Launch of SECHILD Five-(5) Year Strategic Plan

The Sedoo Initiative for Children with Special (SECHILD) Needs launched a Five (5) Year strategy plan on 20^th January 2018 at Kano Hall of Transcorp Hotel in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.

Dr. Emmanuel A.Gemade, chairman of the occasion while declaring the occasion open described the Sedoo Initiative as a worthy cause, calling on all to partner and support it to grow.

In his welcome address, Mr. Aondofa Anjira, the co-founder of the Sedoo Initiative for Children with Special Needs said the occasion was to celebrate the initiative’s performance and to plan on how to build better. He said that the Initiative was borne out of their experience (his wife and his) of nursing two children with special needs (Sedoo and Aondofa) and the desire to support, advocate and reach out to other families’/care givers/ children with special needs.

A documentary on the vivid demonstration of the essence and goal of SECHILD, work, impact and beneficiaries and was aired. In it the Founder/President, Kawan Aondofa-Anjira (Mrs.) also told the gathering success stories, the growth of SECHILD how fulfilling the advocacy and rehabilitation work is. The President thanked SECHILD supporters and partners. She stated that the initiative is facing huge financial constraints, lack staff/volunteers and limited space and cost of physiotherapists for the children. The President therefore, called on the stake holders, well-meaning, spirited individuals and government agencies to partner more with the Initiative to enable them reach a larger number of affected children. The efforts she said is more of private funding which the result is not as much as would have been if supported and partnered.

The Five-Year Strategic Plan was presented to the public in details by Mr. Angbianger Emmanuel Iorkumbur, a project management professional with expertise in organizational development, training and Public health expert with specialty in monitoring, evaluation and research.

The Five (5) Year Strategy Plan event was also used as the inauguration of Advisory Board, Award Ceremony and launch of SECHILD magazine “Making the Best of the Unexpected.

After the launch of the Initiative’s Five (5) Year Strategy Plan, the chairperson of the Board of Trustees inaugurated the Advisory Board ns launched the magazine.

Members of the Advisory Board inaugurated include:

Chief John Ogar Odey a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Cross River State, a former Minister of Information/ Communications and former Minister of Environment.

Priscilla M-ember Ikparen, a Registered Nursing/ Midwifery of over 35 years in Healthcare experience who has worked with Benue State Hospital Management Board and State House Medical Centre in Abuja and has served as the Desk Officer (Health) OSSAP-MDGs, Referral officer/Human Resource Manager at the SURE-P Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Project and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. She is also involved in several projects with both international like Jhpeigo/USAID, UNICEF etc to improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Nigeria. She is a member of several professional bodies.

Dr. Denis Richard Shatima, a Senior Consultant Pediatrician with the National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria and also a visiting Consultant Pediatrician to Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nassarawa State. He has worked as Registrar and later Lecturer II/Senior Registrar in the Pediatrics Department, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State. Dr. Shatima has seven Research Publications to his credit and has attended several Local and International Courses.

Major General Emmanuel Tsehemba Nienge (Rtd), a former military general in the Nigerian Army is an Associate Member of Chattered Institute of Logistic and Transport (CILT) and Fellow of Institute of Management Consultant (FIMC). He is a humanitarian, a great philanthropist, and is very passionate about the growth and development of any organization. He is happily married to Barrister Mrs. Iveren Nienge and is blessed with three children. He likes reading and playing golf.

Mr. Angbianger Iorkumbur, a Public health expert with specialty in monitoring, evaluation and research. He has worked with many organizations at local, national and international levels; and consulted for international and local NGOs. He is a project management professional with expertise in organizational development and training. Emmanuel has vast experience working with Education, Health and Water sectors. He acts in different capacities on the Board of many Non-government organizations.

The award ceremony was conducted by the chairperson Board of Trustees Barr. Aver Gavar who congratulated all the awardees with a charge to continue advocating, partnering, supporting and bringing up more ideas that will aid in carrying out the activities of the Initiative and improve the lives of children with special needs.

The Minister of Health and other five distinguished personalities were awarded the SECHILD award for outstanding contribution and support to children with special needs. They were celebrated and appreciated for being great Advocates of children with special children.

The Awardees are:

Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Honorable Minister Federal Ministry of Health, current Vice Chairman of the African Centre for Disease Control Board. The 11th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Professor and past President of African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Barr.Aver Gavar, the chairperson Board of Trustees presented the award.

Arc (Dr.) Terver Gemade, former Managing Director / CEO, Federal Housing Authority. A distinguished and outstanding Architect, he worked with various Private Companies and later joined the Public Service where he rose through the ranks to become the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Federal Housing Authority. He retired from Public Service 4years ago and is back to his Private Business where he principally manages a Consultancy Firm, Grand Synergy Limited. He is a member of several professional bodies both at home and abroad, and has won many academic and non-academic awards. He was also awarded a Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Business Administration from Cornerstone Theological University, Jerusalem. Arc (Dr.) Gemade enjoys church work and has designed and built several churches and also working with the less privileged. He has deep interest in farming, reading, computer use & applications, and sports. He is also widely travelled. He was happily married to Late Mrs. Lucy Terdoo Gbamure Gemade (MSc) and they have four children. The Co-Founder and Executive Director of SECHILD, Mr. Aondofa Anjira presented this award.

Engr. Terhemba Nongo, a registered Engineer with Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Engr.Terhemba Nongo has very diverse experience in Engineering, Project Management, Investment, Administration and Human Resources. He is presently the General Manager Business Development with the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority. He is participating in the development of world class Special Economic Zones Which President Muhammadu Buhari has approved for each of the geo political zones in Nigeria to attract Foreign and Local Direct Investment, industrialize the country, generate jobs, create wealth and transfer of technology among others. He is happily married with two beautiful and lovely daughters and widely travelled both locally and internationally. The award was presented by Kawan Aondofa-Anjira (Mrs.) the Initiator/President of SECHILD.

Dr. Terungwa Acho a Residency Trainee in Internal Medicine and the Chief Medical Officer (Director), Department of Medicine, State House Medical Center, Abuja. Dr. Acho is a member of Nigeria Medical Association, Associate Member National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. He is married with three and well-travelled. The award was presented by Dr. Emmanuel I. Gemade, the chairman of the occasion.

Michael Hemen Atser (Dr.) with well over 20 years’ experience in insurance industry and the Chairman of Gee-Global Insurance Service Brokers Ltd, Mid-Atris Global Ventures Ltd, Trusail-Care HMO Ltd and Nobel & Lesley Insurance Brokers Ltd.

The last two awardees were not present at the event.

The event was well attended by a cross section of the Nigerian society from government officials to members of charity organizations across the country. It had over 150 people notably;

1. Hon.Minister of Health -Represented-Dr. Ovuraye John, Consulting

Family Physician, Deputy Director /Head Newborn Branch, Child Health Division, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health,

2. Hon.Minister of Education-Represented-Anyanwu B. N (Mrs) 3.Hon.Min.Women Affairs-Represented-Com. Mungadi Abubakar

4. Former Minister of Environment/Information Chief John Ogar Odey

5. Barr. Damian Dodo-SAN, Senior Partner, D.D. Dodo & Co

6. Barr.Tony Ijoho -SAN SSG Benue State Government-Represented

7. Director General NAPTIP-Represented by Mrs.Adekunle Siminlade

8. Sir Emeka Offor Foundation-Representation -Laretta N. Epuechi

9. Oral Health Initiative

10. Dr. Emmanuel I. Gemade

11. Dr. Gabriel A.Gundu

12. Members of PENCOM Christian Fellowship