Corporate Citizenship
African Development Bank Staff Council and Lion Club clean up flood-hit Ivorian community
The plight of the Nemattoulaye-Attecoube area in Abidjan was highlighted by African Development Bank staff who, in collaboration with the Lion’s Club Abidjan Strelitzia, joined forces to provide much needed assistance and support to the area.
Decked In rubber boots, gloves, masks, and aprons, staff of the African Development Bank joined forces with members of Lion’s Club Strelitzia Abidjan on Thursday to clean up Attecoube – an Abidjan neighborhood that suffered from devastating floods early this year.
Last June, a devastating flooding in Abidjan and environs left deaths and destruction in its wake. Roads were degraded and houses destroyed. Debris littered schools, homes, roads and gutters, leading to environment and health concerns.
The Bank’s Staff Council President, Babatunde Adenibi said the Council and its partners were motivated by the need to give back to the society as part of a broader corporate social responsibility culture.
“In addition to the clean-up exercise, the items we have donated will help the school and the community in general to keep clean,” he said.
For 10-year-old Sephora Zamble and 1,300 students of Ecole Primaire Publique in Attecoube, the effect continues to linger long after. Going to school had become a nightmare as parts of the school was still covered in massive debris. A double-shift school system introduced as a result of the flooding made students take turns to learn. Sephora’s school now wears a new look, bringing immense joy to her and mates, thanks to the clean-up exercise.
Over 50 volunteers went round Nemattoulaye, Attecoube clearing blocked gutters, roads, and schools. Tons of filth, including building rubble, soil and sediments, trees and shrubs were removed and disposed of in plastic garbage bags and disposed of in special purpose tricycle trucks.
An excited Sephora said after the clean-up: “I feel good that this clean-up is happening. Learning in a dirty environment makes me sad. We feel dirty when the school is dirty and often have diseases that our parents don’t have money to cure. I have friends who cannot come to school because our environment is dirty.”
The Staff Council (SCO) of the Bank launched the CLEAN-UP operation as part of activities marking the 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Day on the theme, “Clean up Attecoube.”
The plight of the Nemattoulaye, Attecoube area was highlighted by the African Development Bank staff Association who, in collaboration with the Lion’s Club Abidjan Strelitzia, joined forces to provide much needed assistance and support to the area.
In addition to the Clean-Up activities, the volunteers provided lunch for 1,300 pupils of the local nursery and primary school.
“I believe that the Bank and the Lions Club have the same concern which is improving lives of people in deprived areas. When a group of people come together, roll up their sleeves and take action on a project to make their community better, it’s a beautiful thing and an incredible feeling for everyone involved,” said Daniele Ouegnin, President of Lion Club International, District 403 A2, Zone 311.
“Being a Lion is about leading by example, building relationships and improving the word through kindness. It is how caring Men and Women serve together so they can make greater impact and change more lives.”
To help the community remain clean, the mission donated cleaning tools, including 3 wheel garbage trucks , large wheeled waste bins, brooms, brushes, rakes, wheel barrows, shovels, gloves, garbage bags, masks, various cleaning products and disinfectant materials.
Principal of Ecole Primaire Publique 2, Mme Akabla Aoussi described the intervention as timely, given that the neighbourhood needs the donated tools to clean up the environment.
“We want to thank you for choosing this place that really needs help. Our environment is water-logged and in need of interventions like this,” she said.
The corporate social responsibility activity supports the Bank’s overall assistance to its host country.
At the end of October 2018, the Bank’s portfolio in Cote d’Ivoire comprised 23 operations (11 national, 5 multinational and 7 private sector operations) for total net commitments of €1,162 million. The public sector accounts for 16 operations valued at €1,218.03 million, while the private sector accounts for 7 projects worth € 261 million. Transport and energy sectors account for 65% and 24% of the portfolio, respectively.
Since 1964, when the Bank started operations in Cote d’Ivoire, it has participated in financing about 85 operations amounted € 2,845 million.
African Development Bank
Climate Launchpad Competition 2023 Image.
Despite the success of The Climate Launchpad Competition 2023, Climate Launchpad through the support of Climate-KIC and Irish Aid provided additional support to the participants of the competition through the Post-Climate Launchpad Accelerator. Given that the majority of the participants are early-stage businesses, capacity building is a necessity. The post-competition support is divided into 2, The masterclasses that are being handled by the Climate Launchpad Global team which has participants from over 7 African countries, and The national capacity-building session handled by the Climate LaunchPad Nigeria Team.
The Masterclass session featured a business-changing session on important modules like funding options & Instruments, Gender and Climate, Communications and Storytelling, Climate Impact etc. The national capacity-building session focuses on marketing strategies, practical and optimal use of social media and analytics. As an early-stage business in Nigeria, one of the major challenges you face is reaching and communicating with your potential customers at the market entry stage. The modules were selected after feedback from alumni of the competition.
The modules have been proven to be useful as we have started seeing the tractions of the businesses on social media. Overall, the post-competition support program has been no short of helpful to the businesses. We had 5 active participants from Nigeria who have expressed their gratitude for the post-competition support. Each of them will be given a grant of EUR200 to facilitate their marketing and social media usage.
The National Lead for Climate Launchpad Nigeria, Oluwatosin Ajide affirms the importance of the accelerator program “If we have more competition dedicating their support beyond just the pitching like Climate Launchpad does, We would have more green businesses with solid foundations”. He also thanked the Climate Launchpad central team and the sponsors the Climate-KIC and Irish Aid for their constant support in building the green ecosystem in Nigeria.
NGOs - SDGs
GEANCO Foundation and Archewell Foundation Announce Mental Health Initiative for Nigerian Youth
The GEANCO Foundation and The Archewell Foundation has announced an expansion of their partnership, currently serving girls and young women across Nigeria with menstrual health products and education, to include mental health resources and training for young men and women.
This expanded partnership kicked off with its inaugural Mental Health Summit, taking place over two days and serving nearly 200 students in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and co-Founders of The Archewell Foundation opened the Summit by delivering inspiring remarks to the young people in attendance.
GEANCO intends to hold summits throughout the country over the next year, providing teenage girls and boys with the information, skills, and coping mechanisms necessary to flourish mentally.
“Youth in Nigeria are critically underserved in terms of mental and menstrual health”, said GEANCO’s CEO Afam Onyema. “I am deeply grateful to The Duke and Duchess for partnering with us to address this crisis and provide this vulnerable but inspiring young generation with what they need to thrive in body, mind and spirit.”
A strong stigma also surrounds mental health in Nigeria, which is critically neglected in the country. The World Health Organization estimates that only 3% of the federal government’s health budget goes to mental health, and while up to one-third of Nigerians have mental health challenges, fewer than 500 mental health professionals serve the country’s 200 million plus citizens. Nigeria’s teens and youth in particular have little to no access to mental health support.
The expanded partnership will also continue the ongoing work to support young girls with menstrual health products and education. An estimated 37 million women and girls in Nigeria experience “period poverty”, meaning they are unable to access or afford menstrual products like pads, tampons, and underwear. Because of the material difficulties caused by period poverty and the deep stigma surrounding menstruation, millions of girls in the country miss school every month, crippling their educational advancement and deepening Nigeria’s already vast levels of gender inequality.
GEANCO Foundation provides critical health care and education services in Nigeria. Its David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship provides full tuition, medical care, and social and emotional support to young female victims of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria.
Corporate Citizenship
Huawei 2024 ‘Seed for Future’ Programme Kicks off in Kenyan Tertiary Institutions
Huawei Kenya has rolled out its “Seed for Future” program for the year 2024 in collaboration with leading universities and TVET institutions in Kenya. The initiative, which is Huawei’s globally-recognized Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) flagship program, aims to cultivate talent and foster innovation in the field of ICT to ensure a sustainable future for technological advancement through training.
The training sessions are designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry demands, equipping students with the expertise needed to thrive in the digital age.
Universities and colleges earmarked to benefit from this year’s Huawei “Seed for Future” program Include University of Nairobi, United States International University (USIU), Strathmore University, Kenyatta University, Moi University, Egerton University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Mount Kenya University, Catholic University of East Africa, Technical University of Kenya, Muranga University, Kabete National Polytechnic, Nairobi Technical Training Institute, and Nyandarua Technical Training Institute.
Commenting on the program, Huawei Kenya Media Director, Public Affairs and Communication Department Ms. Khadija Mohammed Ahmed said the Seed for Future” program seeks to develop local talent, share knowledge, increase ICT sector awareness & enthusiasm, & foster digital community building.
“We are thrilled to kick off the 2024 ‘Seed for Future’ program, which represents Huawei’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of ICT professionals. By collaborating with these top universities and colleges, we aim to empower Kenyan students with the necessary tools and insights to drive innovation and shape the future of technology,” Ms. Ahmed said.
Now in its 10th year in Kenya, the Seeds for the Future program seeks to rope-in at least 1000 participants.
The registration exercise for this year’s program will run until April 30th, 2024. To register, the participating student will need a resume, a transcript that proofs academic records, a cover letter and/or a 3-minute personal video which reflects objective to participate for learning, which should be done through the Registration Link
This year’s program offers students the chance to undergo a one-week digital training course in South Africa, as well as additional training opportunities.
In addition to the South Africa trip, selected students will have a one-week training on Huawei certification courses and another one-week local training in Nairobi and an opportunity to engage in global competition termed as the ‘Tech4Good Competition, international learning and cultural exchange.
In 2023, more than 2600 students from 102 countries participated in the program.
