In a continued effort to improve the lives of Nigerians, LG Electronics has commissioned a solar-powered treated borehole and installed streetlights in the Oriba community of the Epe Local Government Area in Lagos State. This initiative underscores LG’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents in the region. By delivering sustainable energy solutions and facilitating access to clean water, LG Electronics is playing a pivotal role in uplifting the community and fostering a healthier and more prosperous environment for its inhabitants.

Speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of LG Electronics Nigeria, represented by the Marketing Manager, Mr. Paul Mba, disclosed that the notion behind the project is to give back to communities where access to portable drinking water is a barrier.

“At LG, we believe in empowering communities through sustainable development. Our donation of solar-powered boreholes and streetlights to the Oriba Community is a testament to our commitment to improving people’s lives. We are confident that these contributions will provide immediate benefits and foster long-term growth and development in Oriba.”

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While giving an insight into the project profile, Mba disclosed that the decision to sink boreholes with treatment plants and install streetlights in the community was premised on needs assessment and extensive consultation with stakeholders in the community. He further stated that the project includes five water points, powered by six 210-watt solar panels, and ten 800-watt solar-powered street lights installed at different locations to illuminate the community.

In his response, one of the Oriba Community Leaders, Aare Adesegun Hassan expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the residents: “We are immensely grateful to LG Electronics for this generous donation. The street lights will improve safety and security, and the borehole will ensure access to clean water for our people. These contributions will have a lasting impact on our community, and we thank LG for their support and commitment to our welfare.”

Installing streetlights has removed darkness from the community, making the community safer for all residents. Additionally, the borehole will provide a reliable source of clean water, addressing a critical need for the Oriba Community.

“Today is a day of joy and celebration for all of us in Oriba,” said Chief S.B. Olukolu, Patron of the Oriba Youth Movement at the commissioning of the project. These initiatives are not just about infrastructure; they symbolize progress, development, and a brighter future for our community.

Water is the essence of life. With this new borehole, our community will have access to clean and safe drinking water. This will not only improve our residents’ health and well-being, but it will also ease the burden of sourcing water from distant places, especially for our women and children. The availability of clean water will have a positive impact on our daily lives, enhancing hygiene, sanitation, and overall quality of life, he said.

The Oriba Vibrant youth celebrated with songs and dance as the life-changing borehole and street lights were officially commissioned for use.

LG Electronics, a global leader in consumer electronics, demonstrated its commitment to the Insider Community by hosting a successful online webinar titled “Summer Treats: Prepping Kids for Summer Holiday,” which was well-attended and focused on providing valuable insights and tips for parents to prepare their children as they observe summer break.

The webinar achieved its aim of empowering Nigerian parents by showcasing creative activities that they can engage their children in, with an emphasis on introducing them to the opportunities and benefits that are available to them early in tech, AI, and coding spaces during the summer holiday period.

Prominent women leaders in society and technology, which includes esteemed speakers such as Dr. Anire Okogun, Vice President of Commonwealth Business Women Africa Nigeria Chapter (CBW-Africa); Amarachi Onyemaobi, President of GirlsInTech Nigeria; Damilola Emuze, Head of Operations at The Bulb Africa; and Hajia Bolanle Muse, President of Commonwealth Business Women Africa Nigeria Chapter (CBW-Africa), shared interesting insights during the webinar.

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 Some of the takeaways from the Webinar include.”

• The need to get children introduced to technology, AI, Coding, etc., at an early age because the future will revolve around technology.
• Getting children to embrace technology gives them a strong foundation in problem-solving.
• Enables the children to imbibe the doctrine of critical thinking.
• We are in the era of AI taking over jobs and it is only those with tech skills will get jobs in the future.
• Every profession now requires some technology; hence, children should be encouraged to embrace it early.

Questions were entertained by the speakers, who gave satisfactory answers that further put spice to the Webinar. 10 attendees also won prizes during the Webinar, as they got some questions asked on the points raised by the speakers correctly.

“We were thrilled to see the overwhelming response to our Insider Community webinar,” said the Managing Director, LG Electronics Mr. Hyoung Sub Ji. “By equipping parents with the right tools and knowledge, we aim to empower them to become more involved in their children’s education and create meaningful and memorable learning experiences over the summer break.”

The Insider Community initiative by LG Electronics strives to create a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among women, professionals, and experts. Through webinars, forums, and online resources, the community fosters an environment where Nigerians can gain valuable insights and support each other in navigating challenges across the board.

As part of this initiative, LG Electronics is offering free coding classes for kids, empowering them with the skills needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven world. Additionally, LG is providing parents with valuable insights and tools to help them better support their Children’s educational journey.

The conversation was professionally moderated by Oluyemisi Dada, broadcast media executive and anchor from the CBN on TVC News.

By providing these valuable resources, LG Electronics aims to make a positive impact on the lives of families and contribute to the development of the next generation of innovators and leaders. Furthermore, LG’s revolutionary smart home solutions can improve summer learning and offer a fun-filled time at home for the youngsters. More unique events are in the pipeline to improve the lives of the LG Insider Community.

Mercy Ships and Mission Aviation Fellowship Team (Image: Supplied).

Humanitarian aid organizations Mercy Ships and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) have renewed their partnership to help bring life-changing surgical care to isolated communities across Africa.

Mercy Ships operates state-of-the-art hospital ships, providing free surgeries and healthcare services to sub-Saharan nations with limited access to safe surgical care. MAF’s purpose is to bring help, hope and healing through aviation to people living in isolation and poverty.

The renewed memorandum of agreement between these two faith-based charities enables Mercy Ships to extend their reach further inland to a broader spectrum of the population across Africa, bolstered by MAF’s logistical support. This partnership, launched in Madagascar, will enable teams to access hard-to-reach areas and transport patients in need of critical surgical interventions. This collaboration provides opportunities for those in the most remote and inaccessible regions of the country. Further joint initiatives are being explored in other African nations.

“Traveling by road in Madagascar can be incredibly challenging due to the rough terrain and poor infrastructure,” Michael Jurgensen, MAF Madagascar Country Director, said. “In many cases, reaching remote villages can take days by car, draining valuable time and energy. However, with MAF Madagascar’s support, the [Mercy Ships] patient selection team can cover vast distances swiftly and safely, enabling them to visit multiple locations within a short period. Flying not only saves time for the selection team, but also ensures the team can travel to evaluate and select patients from the most isolated and underserved areas for surgery on-ship at a later date.

A 2016 study of Madagascar revealed that only 20% of the population can access surgical services within a two-hour timeframe, and up to 95% would face financial ruin if they required surgery (source: BMJ Global Health). With a scarcity of surgeons — approximately 1 for every 100,000 people — the prospect of receiving necessary surgical treatment seems unattainable for many (source: WHO).

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Bernard van den Bosch, who has worked for both MAF and Mercy Ships, and current Director of the Africa Services Center at Mercy Ships, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are confidently re-engaging with MAF because together we are stronger. The country of Madagascar has many hard-to-reach areas, and MAF is the key to accessing them. Non-profit organizations can ‘compete,’ but ultimately, we all serve the same goal. I see many opportunities for future collaboration and intensive joint efforts.”

Bastiaan de Waal, Africa Regional Director of MAF, added: “By transporting Mercy Ships teams with our aircraft to the interior of Madagascar, we provide help, hope and healing to residents with the surgical care they desperately need. The need is high in these areas, and these people in isolated communities are equally entitled to care. We are pleased to partner alongside Mercy Ships to support this often-forgotten group. Being each other’s hand and foot is what we are called to do and we have a shared synergy of vision and values.”

This renewed collaboration between MAF and Mercy Ships exemplifies how strategic partnerships can enhance humanitarian efforts, ensuring that more people receive the critical medical care they need. The two organizations previously partnered from 2014 to 2016 in Madagascar and have worked together in Liberia.

Mercy Ships’ hospital ship, the Africa Mercy®, has been docked in Toamasina since February and is delivering surgery and training. The ship is actively collaborating with Madagascar’s Ministry of Health to identify the most pressing needs and strengthen the country’s surgical systems through its education, training, and advocacy program.