The President and Founder of SAM Empowerment Foundation (SEF), Dr. Aisha Achimugu, has called on Nigerians, especially the private sector operators to join hands with the government to achieve “a Nigeria of our dreams.”
Achimugu, who is also the Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of Felak Concept Group, said that government alone cannot accomplish the feat of nation building.
Speaking at an event in Abuja to mark the 10th anniversary of SEF’s humanitarian service and impact on humanity, Achimugu emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, individuals and the private sector in realizing a better Nigeria.
She said: “As a mother, I understand that I can’t please all my kids, and similarly, the government cannot satisfy everyone.
“The government is revolving and then we as a private sector and as Nigeria also have to help governments to achieve the dream which we want.
So, we have to do inclusive engagements to support the government so that it can also give back what we asked it to do.”
The event, which brought together various stakeholders in the humanitarian sector, showcased SEF’s commendable efforts over the past decade.
Achimugu noted that the foundation has been involved in empowering vulnerable groups, providing healthcare services, supporting education programs, and promoting women empowerment.
She added: “SEF’s journey over the past 10 years has shown us that achieving sustainable development and tangible outcomes in our society is a responsibility shared by all.”
She further called on Nigerians to support SEF’s initiatives and get actively involved in driving positive change.
In his address, Barrister Olurotimi Williams-Daudu, described Achimugu as an ambassador of goodwill, selflessness and sacrifice.
He said that children being absent from school due to hunger or poor health also affects their learning adversely.
He said: “Hardship causes hunger in a big part of the world population. The poor spend a bigger percentage of their earnings on food than the affluent. This has made poor people more vulnerable to even little food crises.
“The vicious cycle of soil fertility exhaustion due to poverty is the result of intensive farming in an effort to curb hunger. This leads to even more severe starvation because of the reduction in agricultural yields.
“Based on this observation, it is right to say that poverty and hunger provoke each other creating a vicious cycle.
“Education is also affected by a need in a very significant way. Learning achievement is low among children who come from poor families. The rate of dropping out of school is also high in needy communities.”
