Dr. OBIAGELI Vivian Egwuatu Sonny-Nsirim( MBA, BSc., MCIA, ACIPD UK,UN Volunteer)
Founder and CEO Young Moms Support Initiative/ Young Moms Forum.
(2 Million+ Mothers Movement) a chartered administrator, author, multiple award-winning transformational coach, guidance counselor, speaks on the journey of the non-governmental organization and the enviable performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's one-year administration. Excerpts below:
How far has your organization performed since establishment?
Thank you. Young Mum Support Initiative has done well in creating support for over 2 million members on our platforms. It's a forum for young mums and a community where women come to share ideas, experiences of motherhood, parenting, business careers, and proffering solutions to how we can better ourselves. Our initiatives have done well by empowering more than 50,000 women in skills acquisition because we found out that lack of skills and money are the roots of poverty and lead to domestic violence. We decided to train women on basic skills to snowball them into economic value. Our mission is to empower women with leadership qualities.
We have also decided to support Mr. President Tinubu during election campaigns, partnering with the All Progressive Congress (APC) because we know that President Tinubu has women at heart due to the levels of support he gave to his wife, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for years. To know what a man can do, check the state of his immediate family. Oprah Winfrey says, "If you empower a woman, you empower a nation." Women, being the bedrock of any family, have the skills to care for the old, young, and everyone.
The Nigerian youth are characterized as ambitious, enthusiastic, energetic and promising. They are considered vulnerable in society because of the rapid pace of change they experience at this time in their lives. Mothers are known for mentoring , coaching, guiding and counseling the youth.
We want to use this opportunity to appreciate the President for appointing women as ministers, and plead as Olivier twist that Mr. President should also appoint more women in his cabinet and agencies.
A country’s development is closely tied to the growth and empowerment of its women and youth. Investing in their education, health, sports and economic opportunities can lead to significant increases in productivity, innovation, and overall well-being, ultimately contributing to the nation’s growth and prosperity.” Any investment in youth and women would help in no small measure to reduce the level of poverty in the country, noting Mr. President’s antecedents of building men and institutions is an added advantage to our great nation, Nigeria.
Another area that need urgent attention is the of Peace and Unity of our country Nigeria. There is need for *Nigeria Integration*. National integration is the awareness of a common identity amongst the citizens of a country. It means that though the individuals belong to different communities, castes, religions, cultures and regions and speak different languages, all of them recognize the fact that they are one.National integration fosters nationalism. It is opposed to communalism, linguistic jingoism, regionalism, and similar fissiparous forces.
Nigeria is a nation plagued by deep-seated division among its diverse population, leading to suspicion, distrust, and antagonism. This has had far-reaching consequences, including hindering good health, orderly growth, development, stable democratic governance, unity, and even the survival of the nation. Despite various measures and approaches employed by successive governments to foster unity and preserve the nation, Nigeria continues to face mounting challenges of insecurity, sectarian violence, ethnic strife, political instability, and the looming threat of disintegration.
A united country and people are better equipped to tackle the development, nationhood, and stability challenges confronting Nigeria. However, achieving national integration requires a conscious effort by both political leaders and citizens, with the right mindset and tools. Ministry of National Integration is very important.
There are many NGOs in the nation. How do you source funds? Do you rely on government or international bodies for support?
While some source for international funds, what we do is empower each other. I have over 2 million women on my platform. I call it 'Women Support Women Forum.' We look at what you can teach others. It's borne out of compassion. My philosophy is to make a difference, especially in young women and youths in Africa. We have cut across all 36 Nigerian states and the diaspora with coordinators trying to help. From our concepts, when we empower a woman, you are to empower ten more women. These people step forward to empower others in society.
**Newsthumb:** How do you monitor those you empower to reach out to others?
We have monitoring and evaluation committees and coordinators in all 36 states. You need to know people's areas of specialization. Some enrollees are guided to their talent traits based on responses to questions we asked them. This determines the kind of training we give.
**Newsthumb:** As the President marks one year in office, what is your scorecard for this administration?
Thank you so much. We have seen our roads being constructed in the area of infrastructure. Abuja has changed within a few months. I would like to thank Mr. President and the Minister of FCT because when you work with the right people, you get your results, and that's what we have witnessed.
**Newsthumb:** With what the First Lady is doing with her initiatives, how do you encourage her to do more and partner with more people like your organization based on your experience?
I would like to use this opportunity to thank our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her motherhood activities to the nation. Though she's not a noise-making type, she is working through her initiatives with empowerment for women. I would also like to partner with her initiatives because that would help her widen her scope and also assist us in reaching out to more women. In our case, we have experience. We don't need to gather registrations or lists of beneficiaries afresh because we already have people with experience of what their needs would be. When you get the right people on board, you achieve wider accomplishments. Our organization would be glad to work with her to empower more women and continue with what she has started.
**Newsthumb:** We are aware women agitated for more women participation in leadership, but from experience, some women have betrayed the trust reposed in them. What is your opinion?
I would like to correct an impression. The fact that some women have failed does not mean there are no others who are passionate and professional in their careers and can perform well. The point is to find them, and I am one of them. I have been working with my NGO for the past eight years without any support from the government or international bodies. There are also many out there. When you find the right people, you get the job done.
**Newsthumb:** How do you advise women in government, especially ministers?
Women are known to be multi-taskers and should use their positions to be good ambassadors to womanhood and even to men. You need to show quality leadership wherever you find yourselves. Nigeria needs mothers, and I, therefore, appeal to women in government to be good mothers to the nation. In our street parlance, "don't fall our hands." Lead by example.
**Newsthumb:** What's your take on economic imbalances, especially the high cost of living and education?
When our President gets the right hands and ministers, as I said, we can start generating revenues to fix our nation. Our education structures also must be gotten right. We need quality and qualified teachers who are passionate about impacting children with the right education. Teachers, too, need sustainable remuneration as encouragement to do well.
**Newsthumb:** How do you wish Mr. President on his one year in office, and what gives you confidence that he still possesses the sagacity to deliver quality leadership?
I believe in him going by his antecedents in Lagos State. I know him as a team worker. As they say, "Show me your friend, and I will know who you are." He's been working with teams of people that are still relevant to date.
Lastly, what we are saying is that let our President engage more right teams on board, and his second year would be more progressive than the first year. I wish Mr. President, our daddy, the Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria well. I remember during election campaigns, some people said he couldn't make it. Now he's making it, getting stronger, and doing well. However, we want to thank him first of all for empowering women and youths in his administration. We also want him to look into the Humanitarian Ministry, Education, Women Affairs, and Agriculture as key ministries. When you have the right people, you can grow your economy to an enviable level. We wish him a happy one-year anniversary celebration. May the good Lord grant him more wisdom and sound health to lead Nigeria to greater heights. I believe that the best is yet to come. God bless Nigeria.
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