Garland for Unity Girl Dolls Manufacturer
For its social support and commitment to improving quality education in Lagos State, Auldon Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Unity Girl dolls, has been recognised by the Lagos State Government as a role model for companies in the state. Eromosele Abiodun
ouching the lives of children and shaping them accordingly for good is no doubt the way to go in creating a future of bliss and rapid growth for the benefit of all.
This is because if they are to become the needed catalyst that will see a nation attain the desired height it craves for, then that nation must not tolerate a society in which children or its youth cannot access the needed education or necessary support they should get in contributing their own invaluable quota.
Without a doubt, investing in their future is key to ensuring that future of bliss. That is why many renowned people have continued to clamour for all hands to be on deck, especially for those that are integral to the growth of the Nigerian child; namely the schools, parents, religious societies, private organisations and government.
All the listed are not only important, but invaluable to nurturing the Nigerian child with all that he or she needs to ensure a greater Nigeria because Nation building is a process. Its benefits are never rewarded to the present generation of builders, but to its future inhabitants. Today, some of the above listed seem to shy away from this yeoman responsibility and live the children without a direction that can lead to their developmental growth, little wonder the ills being witnessed in the country seem to be overwhelming.
However, a few corporate organisations seem to have observed this vacuum and are currently doing their best to fill it, by genuinely empowering the Nigerian child in their own capacity through scholarship support, and creating a conducive environment for them.
One of such organisations is Auldon Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Unity Girl dolls, Nigeria’s first theme dolls which is indeed making a huge impact in helping to secure the future of the Nigerian Child through its unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, which is targeted at renovating, building and scholarship support. So far, the impact of the noble CSR initiative and the strong level values inculcated on kids and by extension adults alike has been immeasurable and cannot be quantified as our society is being shaped for good.
In line with her vision to acculturate children, unite Nigerians and deliver social change in the country, the manufacturers of Unity Girl dolls has over the years shown great passion and dedication to the development of the Nigerian child through a handful of initiatives targeted at empowering them.
One worthy of mention was the recent total overhaul of a dilapidated school in Ikorodu, the first in a long line of CSR initiatives which the company has said, will cut across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
After years of inattention, Lagos Salvation Army Nursery and Primary School, sited at Agunfoye in Ikorodu was in a decrepit state for years with ramshackle classrooms, leaky roofs and flaky wall paints.
The Auldon Limited, known for its commitment to education and youth empowerment, through its Unity Dolls initiative singled out the school not only to give it a facelift, but also to contribute its quota to the quality of education that pupils will enjoy on its grounds.
While speaking to journalists on the side-lines during the schools reopening, Chief Executive Officer Auldon Limited, Paul Orajiaka, said: “I am more than delighted to be doing this because children and youths are the needed catalysts that will ignite unprecedented growth for this country, if the needed support is given them.
“This is because if they are to become the needed catalyst that will see a nation attain the desired height it craves for, then that nation must not tolerate a society in which children or its youth cannot access the needed education or the necessary support they should get in contributing their own valuable quota.”
He continued: “The completion of this project is the needed impetus we need to do more. Going forward, our next project would now be in the north; from there we'll move to the other geopolitical zones of the country.
"All the process demands is that we notify the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) about the idea and then we'll get the go-ahead to proceed."
Unity dolls is very passionate about its promise of supporting the growth of education through social works and that is why a portion of the sales proceeds on each doll is set aside to actualize this cause. Without a doubt, investing in the future of the Nigerian child is key to ensuring a better society and by extension greater Nigeria for the good of all.
According to Orajiaka, “Unity Dolls decided to embark on this initiative which is highly essential to developing our children with the needed skill that will see them excel, through the provision of a conducive environment for learning knowing full well that the nation’s destiny undoubtedly lies in their hands.”
In driving the project, Auldon Limited turned to unconventional sources which saw the company also employ the services of Muri Olaniyi, 31, and other street urchins without professional construction skills, in a bid to keep them gainfully engaged: "Most street urchins have skills, but probably don't have the opportunity to use these skills because they are branded as touts. But if you draw them close, you'll discover they are actually very wonderful human beings. Muri and his colleagues made this project a reality alongside a team of other professionals who worked on the project.
“Auldon limited through the Unity Girls Project, is currently planning to break new ground with new set of innovative dolls as the company is in the process of manufacturing fresh set of dolls that will go beyond Nigeria to embrace the whole of Africa. "This range of dolls will be called Unity Girl Africa. Already we've gotten strong level acceptance in the Nigerian market so we're now moving on to other frontiers, designing another set that will cut across the whole of Africa. At the moment, Auldon has gotten the license for that from a leading supermarket chain with branches across the continent," he disclosed.
The packaged dolls, which will likely be launched next year, will spur the public to action as it concerns influencing a more tolerant society united in diversity, with fliers detailing Auldon Limited's CSR initiative which is tilted towards giving rundown schools a new look.
Also speaking during the school opening, the Head Teacher of Lagos Salvation Army Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Ogunyemi Olusola, who was visibly elated, thanked Auldon and Unity Girl for its support and remarkable face lift which she said will without a doubt create a better atmosphere for the pupils to learn and actualize their dreams.
According to Olusola, if other companies toe this line, education will indeed leapfrog to greater heights from the poor state it currently is in. It is worthy of mention to say that the efforts of the company has not gone unnoticed following which it recently bagged an award from the Lagos State Governor in recognition of the company’s exemplary support of Education in the and its efforts in uniting Nigerians through its Unity Doll project. This award and strong words of commendation was made and presented to the CEO, Paul Orajiaka by the Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola at the Lagos State Support Our Schools Initiative Breakfast meeting.
At the ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, City Hall, in Lagos Island, Governor Fashola lauded the Unity Dolls and other awardees for pulling their weight behind education and contributing their quota in moving the wheel of progress in Lagos State as it concerns Education.
“The support of education as shown by this good people is no doubt worthy of commendation and should be encouraged in its entirety. When citizens pull their weight behind education, it only goes to show that indeed they appreciate the values of education and are passionate about seeing our nation become better for the good of all, “he said.
These interventions, Fashola added, are good stressing that it speaks to the sense of the community that recognizes the need to put something back.
Receiving the support our Schools Initiative award, Chief Executive Officer, Auldon Nigeria Limited, Paul Orajiaka, said the award is indeed a validation of Unity Dolls passion and its unwavering commitment to the growth of education in the state.
“For us, this is the first in a long line of CSR initiatives which will cut across the six geopolitical zones of the country as it is one way we show our good faith in a greater Nigeria and of course, contribute our quota to the economic upliftment of society. And really, Life and Business is about give-and-take in the final analysis," he disclosed.