records, office hours). They will be taught and mentored through participatory organization self assessments and development (POSAD) strategies, to identify areas of strength, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis), to effectively manage Agribusiness and the revolving fund scheme to improve on their capital and production capacity for profitability and sustainability. Members will be encouraged to contribute their quota (resources). It may include space, manpower and other resources available at the community level into their cooperatives and associations to ensure participatory development. The aim is to promote self-reliance and sustaianability. The feature of our training is going to be steady but gradual transformation of their cooperatives into functional units with the available resources. These functional units will now be integrated into a larger effective cooperative federation or coalition through a gradual process. The project will help achieve the assessment, identification and strengthening of the capacity-gaps that exist among farmer’s cooperatives and associations in Borno State by adapting appropriate and participatory training approach that will involve all the stakeholders in the BRI team and the beneficiary farmers through consultations, advisory services, technical inputs and commendations on areas of improvement on components aimed at starting and managing Agribusiness profitably and in a sustainable manner among beneficiaries in Borno state and entire northeastern region. The project is primary aimed at promoting income generating activities (IGA), Create employment opportunities and poverty alleviation in Borno State and the North East Region at large, The capacity building and training for farmers associations and cooperative societies in Borno State will forcused on the following areas: (1). Administrative and Financial Managemenet, (2). Agriculutural productive value chain, (3) Revolving Fund maagement, (4) Marketing and Entrepreneurship development, and (5). Business Plan Development
3DAY SEMINAR FOR NORTHERN WOMEN ACTIVISTS ON PEACE BUILDING
Northern Nigeria women activist’s had called on political leaders across the nineteen northern states and the federal government to as a matter of urgency find a way to dialogue with members of the Boko -Haram sects to down their tools and give peace a chance to lessen the pains and suffering that had characterized the region for the past’s years. This called formed part of the communiqué issued at the end of a three days seminar held at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) auditorium in Abuja from 27th to 29th March, 2013 organized by IDS-Nigeria with support from the “Urgent Action Fund- Africa” to train ‘’Northern Women Activists” to involved in peace building and reconciliation process in their respective constituencies in other to bring an end to sectarian crisis’s in the northern part of the country. The sectarian crises in the northern Nigeria had affected the political and social economy needs of some of the states which have translate to tougher economic s challenges for women and their children. Women, been the end-receiver of crisis, the Seminar was organized to provide women with relevant skills to participate in the peace building process and simultaneous dialogue with their family members and other stakeholders. Delivery her welcome address at the opening of the workshop, the Executive Director of IDS-Nigeria, Mrs. Priscilla Ajeneku, urged, northern women to actively get involved in the process that will led to Peace and Unity in the north and the entire country since the women “themselves” are at the receiving-end of all the crisis. She said, “women’s are better peacemaker when given the chance because as ‘’mothers” they known the soft-spot to touch the men and youths to hear their voices.
AWDF PARTNER IDS TO TRAIN WOMEN AND GIRLS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ON VOCATIONAL SKILLS
African Women Development Fund (AWDF) Ghana partner (IDS)-Intercommunity Development Social Organisation Nigeria to provide Livelihood Vocational Skills Training and Start-Up Capital to Vulnerable women and girls living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Karu community and it environs. In the memorandum of understanding (MoU) sign by both parties, IDS is to use the grants to train vulnerable women and girls on Fashion designing(Tailoring), knitting(dress making), Hairdressing, Hat/bead making, Catering/Decorations, Detergents/Cosmetics and small scale Agricultural production(poultry and fish farming). Entrepreneurship development and market access training is also incorporated in the project. The one year project implementation duration started in October 2013 and is expected to end in September 2014 with the primary aims of boosting beneficiaries income generation, create employment opportunities and poverty alleviations among vulnerable women and girls infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Interested beneficiaries are to contact the Project Officer on Tel: 08036854938 or via email:ids_ngo@yahoo.com for more information. Concern members of the public will recalled that in June 2013 AWDF staff including Rose and Solange of the grants making department and Nene of media department paid familiarization visit to IDS head office. The highlight of the visits was the inspections of IDS training facilities and interaction with vulnerable women and girls leaning different vocational skills including Entrepreneurship development and market access training. The visiting team commended IDS Board, management and staff efforts for the poverty alleviation initiatives most especially as it addresses the plights faced by vulnerable groups in the society.
ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA
.IDS-Intercommunity Development Social Organisation has partner Justice for All (J4A)-UK Department for International Development (DFID) to Address the Issue of Violence against Women in 3 towns of Abuja Municipal Area Council Nigeria. The one year project seeks to address the capacity problem faced by justice service providers in ensuring timely arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of gender based violence; the lack of support and guidance for victims to take forward violence against women (VAW) cases, the non-existence of a viable CSO coalition to advocate for the implementation of VAW policy and increase pressure on services providers to arrest and prosecute perpetrators; and the lack of awareness on the rights of women and girls to live a life free from sexual and other gender based violence. The project is aimed at; increasing arrests of VAW perpetrators, timely dispensation of justice in VAW cases, provision of avenue for VAW victims to receive support services and be informed on where to report cases of GBV in the society. The project will be delivered through capacity strengthening of supply-side actors, awareness rising via a TV documentary; establishment of a CSO coalition and CSO capacity enhancement; establishment of a telephone helpline to provide advice and guidance on VAW and support services available; and development of IEC materials that will provide information on where VAW victims can seek justice in Abuja in Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Justice for All (J4A) is a UK Department for International Development (DFID) funded programme aimed at supporting the reform of the justice sector in Nigeria. The goal of the programme is to ensure improved personal security and access to justice for all Nigerians through capability, accountability and responsiveness of key organizations in the safety, security and justice sector.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW) VICTIMS SUPPORT HELPLINE: 08099936317
CALL IDS/J4A-DFID VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW) VICTIMS SUPPORT HELPLINE: 08099936317 (TOLL FREE WITH ETISALAT)
Official Commissioning of IDS Community Skills Acquisition By US Ambassador to Nigeria 5th May,2011
Integrated Development Services (IDS) is a registered, non- profit and non – governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 2004 and dedicated to Socio-economic, Agriculture, Environment, Health, Education and promotion of democracy and gender equity in Nigeria through research, capacity building and empowerments.
VISION:
IDS envision improving on the living standard of the vulnerable women, youth, children and communities through participatory initiatives and collective actions.
MISSION:
To facilitate development programme such as socio-economic, health, environment and education to improve on the living standard of the vulnerable Women, Youth and Children through Research, Capacity building and Empowerment in Nigeria.
IDS Management on Advocay Visit 2 Nasarawa State Government House Lafia on Educational Development
IDS Management Team paid Advocacy Visit to Nasarawa State Government on Educational Development (Policies and Programme) at Government House Lafia. The team was received by Excellency, Governor Umaru Al-Makura, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Nigeria with the Honourable Commissioner for Education , the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry with Directors of department and Agencies in the Education Ministry. IDS management members at the advocacy and sensitization programme include McShimana Jacobs Akem- Project Director, Prof. Olivet Jagusah from USA and Dr. Barka A. Grema
IDS Management Team on Advocacy Visit to Nasarawa State Governor
IDS paid Advocacy Visit to Nasarawa State Governor, His Excellency, Alh. Umaru Al-Makura at Government House Lafia to facilitate Policies and Programme to Improve on Educational Development in Nasaraw State in the Pictures is Gov. Al-Makura in the center with IDS Project Director, McShimana Jacobs Akem by the right and Prof. Olivet Jagusah on the other side of the Governor with white native dress, others in the pictures include the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Education with the Directors
US Embassy SSH Coordinator at the Commissioning of IDS Community Skills Acquisition Centre
The District Head of Ado with Karu LGC Chairman Rep. Sitting while Division Police Officer Rep with IDS Project Directors McShimana & Haj. Aishatu stand nest to Karen M. of US Embassy Abuja
IDS Recieved Grants from Urgent Action Fund
IDS Partnership UAF-Africa to Enhancing Women Activists Capacity to effectively engage and advocate for peace in the light of the upsurge in violence spurred by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria.
Official Commissioning IDS Skills Acquisition by US Ambassador to Nigeria
Ado Community Karu LGA Nasarawa State Nigeria on the 5th May, 2011
2010 NATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR SCOs IN NIGERIA
Fast Tracting Programs Towards MDGs and NV20-2020 facilited by Dr. S.A. Sambe of Benue State University MKD
IDS Received Skills Acquisition Grants from United States Embassy Abuja
Hajia Aishatu T. Sarki -IDS Director, Inspecting Skills Acquisition Equipments Acquired with US Embassy Grants
2009 National Workshop 0n MDGs and NV20-20:20 organised by IDS in Abuja
Cross Section of Participants
IDS Community Self-Help Water and Sanitation Project at Kubosu Community
As part of the effort to help Kubosu community over come the problems of Water shortages, Unhygienic water sources and environment, High incidences of water related infections, Low level of awareness on good sanitary and hygienic practices and Poverty Alleviation among Women and Children . IDS through Community Self Help Initiative has drilled a borehole and Latrines at Kubosu Community in NasarawaState of Nigeria to enhance access to potable water and carryout advocacy/sensitization programme and also organised a two day Sanitation and Hygiene awareness workshop for community members from 5th -6th July, 2012
IDS Received Skills Acquisition Grants from United States Embassy Abuja
Community Women Training Beneficiaries Admiring the Equipments
Annie Coons of USA Senate Official Visit to IDS Community Skills Acquisition Centre on the 2/06/11
Mrs. Coons with Her Entourage and IDS Project Director-McShimana and Community Women Leader Hajia Aishatu
IDS Received Skills Acquisition Grants from United States Embassy Abuja
Section of IDS Skills Acquisition Trainees at Training Centre