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How Opay’s Play4aChild CSR Initiative is Building a good cause

In a press release to the general public, popular Fintech company, OPay had revealed its recently launched CSR Initiative

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative which was tagged Play4aChild is a scheme that at its core, encourages everyone to be shared contributors to community development by integrating a variety of point-earning transactional and leisure activities into the regular usage of the OPay App, such as playing games, paying utility bills, making payments for goods and services, and other services available on the app.

Read: Biography of Actress Okusanya Ololade

According to UNESCO, there are now over 20 million disadvantaged and out-of-school children in Nigeria as of According to UNESCO, there are now over 20 million disadvantaged and out-of-school children in Nigeria as of 2022. Thus, OPay aims to support the government's efforts to reduce the nation's rising population of such children through Play4aChild by providing a platform that is easy to use and can be easily integrated into our everyday lives.

Currently, OPay is working with three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to implement Play4aChild: Girls Inspired Development Network, Dreams From the Slum Empowerment Initiative, and Africa Cleanup Initiative.

OPay's Play4aChild was launched on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, with a donation through the Girls Inspired Development Network (GIDN). The partnership with GIDN ensured that 1,300 vulnerable children from three (3) low-income schools in three (3) underserved communities received back-to-school packs and learning aids.

This donation was piloted with Jibowu Junior High School in Jibowu-Yaba, Lagos, and students from Birrel Avenue High School and Herbert Macaulay Girls High School in Sabo-Yaba, Lagos, also benefited from this pilot phase. This initial phase of the initiative in Lagos State will also be beneficial to students from the underprivileged Makoko-Yaba neighborhood.

See videos of the pilot phase below:

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Consequently, Play4aChild will be expanded to other regions of the nation to lower the rising number of out-of-school and vulnerable children while providing them with a glimmer of hope.

OPay is a Financial Services Company in Nigeria. You can create a free OPay Account here and read everything you need to know about OPay here.

The History of Bower’s Tower, Ibadan

ÌBÀDÀN LO MÒ, OÓ MO LÁYÍPO

Bower's Tower is located in one of the oldest areas of Ibadan, Oyo State. It was unveiled on December 15, 1936, designed by Taffy Jone (who designed Mapo Hall) and named after the first British resident in Ibadan and a travelling commissioner for the interior of Yoruba land, Captain Robert Lister Bower, who brought peace in his era.

The 60ft tall Bower's Tower was birthed on Sapati Hill. This was where he administered his government as the Lieutenant general which we call "governor" today. There is a place called "pulpit" where warriors meet with Bower. The tower which is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the largest city in West Africa has an excellent view that could allow one see the splattered brown roofs like broken China J.P Clark had beautifully described in his poem, 'Ibadan'.

Though built in 1930s, the unique architectural creation still looks pristine and well-structured. The tower gives a spectacular glance of the four corners of Ibadan. One can view, from Oke Are hill – where the tower stands upon, the surrounding landmarks, including the popular Cocoa House, Mokola Hill, Adamasingba stadium, the Polytechnic, Ibadan, the University College Hospital and the rusty brown roofs around the town.

However, a lot of people do not know the tower because of the poor maintenance over the years, which has made people think the tourist centre is deserted. The tower, which rises to the sky and only stands to represent tales but is far away from life around it. The tower has two entrances with narrow staircases which were explained as the architectural design that allows one singlehandedly walk through the steps alone to the height where the city can finally be seen.

The tower is a great place to visit. The main entrance which used to be the car park was functioning in the early 90s. The car park is meant to lead you to the stage where performers would come to play and gyrate to the admiration of guests. There was an administrative office which housed the workers of the tower for duties. As at 1999, it was a norm to have students from University of Ibadan to come around for excursion and sightseeing. Visitors from far and near who wanted to view the city roofs from the tower top use to patronize the place.

The tower was not really built for war but it had also served as a protective measure for the whites then. Because of the height of the building, there was very high possibility anyone standing at the top of the tower to have seen the war coming close and would have made such a person clamour for safety as quickly as possible.

With the architectural design of the tower, you go through both sides of the tower in one journey, when you are climbing up; you get to see those climbing down and vice versa. You can see those coming out from the other side of the stairways through the tiny holes on each of the step. The spiral movement birth the popular proverbial saying "Ibadan lo mo, o mo layipo" rephrased to simply mean "you know Ibadan, you don't know layipo."

When the step was commissioned in 1936, our forefathers then who could not speak in English described the spiral staircases by saying "se la n yipo, la n yipo titi ta fi de oke" which means "we are just going around the stairs, going around the stairs and we have not reached the top".

The men would say again "a se oke lo yii Ibadan ka" (so Ibadan is surrounded by hills) and hence conclude by saying, "Ibadan lo mo,o o mo layipo" (you know Ibadan but you do not know Layipo). This was said to emphasise that even if a person knew the city well and has not been to the Bower Tower where one would 'yipo' (go around the tower), such a person has not known the city".

The last renovation of Bower Lister's tower was done by Major General Patrick N. Aziza in 1999. Other three Honorable ministers of the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism that did renovation were Rear – Admiral Isaac Sunday Areola in 1996, Rear – Admiral Jubril Kayode Ayinla in 1997 and Doctor Emmanuel O. Odogu in 1998.

✍️✍️Phassy Law Wordsmith✍️✍️

Oyubu: The Journey from Mosogar to The World (Mandela Washington Fellowship Experience)

Godspower Evuarherhe Oyubu, a young Lecturer in the Department of Integrated Science at the prestigious Delta State College of Education Mosogar, Nigeria has won the race out of over 75,000 applicants from 49 Sub Saharan African Countries and over 10,000 applicants from Nigeria to appear as one (1) of fifty seven (57) candidates selected from Nigeria and 1 of 700 selected from Africa to represent Nigeria and the Continent in the 2023 Cohort of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship For Young African Leaders.

This prestigious Fellowship is one of the most competitive Fellowships in the World.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). YALI was created in 2010 and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020.

Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship has brought nearly 5,800 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.

During the 2023 Cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Experience which took place between 22nd June-3rd August, 2023, for the Leadership Institute, Godspower was placed at the Staley School of Leadership Studies, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA where he received a robost training, mentorship and networking sessions with Academic, Business and NGOs Founders within the United States as well as other Young African Leaders from 23 Sub Saharan African Countries. The Fellowship also availed the opportunity to visit top NGOs within Kansas State, Historical Sites and Kansas State Capitol Building where the Fellows at Kansas State University received a warm welcome from the Governor of Kansas, Laura Kelly.

The 2023 Cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program ended with a life changing Summit gathering all 700 Fellows from 49 Sub Saharan African Countries at Washington, D.C. The participants had very strategic networking sessions with Fellows, U.S Government Officials and were also privileged to receive a powerful speech from the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken as well as an amazing congratulatory letter address to all Fellows from the U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris."

They also had the opportunity to visit the White House, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial at Washington, D.C.

Godspower's work at Kerux Academic Institute (KAI) can be summarized below:

1. Vision

Mentoring youths academically and professionally to become the next generation of African and Global Leaders

2. Mission Statement

Transforming the Minds and Empowering the Hands of youths via Digital and Technical Skills to curb Youth Restiveness and prevalence of crime amongst the African Youth Community.

To achieve the above vision at KAI, with the knowledge, skills and expertise Godspower received from the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship, he's working on a project to provide quality education on digital and technical skills via in person and virtual training where students, youths and teenagers within and outside his home community can participate.

Read: Biography of Abayomi Adeola Della

These training sessions will be handled by experts and top minds in business, leadership, digital and technical skills - most of whom are past Fellows of the Fellowship, while others are Institute Mentors and other American Networks.

Godspower is also open and willing to provide mentorship to applicants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Applicants seeking for guidance can reach Godspower via email at [email protected]

To know more about the Fellowship, follow Godspower on his official Facebook page @ Oyubu Godspower

Recounting his experience, Mr Godspower mentioned that the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders left an indelible mark in his life. He also believes that every Young African Leader looking forward to making tangible change in his community needs to experience this prestigious Fellowship. In his words, "the MWF is a Life-Changer which has thoroughly sharpened my thoughts on Leadership, connected me to incredible people and made me believe that we need transformed Africans to transform Africa."

God Bless The US Government for the unwavering commitment to empowering Young African Leaders

God bless the US Department of State for her Indefatigable Efforts

God bless President Barrack Obama for this life changing Initiative

God bless President Joe Biden for his commitment to the African Continent

God bless IREX for the Incredible work in organizing the Fellowship

God bless all Institute Partners especially my Host Institute, Kansas State University, Staley School of Leadership Studies (The WildCat Family), for hosting us during the summer of 2023.

HealthWise: 5 Reasons Why You Should Take Vaccines

Vaccines are substances,when injected into the body, help fight the body against diseases and infections. There are different vaccines for different diseases. When the body is exposed to pathogen, the injected vaccine help stimulate the production of antibodies that helps fight the disease.

Below Are 5 Reasons You Should Take Vaccines

1. Protection against Diseases and Infection

To protect yourself against diseases that could have serious negative effect on your health: Getting immunined will not only be beneficial to you but also to people around you. You gets saved from getting infected from people around you and you also save people from getting infected by you due to the fact that you had been vaccinated hence, everyone is safe .

2. Protection against Spread of Disease/Infection

Vaccines protect you from having being tagged as a disease spreader: When your body get exposed to pathogenic organisms and there were already substances to stimulate the production of antibodies to help fight against the organisms (i.e you are vaccinated), this saves you from getting infected by the disease and it also save people around you from getting infected by the disease. If everyone or half of the population gets vaccinated, everyone feels save and there is reduction in the rate of spread of diseases.

3. If collected once , you get protected for many years: It is very important for one to get vaccinated for it keeps you protected for many years or even for a lifetime. But there are some vaccines that can only keep you protected for limited years, hence,their dosses will be boosted at every required time.

4.Vaccine-preventable diseases have not gone away
The viruses and bacteria that cause illness and death still exist and can be passed on to those who are not protected by vaccines. Getting yourself vaccinated will protect you from such viruses and bacterial because your immune would have been able to identify the do called virus hence, you'll be safe.

5. It makes you Stay healthy

Many health organizations had recommended vaccines for protection over many diseases. It is important for you to always go to the hospital for boosting of dosses if you are not subjected to a lifetime vaccination. When you ignore this,you leave yourself vulnerable to all forms of harmful and dangerous diseases.

In summary, the use of vaccines are very important to everyone just as food.

Suicide: The Dissolution but not the Solution by Damilola Akinlolu

Suicidal thoughts have become a norm in our society, as many see it as the lasting solution to a temporary problem. Putting an end to one's life does not in any way put an end to the problem, rather it opens a new chapter of struggle which one has no idea of.

There are lot of cases in our society that have prompted people to end their lives, a news got circulated sometimes ago about a young boy who ended his life because he failed UTME(United Tertiary Matriculation Exam), another person ended her life because she was not given attention by her mother. Some suicidal acts are known to be impulsive due to financial difficulties, stress, relationship breaks or bullying. Other suicidal acts are quite unexplainable. People go to any lengths to carry out this action, the popular ones are by hanging (or suffocation), overdose, usage of firearms, drowning, pesticide poisoning and falls. When I hear people clamor for the ban on insecticides, I'm compelled to ask if insecticide is the only means of ending one's life. Rather than putting a ban on insecticides, why not let's address the issue from the root cause?

Overtime, the range of ages prone to this act is 15 – 30 years of age. Suicide has become the 10th leading cause of death worldwide. Depression, substance abuse (alcohol, hard drug …), bipolar disorder, mental health problems are risk factors. A common risk factor, depression, is a serious medical illness that negatively affects the way one feels, thinks and acts.

During depression, people suffer in silence. There is this feeling of isolation and untrue belief that they’re the only one lost. This continues for a while or longer until they can’t take it anymore. At this point, the only escape route seen is death because the mind is in thick darkness. And in most cases, the easiest option thought about is suicide. Fake appearances and expression manifest in such individuals in order to hide the real issue at hand from every single soul around them. Even when help comes knocking faintly, they deny it and go ahead in betraying themselves. They think the solution has been fixed by them but they fail to see that their own death isn’t the death of the problem. The problem gets passed on to loved ones as guilt and regrets consume them up. The “what if?”, “had I known” and “I thought” damage loved ones left behind especially if they continue to blame themselves for the demise of a depressed being. They assume it were their fault for failing to see the frown under that smile, the sadness being covered by happiness and the inability to differentiate between real and fake.

To every depressed soul out there and every one already having suicidal ideations, suicide was and will never be the solution. Suicide does not solve the problem as the problem still persists. It even creates more problems for those you care about. Depression does get better when you come to the realization that there are a lot of positive things out there waiting for you find them and many positive ways out there waiting to be located by you. Be optimistic! The help and realization are not sudden but gradual. Don’t suffer alone. Speak to someone (a non-judgmental person), though it might seem the hardest thing to do. You can also meet your religious head if the need be. And in case you don’t have the above around you, there are hotlines of professional individuals or organization out there.

Opinion: You and Your Self Worth

“My mates are already in their final year in most schools, see what UI has done to me now, then you wonder why Chris and I barely talk again. Tola just got married last month and she's my mate. Did you just see that Mercedes Benz outside? Kolade is the owner and I have not even gotten the bearing of my life not to talk of getting a car. Is it not my mate that is always in a relationship with make sense guys and me I am here like this, meeting the wrong set of people always. Kate is just the TDB major how I wish to be like her.”

Calm down and take it easy on you. Who is your mate really? Who is your competitor? With what standard do you measure you?

One of the religious books, the bible says that they are fools who compare themselves with themselves. One way out of comparing yourself with someone else is to know yourself. The search to know yourself is not what others can do for you. It is a process of introspection that is continuous. You never stop knowing and discovering new things about yourself. You lessen the degree at which you make comparison to others in regards to yourself because you've built in you the understanding of you. Do you know that the world sees you the way you see yourself? Come to think of it those your friends that you see as classy are like that because they call themselves classy. You are what you potray to the world. This comes out of the understanding of you. It is known as your self worth.

Self-worth is an internal state of being that comes from self-understanding, self-love, and self-acceptance. It is a state that is somewhat timeless and unchanging because it is a direct measure of how you value and regard yourself in spite of what others may say or do. It therefore doesn’t quickly or easily change when external factors or circumstances change. Self-worth is steady and unflinching, and therefore, holds power to radically transform your life for the better. To have a high level of self-worth means accepting yourself wholeheartedly at all times despite your flaws, weaknesses, and limitations. It’s about recognizing the real value of who you are — right here, right now, at this present moment.

To have a high level of self-worth means never allowing yourself to be defined by outside forces, including people’s opinions. It means never allowing outcomes to shake your confidence, faith or resolve. All this means that no matter what happens you are steadfast. Nothing outside of your “being” influences how you feel about yourself.Your influence alone is the only thing that matters. You alone are the most significant factor in how you feel about yourself, about your life, and about your circumstances. And that is essentially where your personal power comes from.

For you to build self worth or create enough self-worth to empower our daily decisions and actions in a way that will help us achieve our desired outcomes you must see this as a long-term process that you need to work on consistently over time. Lay down a new stone each day. Eventually, the fortress will grow more prominent and more substantial until it becomes almost unbreakable. A strong wind might blow, hail and rain might bucket down, and thunder might shake the ground. And yet, despite all this, your fortress will remain intact. It stands its ground because you put in place a solid foundation that you consistently built over time. And that’s where the strength of the fortress comes from. And that’s precisely where the power of your self worth comes from. You should follow the stages of growing your self worth building a high level of self-worth will also take time.

Your first step involves getting to know yourself at a deeper and more profound level; the self understanding stage. Who you are and how you see yourself are keys to understanding your true value.How others see you and how they speak about you, is also, of course, important. But this isn’t so much about them but rather about how you feel about yourself as a result of how others see or speak about you. That is, of course, another measure of your self-worth. The next step is the Self-Acceptance Stage. You must be real and authentic with yourself here. This requires wholeheartedly acknowledging your true nature including the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Then, the Self-Love Stage where you fully accept yourself, it’s now time to acknowledge your true value. To do this, it’s important to begin practicing a little self-love. Which basically means treating yourself with kindness, tolerance, generosity, and compassion. Yes, you have flaws. Yes, you have so many limitations and weaknesses, but we all do. That’s part of being human. It’s time to let all that go and instead practice being compassionate with yourself.

The Recognition stage is when you have self-understanding. When you have fully accepted yourself. And when you reach a stage where you practice self-love and self-compassion, that’s when people, events, and circumstances no longer define you. You instead begin to define yourself.
The final step in this process is the responsibility stage which involves taking full responsibility for your life, for your circumstances, and for your problems. This is to take full responsibility for everything that happens to you without giving away your personal power. Here, you acknowledge that you have the personal power to change and influence the events and circumstances of your life.

Deafness is not by choice or will

By Taofeekat Adigun

International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated annually across the world on 23rd September every year along with International Week of the Deaf in order to raise awareness on the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.

Mrs Temilola Ogundeji is the Director of Language of Hands Centre, a consultant interpreting firm. She is the lead interpreter at the office of Executive Assistant on disability matters for Oyo State Government. She is also the National Vice President for the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN), as well as a worker in News Interpreting Department on BCOS.

In this interview with Taofeekat Adigun, She shares insight into challenges faced by deaf people, inclusion of Sign Language and the role society has to play.

Tell us a little about yourself ma?

I am Temilola Sakirat Ogundeji, popularly called Lola interpreter. I am a prolific consultant interpreter, and the Founder of Caring Climate Interpreters Ventures (train the trainers outfit). I am a lead mentor for deaf community. I have worked with different organizations both in Nigeria and it's diaspora on Sign Language usage. Some of the organisations include; DFID, USAID, C4C, UNIFEM, INEC, NASS, JONAPWD, NNAD, IRI, VSO, UKaid, Osun State Govt., FORD FOUNDATION, PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL, AIT, amongst many others.

Also, I am a film producer. I have produced 2 films "Ayike Omo Oko" (subtitled in English and Sign language for the deaf) in 2008 and "Igbo oba" produced in conjunction with National Parks Service in 2012.

Tell us a little about your organization and the achievement it has garnered over the years.

Caring Climate Interpreters Ventures, popularly called Language of Hands was established in 1991 but came to limelight in 2005 after my participation during confab. It is a consultant interpreting NGO where we offer sign language interpreting service for people, company, schools and the likes. We offer training for people interested in sign language free of charge. Some become an Interpreter after 9 to 12 months, depending on their interest and seriousness.

Some of our achievement so far, we have trained many interpreters who have trained other interpreters as well. We have mentored many interpreters who are doing well in the profession through our different training programs and field jobs. We have worked with so many organisations both in Nigeria and abroad to offer sign language interpreting service. We have participated in different programs,both national and international.

What spiked your interest in sign language?

I did my NCE program at Federal College of Education (SPED), Oyo, where I studied Special (Deaf) Education. I was passionate about learning Sign Language. The peculiarity of the language, where your hands represent your mouth and your eyes represent your ears was fascinating to me. I learnt sign language via a Deaf man in 1986 because of my passion for it and to communicate with him well. The Deaf man later became my husband in 1989.

We hear people say "Hearing impairment/ Deaf people". Which Term is more appropriate to use?

The Deaf is the general term. It covers both hearing impaired, speech impaired and hard of hearing.

What challenges do Deaf People face in the society and how can we tackle them?

Communication problem is the major problem. Sign language is not a universal language that most people know or are aware of. There is also the issue of NEGLECTS because deafness is a hidden disability.

Generally, there is also the issue of misplaced priority. For example, when people think of empowerment of persons with disability, the first thing they plan for the deaf is sharing of hearing aids whereas not all deaf people can use it. The usage depends on the decibel and a lot of factors need to be considered.

The deaf needs education opportunities. There are schools with unskilled interpreters who end up teaching the children wrongly. Also, a lot of deaf people are highly educated with no jobs. Providing employment opportunities, various skills acquisition and vocational jobs will go a long way.

What are your opinions on including Sign Language in the school curriculum?

I honestly believe Sign Language should be integrated in the curriculum. It will immensely bridge the communication barrier experienced by deaf people. Sign Language is a subtle and unique language. If we all have a deep understanding of the language, it would go a long way in making life better for the deaf.

What advice do you have for parents with deaf children?

Acceptance is a huge factor. Parent should first accept them and show love. See them like every other children. Enrol them in special schools early as a child so as not derail their education, and overall, let them be independent. Parents should try as much as possible to learn simple basic sign language well as to communicate with their children.

How can government help solve the plight facing the deaf community?

Inclusion and integration is the only way. Let there be interpreters at hospitals,court of justice, police stations, interpreting service centre like the legal aid council. Thank God Oyo state govt.is trying in that area.There are News interpreter on BCOS as well as interpreters in the office of the Executive Assistant to the governor on disability matters.

Providing job opportunities for those who are educated and vocational relief materials for those who have various skillset.

What advice do you have for people on relating with deaf community?

Firstly, deafness is not by choice or will and disability can happen to anybody. People tend to have the "Thank God For My Life" mentality when they encounter deaf people. This should stop.

Let people recognise sign language, embrace it, learn it, and use it.

Let them be FODA (Friends of the deaf adult). Let them encourage and accept intermarriage between the Deaf and hearing. Deafness is not contagious.

What is your final advice for deaf people on surmounting all odds against disability?

"In every disability, there are abilities". God created them with special abilities and potentials.

They should not allow their disability to be a barrier for achievement and realising their purpose. Educational pursuit is very important, no matter how little. Begging is not the answer.

Nobody can make them inferior without their consent. They should not allow anybody to downplay or look down on them. They should be hardworking, confident and focused.