Music, Dance at NNF Anniversary

L-R: Chairman, NNF Board of Directors, Dr. Pascal Dozie, presenting a plaque to the MD/CEO, NNF, Prof. Obafemi Ajibola and his wife at the 15th anniversary celebration of NNF in Lagos… recently

Nseobong Okon-Ekong

Music, dance, and culture were on display as New Nigeria Foundation (NNF), a non-governmental organisation that promotes sustainable community development initiatives through public private partnerships, celebrated its 15th anniversary in Lagos recently.

The glamorous event, which held at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life. Those who graced the occasion included NNF Board Chairman, Dr. Pascal Dozie; former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin and NNF Vice Chairman, Prof. Grace Alele Williams; NNF Managing Director/CEO, Prof. Obafemi Ajibola, NNF Board member, Dr. Gabriel Soyoye, and former Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Akin Oyebode, who was the keynote speaker.

Speaking at the dinner, Dozie reiterated the Foundation’s promise of maintaining a steady course to achieve its objective of promoting good causes to attain a better Nigeria. “The journey of NNF so far has been encouraging. Though, some efforts have been made and achievements have been recorded, there are still some dark spots such as youth unemployment made worse by the fact that many of them are unemployable. The population of youths between 18 and 25 is a time bomb waiting to explode,” he said.
Dozie explained that the current condition of the country provides the opportunity to lay a new foundation for education and that NNF would continue to promote new ways to attain a better Nigeria by pushing out illiteracy and poverty among other socio-economic ills.

“We are promoters of good causes and we are going to pursue our agenda until we see the change that we desire because we believe that continuous commitment after identifying your problem as a nation will bring about success,” Dozie said, adding, “We will spread the gospel until other Nigerians appreciate the decay in the educational system and collectively deal with it. We are building a new Nigeria that works.”

Oyebode, who spoke on ‘Building a New Nigeria that Works’, said: “Nigeria is on a steep learning curve. That, however, will not deter us from transforming ourselves into proud members of the comity of nations and occupying our rightful place in the scheme of things.”

Continuing, he said: “It becomes more imperative to employ empirical and clinical approaches imbibed from other countries that have made the best of similar problems confronting their societies.”
In the past 15 years, NNF has promoted over 100 developmental projects in the areas of community development; development research and studies; social investment; infrastructural management; capacity and institutional building and administrative support services.

Specifically, NNF has reached hundreds of communities nationwide by undertaking healthcare delivery projects at community level; development of agricultural value chains and implemented initiatives designed to build peace in communities. The Foundation has also promoted campaigns for the elimination of violence against women and the adoption of best practices in corporate social responsibility as well as managed relationships among stakeholders to resolve conflicts and enhance development.
Guests were treated to sumptuous meals and choice wines amidst cultural performances from groups representing three major tribes of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.