The wife of Taraba state governor, Ana Mbasuun Ishaku, in a bid to impact on the lives of the less privileged in Taraba started a pet project called Hope Afresh Foundation. STEPHEN OSU examines the challenges and prospects of the project so far
Background In Taraba today, the care foundation known as Hope Afresh Foundation started by the Taraba state fi rst lady, Bar. Ana Mbasuun Ishaku, about two years ago has carried out some life touching programmes, particularly targeted at women and youth. Mrs Ishaku has to her credit the restoration of hope, trust in governance through the empowerment scheme since it was launched. What is Hope Afresh Foundation With the mission of rendering quality empowerment which will restore the hopes of Tarabans the hope afresh foundation, a nongovernmental, non- political and nonreligious organization provides service to humanity particularly to women and children and generally the less privilege in the society, with the aim of giving them hope.
Th e foundation has as its core values integrity, team work, to serve humanity among others. According to Blueprint checks the foundation focuses on creation of skills acquisition opportunities for economic empowerment of women and youths, provision of scholarship for girl child education, support women in large scale farming and partnering with government to create enabling environment and opportunities for women and youths economic growth through formal and nonformal education. Remarkably, the foundation is involved in supporting and encouraging skills acquisition for self- reliance, network with the nongovernmental organizations to realize and train youths on dangers of substance abuse, early marriage, HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and other health issues in the society.
Challenges Our correspondent observed that the projects executed so far by the scheme are in line with the mission and vision of the foundation. However, in pursuing the vision and mission the foundation is being confronted with challenges, which include: funding, collaboration, diffi cult terrain to reach the target benefi ciaries, ignorance. Also, it was observed that internal crisis constitutes factors that form a clog in the wheel of progress of the lofty ideals of the foundation. But how far has the foundation gone? It is noteworthy to stress since coming into existence on September 14, 2015, the hope afresh foundation has raised the hope of the Taraba down trodden, women and youths with its modest achievements.
Th e foundation collaborated with the Central bank of Nigeria and trained Taraba women and youths in entrepreneur development to reduce un-employment, the foundation carried out an intervention in agriculture by distributing seedlings to the internally displaced people in all the senatorial districts in the state, the foundation also distributed fertilizer to the IDPs. Also, the foundation has procured and distributed rice trashing and groundnut milling machines to some women and youths farm groups in Taraba state. Within this period under review the foundation carried out sensitization rallies on drugs and substance abuse across the state. It also trained 120 traditional birth attendance to wage war against maternal and child mortality in the some remote communities, reduce mother to child transmission of HIV and AIDS, and also raise the standard of living of the Taraba women, youths. People’s views on activities of the foundation Th e chairman of Tiv Cultural and Social
Association Taraba state, Mr. Goodman Dahida, commended the activities of the foundation when he spoke with Blueprint on the intervention scheme of the foundation. He described the activities as enduring, genuine, impactful, accurate and life story changing, the president also said the intervention focal areas of the foundation are in critical areas that impact directly on the life of a common man. Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku at one of the public functions organized by the foundation in Jalingo, recently, acknowledge the fact that the foundation has truly touched the lives of the citizenry.
Th e governor also said the foundation had achieved a great height with little resources and promised that the state government will partner with the NGO to ensure that the standard of living of the common man is up lifted. Th e Attorney General of Taraba state and Commissioner for Justice, Bar. Yusufu Nya Akirikwen, and the chairman of the correspondent chapel of NUJ Oluewale Ayodele, said they were impressed by the activities of the foundation, but added that they were not surprised because they were confi dence that the foundation will go places looking at the credentials of the woman at the center of it. Impact Interestingly, the impact of the foundation is being felt by women and youths as well as the less privilege in the Taraba society. However, the fear being entertained is that of sustenance, which has been the key problem of several other pet projects of that nature, but the question is will the project survive after the tenure of Ishaku’s administration?
