Mammoth crowd greets Yahaya Bello's visit to Zaria, as youth drum support for presidency

The visit of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to Zaria, Kaduna State was characterised by Mammoth crowd of people mostly youth who converged at the Emir of Zazzau's palace to receive and welcome the Governor.

The youth, who thronged in their numbers under the auspices of "Global Alliance for Young Professionals" received Gov. Bello at Gwargwaje about two kilometres to the palace accompanied the governor to the palace and proceeded to Prof. Ango Abdullahi's residence in Sabongari, Zaria. The colourful reception may not be unconnected with support for Gov. Bello's presidential ambition come 2023.

Speaking at the Emir's palace, the visitor said he was in Zaria to rejoice with the Emir for clocking one on the throne. Bello said;

"I am here to congratulate you for clocking one year on the throne as the 19th Emir of Zazzau. Even though, I did not come personally to congratulate you when you were turbaned, yet, I have sent a delegation to purposely convey my congratulatory message.

Your Royal Highness I need no introduction because I am a son of thw soil. I spent most of my early age in Zaria, I studied at Alhudahuda College, Barewa College, then Chidit Baracks Secondary School, after my secondary education, I proceeded to Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where I bagged my BSc. So, I am not a new person to Zaria, my visit today is home coming."

Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli appreciated the governor for the visit and assured him that the doors of the emirate was always open for advice, support and assistance where necessary. He encouraged him to feel at home and consider himself as a bonafide son of Zaria. 

In an interview, the Kaduna State Coordinator, Global Alliance for Young Professionals, Amb. Fahad Ahmed Chikaji said the essence of the Mammoth crowd for Gov. Bello was in view of his sterling leadership qualities. He said the youth decided the organise themselves and drum support for the governor, assuring that they would leave no stone unturned as far as Gov. Bello's political ambition is concerned.

"We will use all means including our youthful agility to ensure that leadership of this nation is given to a youth so that Nigeria can benefit from his youthfulness," he said.

AYTF distributes free sanitary pads to 400 teenage girls in Kaduna

No fewer than 400 teenage girls in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State have benefited from free sanitary pads distributed by an NGO, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation (AYTF). The programme was organized by AYTF with support from Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Speaking at the distribution ceremony held in Gwargwaji, Zaria Local Government Area, the Team Leader of the Foundation, Amb. (Dr) Fahad Chikaji-Ahmed said the programme was meant to promote personal hygiene amongst adolescent girls.

He said:

"The essence of this programme is to promote personal hygiene, in a way to protect such category of people from diseases. As the adage goes, "health is wealth", we are actually targeting these adolescent girls in view of the fact that they are at their prime age and it is very vital to practically educate them on the need to be clean and healthy. This distribution is not only portraying gesture of free gift but it is also symbolising cleanliness in relation to human health."

He encouraged the young girls to imbibe the culture of using sanitary pads, while appealing to husbands to educate their wives and daughters on personal and environmental hygiene.

Counseling the teenagers, the Women Mobiliztion Officer of the foundation, Hajiya Aisha Salahuddeen observed that personal and environmental hygiene remained the best way to curb spread of diseases among people. She said:

"As young girls, you must endeavour to ensure personal and environmental hygiene, remember, cleanliness is part of religion. You are still young, therefore use your youthful agility to actualise healthy environment and this can only be achieved when young people like you actively contribute their quota towards that." 

At the end of the event some of the beneficiaries shared their excitements;

"We thank this foundation for their support towards girls"

Aisha Ummi

"I'm glad to be part of this because it educates  me a lot to know more about personal hygiene"

Doris Umaru

"I'm happy because today I know more about how to use sanitary pads".

Fatima Murtala

AREWA YOUTH TRUST FOUNDATION SENSITIZATION VISIT TO KATANGA COMMUNITY

 

A team of 10 people including the Team lead of Arewa Youth Trust Foundation Amb. Fahad Ahmad Chikaji paid Katanga village a sensitization visit and distributed sanitary pads.

The sensitization had the presence of over 50 women , traditional and religious leaders of Katanga. The opening remarks by the Team Lead Arewa Youth Trust Foundation in person of Amb(Dr.)  Fahad Ahmad Chikaji. In his remarks he emphasized on the importance of using sanitary pads during menstruation as it help them in having their menstruation period in dignity. He further stressed that if not properly managed, menstruation can interrupt daily life. Adolescents especially experience extremely painful periods which can affect their life performance .

 A lack of adequate facilities and materials, restrictions on girls’ movements during their period and feeling ashamed or 'unclean' also contribute to girls Unhygienic,  Use of Sanitary pads are important to girl child and personal Hygiene. Keep your own house and its surroundings pure and clean. This hygiene will keep you healthy and benefit your worldly life.

He urged the good people of Katanga village,  Kaduna state and Nigeria at large to adhere to the COVID 19 rules as prescribed by the federal government to help curb the menace in due course .Further more it is pertinent to inculcate the habit of environmental hygiene apart from personal because most of the health related issues is caused by pathogens that breed under unhygienic environmental conditions and further more most women living in rural areas don't have the habit of personal and environmental hygiene, we have experienced instances whereby women only clean up when it's their cooking days most especially in a polygamous family which is bad health, it shouldn't be that we take baths when it's our husbands day with us, rather it should be a daily routine as we have reusable sanitary pads made of clothing material which is more hygienic as it is free of any dangerous chemical capable of causing life threatening diseases, lets all endeavor to make our surroundings from the kitchen, toilet, living areas all clean at all times for a healthy society free from all impurities.

Hajiya Aisha Salahudeen Mikail the Women and Youth Mobilization Officer gave a short presentation on menstruation and in her presentation she laid more emphasis on the importance of using sanitary pads, the science behind it and how it can help in preventing them from common diseases, in addition Haj. Aisha in her short presentation talked about how parents in the community can prevent their children from social vices such as rape, sexual assaults and more.

Usman Isah Babajo the Communications manager educated the males in the community on the important of supporting  their wives and children by providing the sanitary pads. 

Bar. Halima Musa a member of the foundation assessed the women by asking them what they learnt and how the sanitary pads would enhance their menstrual hygiene, two response were recorded one from a parent name Aisha Suleiman; she said she's overwhelmed with happiness about the sensitization most especially about the personal hygiene, how to use the sanitary pads instead of rappers that they've been using for ages and most importantly about sexual harassment. Aisha said I'm happy our children (daughters) are now thought to voice out for themselves and have the courage to say yes or no  and further she thanks AYTF for their efforts in bringing such program down to the grassroots and the second response was from a young lady name Khadija it's surprising to know that Khadija just heard and see sanitary pads for the first time in her life, but she was happy to know how to use it now and she said from all she learn today,  she's going to be feeling free and comfortable using it.

The people of Katanga Community were so happy and welcome the efforts of AYTF as a development to them and they pledged to use the information they learned.

On going out of the community we met some women from a neighbouring community that pleed our indulgence to bring such program down to their community as they can sense it importance from how the people of Katanga are happy about it.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

1.       The People of Katanga were sensitise on the importance of using sanitary pads

2.       Sanitary pads distributed to all the women and girls in attendance

3.       The girls in Katanga were encouraged to voice out whenever they're having problems or harrass by anybody

4.       Importance of personal hygiene

5.       Sensitization on covid-19 rule

SPEECH BEING PRESENTED BY AMB. (DR) FAHAD AHMED CHIKAJI TEAM LEAD, AREWA YOUTH TRUST FOUNDATION AT THE 2020 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

 The International Day of Peace was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982 to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace among all nations. The United Nations (UN) invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the day, and to otherwise commemorate the day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

The 2020 International Day of Peace has: "Shaping Peace Together" as its theme. To celebrate the day, the entire world is invited as a global village to spread compassion, kindness and hope in the face of COVID-19 pandemic, and stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred.

Inline with this year's theme: "Shaping Peace Together", it is imperative to note that peace is critical to meaningful development, growth and stability of a nation. Therefore, for any nation to attain pinnacle in the path of development, it must exhibit high sense of cooperation, stable peace and harmony regardless of tribal, political and or religious affiliation.

May I at this juncture implore well meaning citizens of Nigeria and indeed the world over to extend helping hands to vulnerable persons with a view to cushioning the effect of the dreaded disease (coronavirus). 

Let us use this current adversity as a tool to show love and commitment towards one another by rising against vices such as terrorism, armed banditry, gangsterism, gender based violence, arson, murder and kidnapping among others which are currently bedeviling the globe at large. I want to plead with well meaning stakeholders to hasten efforts to put an end to all forms of hostilities, in addition, we should collectively key into the spirit of Oneness and Global Brotherhood.

Thank you and God bless

AYTF Celebrates World Literacy Day 2020

The  Executive Director Arewa Youth Trust Foundation Amb. (Dr). Fahad Chikaji Ahmed sent his good will message to mark this year's  International Literacy Day. 

This year's theme: "Literacy Teaching & Learning in the COVID-19 Crisis and beyond" especially on the role of educators and changing pedagogues is apt and timely.

He stated the following in  his message: "Education is the backbone of development of any nation, meaning that an educated society is of course an enlightened society, and an enlightened society is proofed to be a developed society. Education is supposed to be a continuous process with or without diseases. Therefore, coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak shouldn't be a license to stop educational learning. This is one of the fundamental reasons that coerced governments to opt for an e-learning programme during the COVID-19. e-learning remained the best channel to impact knowledge on students. 

To God be the glory, many State Governments in collaboration with UNICEF successfully conducted e-learning to refresh the memories of graduating students and to abreast of new knowledge to effectively prepare them for their final exams so as to come out with flying colours in their SSCE, NECO, NBAIS etc.

It is my hope government sustain the e-learning programme beyond the coronavirus period to enable Nigerian students benefit from the new learning technique. There is need for government to redesign the e-learning to make it a complete all-year-round programme. 

Thank you & God bless"