Proudly Nigerian Campaign Kicks Off in Surulere
In fulfilment of its social responsibility and entrepreneurship drive for humanity, a faithoriented foundation, Worship for Change, has raised over N3 million worth of support for 43 children with special needs at the Lady Atinuke Memorial Home, Badagry, Lagos State.
In a statement made available to THISDAY, the convener of the foundation, Pastor Wale Adenuga, stated that “we buy into the vision and mission of The Lady Atinuke Memorial Home.”
Adenuga noted that his attention was drawn to the work being done at the Lady Atinuke Memorial Home in Badagry “when I heard of how sometimes they would go sell the food they had in the market in order to buy diapers for these children with special needs; I really have not recovered from that discovery.”
Commenting further on the support of the charity organisations, Adenuga, who is of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jubilee Christian Centre Parish in Lagos, said: “We are certain that these donated items will help in their vision of creating a community where respect for and promotion of human dignity of challenged children are held sacred.”
Since 2006, the Worship For Change yearly concerts led by him has helped to raise tre- mendous awareness and over N37 million to provide support for thousands of children cared for by 21 different charities all over Nigeria.
He stated that when he met with the management of the charity home doing extremely impactful and important work in the support and care of special-needs children, “it became more apparent for us to support this charity.”
According to him, Worship for Change is a registered not-for-profit organisation, with a Board of Advisors, all of whom are persons of good standing in the society. Adenuga disclosed that part of the proceeds donated to the home included mattresses, bags of rice, 32-inch televisions, customised chairs for children with Cerebral Palsy, stationery, toiletries, electronics and other items valued at N3.2million.
The statement said that last year, the Worship for Change benefit concert which was held at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre on October 30, 2016, had Lenny Leblanc, Glowreeyah Braimah, Wale Adenuga, Okiki Jesu, PITA and Bill Bidiaque, as some of the international and local gospel artists who performed at the event, adding that Lady Atinuke Memorial Home in Badagry and Solid Rock Restoration Centre in Ile-Ife, Osun State, were selected as beneficiaries for proceeds generated from the concert.
Proudly Nigerian Campaign has kicked off in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The promoter of the organisation, Olorogun Elkanah Mowarin, said the campaign would "complement the efforts of all Nigerian stakeholders who have excelled or are making positive contributions in and outside Nigeria towards the re-positioning of Brand Nigeria as the 'most preferred destination' for individual and corporate relationships."
He went further to explain that, "Proudly Nigerian Campaign is a private sector initiative which is aimed at eliciting pride in resourceful Nigerians and patronage of Nigerian products and services. The campaign is the brainchild of Proudly Nigerian, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to project Nigeria and Nigerians as a brand and generate positive information and image about Nigeria.”
Mowarin stated that the Proudly Nigerian Campaign which has excellence, professionals, patriotism, integrity and value-addition as its core values would identify, recognise, locate, support and celebrate businesses owned or dominated by Nigerians in the country and in the Diaspora. At the same time create and sustain awareness for indigenous and semi indigenous businesses as well as elicit empathy for their patronage, as it would in turn stimulate qualitative competition among these businesses.
Other objectives according to Mowarin, include organising conferences, seminars, trade fairs and exhibitions, adding that Proudly Nigerian would in the process nudge the government at all levels to provide and maintain the required infrastructure and environment conducive for business for the respective players, conferring awards on deserving Nigerian individuals and organisations based on their exceptional feat.
As part of the Proudly Nigerian Campaign, the organisation also announced its intention to celebrate Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the brand Dangote Group this year in which the visioner of the group clocks 60 years of age.
Mowarin added that details of the celebration will be communicated to the general public in due course