The NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, also said the agency would work to ensure that fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products were completely wiped out of the country.
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How Taiwo Ajisefinni Foundation is putting smiles on faces of Nigerian school children
By Matthew Denis Abuja
Succour at last to thousands of Nigerian school children as Taiwo Ajisefinni Foundation is gradually putting smiles on their faces through several donations and support projects to improve their pathetic situation across the country.
Princess Taiwo Oyepeju Ajisefinni is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Taiwo Ajisefinni Foundation (TAF) who has taken the ‘cow by the horns’ to contribute her quota in the Education Sector towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 which is targeted at 2030 “to Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of Education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including disabilities, indigenous people and children in vulnerable situations.”
The Federal Government had announced that 2022 year the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has dropped from 13 million to 6.9 million in 2020.
Speaking on this passion, Princess Ajisefinni revealed the foundation was birthed following a visit she made to Nigeria in 2008 after observing the agony school children encounter.
She said, “I noticed on a particular day, children leaving school for their various homes and saw that many of them were not adequately dressed and while some had schoolbags and others without bags. For a very long time, I complained about the way things were, I heard the stories and I complained and talked about how things should be.
“No matter how much I complained or lamented, I noticed that nothing changed and then it dawned on me that I had to change. I had to stop complaining and do something. I had to bring that picture in my imagination to reality and that is what birthed the Taiwo Ajisefinni Foundation (TAF). TAF has been set up to give hope to children and adults alike.”
According to her the desire for education is to ensure that every child has access to quality education. After a few years of thinking about the best way to start, the foundation was registered in June, 2017 with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria. TAF is also registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
The Chief Visionary Officer emphasized that the foundation seeks to provide educational support in various ways to children, especially those from indigent and underprivileged backgrounds.
“Our target is to reach out to as many schools as possible in Nigeria, especially those in rural communities. In 2016, TAF sponsored 19 people with physical disabilities by paying their fees to attend vocational courses to become solution providers in society.
“Our first school project was executed at a Primary school in Offa local Government of Kwara State were over 80 students benefitted from the services we provided. Interestingly, since the completion of the first stage of the project in this school, parents, and relatives of children in the community and surrounding villages, have shown interest in enrolling their children in the school. The Foundation is also in the process of donating Lawn Tennis equipment to a school of over 2000 students in Ikeja, Lagos State.
She decried that there has been no collaboration yet with the government. However they are working towards collaborating with similar NGOs so that they can get a lot projects done for children in education to actualize the target and vision of the foundation.
“The plan towards collaborating with the government is in the pipeline as it is a means of delivering better results for all involved.
“Education is first and foremost not just the impartation of knowledge but also the assimilation of what is being taught and of life’s experiences. Quality education is therefore about the teacher and the taught: the student. Education is and always will be very important in building a strong foundation in one’s life. It is important that our children are educated, are up to date with current issues, and can provide knowledge to the next generation. Education is a strong building block in building a stronger and healthier community. As a community, it is our obligation to help a child develop their identity and be a contributing factor to society. We must refocus on the idea that a child is the centre of our community.
“The focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 is on ensuring that children have access to quality education and that the number of children that are out of school is reduced.
“With the number of out of school children announced by the federal government, evidence is showing that it has further recorded an impressive enrolment of school children in the last year. Therefore, more intervention from the government in synergy with Those, and like-minded individuals, there is bound to be more significant progress in the standard of education and learning outcomes.
“We plan to go anywhere we are needed, all over Nigeria. We are working on getting as many people as possible on board to be a support system and network for the NGO. Together, we will be able to do more. Our goal is to have stationed in every State, Taiwo Ajisefinni Foundation volunteer teams. They will be responsible for locating the communities and schools where support is needed and then go on to oversee the execution of all that is needed.”
The philanthropist stressed that the Foundation seeks to provide wholesome support to schools.
“We aim to support everyone in the education chain – teachers and students alike. As we provide conducive learning atmospheres for the students, we will also ensure that the teachers have everything they need to provide quality education – training and teaching aids and ultimately achieve all learning outcomes. Our focus will be on ensuring that school children get a good education by making sure that the atmosphere is conducive to learning.
“Together, we can give hope, support, educate and make a difference in the lives of school children one school at a time.”
Please donate and make a difference!
Bank – GTB
Name – Taiwo Ajisefinni Foundation
Account – 0257690459
GoFundMe
www.gofundme.com/f/blaze-a-trail-with-taf
Paypal
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Invoke executive order for state, LG police, Afenifere tells Tinubu
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, on Saturday, urged President Bola Tinubu to invoke an Executive Order for the establishment of state and local government Police.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi,in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also called for the erection of close-circuit television sets and deployment of modern technology for security purposes in strategic locations to end insecurity.
Ajayi said, “There are indications that Tinubu is desirous of putting an end to this deleterious menace. Towards the end of January this year, he approved the procurement of digital tracking tools to enhance the apprehension of bandits, terrorists and armed robbers.
“On Monday, April 22, this year, he used the occasion of addressing participants at the African Counter-Terrorism Summit which opened on that day in Abuja to assure everyone of his government’s readiness to ensure greater security. Unfortunately, recent happenings have not shown that the President’s desire in this respect is being worked upon.
“President Tinubu should get state and local government police off the ground immediately through the invocation of an Executive Order while the process of amending the Constitution continues.
“Close circuit television sets, deployment of modern technology for security purposes including drones must be effected immediately.”
He explained that the statement was motivated by the recent reports of banditry and kidnapping in Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara and Niger States, respectively which made a research organization declare Nigeria as one of the top nations where kidnap ranks highest globally.
Ajayi noted that Fulani herders and farmers’ clashes kept occurring in Osun, Ondo and Oyo State; Otu, Igbeti and Alaga in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State were the latest victims.
The Afenifere spokesperson also said, “In order to end insecurity, enhance people’s welfare and ensure the sustenance of Nigeria as one of the top investment destinations in Africa as desired by the government, there is the urgent need by the Federal Government and security agencies to be more innovative and decisive.”
He lamented that banditry, including armed robbery, kidnapping was still occurring on South-West roads such as Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Akure-Ilesa-Ibadan; Ore-Ijebu Ode-Lagos, Ikirun-Osogbo-Ilesa; Lokoja-Abuja, Owo-Benin and Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki.
“Latest reports have it that on Monday, May 13 instant, eight cocoa farmers were kidnapped at Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ settlement in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. Three students of Millicent Secondary School in the same area on their way to write their Senior Secondary School Examination, were also kidnapped at the same time.
“A sum of N31 million was reportedly paid to ransom three people who were kidnapped at Longe village on Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road last week Sunday. On Thursday, May 16, one Seliat Adeniji (nee Raji) was kidnapped in her Ebedi home in Iseyin, Oyo State. Her guard was killed in the process.
“Hon Bello Hassan representing Zurmi/Shinkafi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives last Tuesday claimed that terrorists have sacked about 50 communities and abducted over 500 people in his area of Zamfara State as bandits overran Zurmi, the second most populous town in the state killing palace officers as well as policemen.”
To put a serious check on all these, the Afenifere spokesman said that there was an urgent need to dig deep into the roots of the menace and to be decisive in applying the necessary measures.
News
NAFDAC shuts cosmetic shops in Lagos, seizes counterfeit products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut three shops and raided others during a clampdown on the sale of unregistered “Dr. Teal’s” brand of cosmetics in Lagos State.
The agency disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Saturday, stating that the action came after a complaint from the trademark holder.
The statement read, “NAFDAC has shut down three cosmetics shops and raided others, targeting the sale of unregistered ‘Dr. Teal’s’ brand cosmetics. This action follows a complaint from the trademark holder regarding potential counterfeit products.
“Two suspected shops along Excellent Line at the Trade Fair Complex were targeted, resulting in sealed shops and invitation letters issued to attendants.”
It added that another development unfolded at Okas Global Link Limited where NAFDAC confiscated over 200 cartons of various Dr. Teal’s products and other unregistered cosmetics, suspecting them to be the source of distribution.
A shop identified as Cubana Stores at Phil Hallmark Plaza was also reported to have been sealed for stocking and selling the moisturising body and bath products of the alleged unregistered Dr. Teal’s brand.
NAFDAC added that according to its regulations, shop owners found guilty of selling unregistered products face penalties of up to ₦5m fine.
It said shop owners were also being questioned as part of ongoing investigations.
In the statement, the agency emphasised the health risks associated with fake cosmetics, stating the potential dangers of using products containing harmful substances.
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Traders, soldiers clash at Banex Plaza in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.
A viral video seen by our correspondent on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.
The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.
Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.
“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.
“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.
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