Help for the Helpers

In their bid for an improved humanitarian services delivery in a dwindling world economy, ravaged by incessant health crisis, Lightup Foundation collaborated with the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) and the Global NGO Executive Committee (GNEC) presided over by Mr Patrick Sciarratta, to hold a summit on Wednesday February 9, 2022. At this summit, the collaborators empowered and equipped contemporaries in an informative virtual seminar themed, Help for the Helpers.

The event, which had in attendance the Deputy Director of Intergenerational Rescue Foundation Inc. Bibi Bolaji-Aghahowa, also enlisted 47 other non-for-profits across the globe with their representatives, who were receptive to the knowledge of survival in a compassion-driven industry to push through hard times, as presented by the speakers.

Sciarratta elucidated how to be associated with the United Nations to benefit from GNEC facilities. He encouraged organizations to get familiar with the development goals of the UN in order to understand its policies; one of such policies which had helped eradicate polio and met several other needs that can impact marginalized communities with sustainable development goals for the world.

Amb. Olasubomi Iginla Aina, a director of GNEC, in her presentation, outlined the how-to for that sustainable development; the alleviation of poverty, community development and the fulfillment of human rights in the third sector. While prioritizing their needs in the society, Aina stated that the humanitarian bodies should collaborate. She further emphasized on networking with similar organizations, and how to strategically source finance in order not to relent on their good intentions and stay afloat to effectively operate with:

1. Collaboration partnership, and teamwork
2. Keeping a good contact list and networking
3. Setting new goals for your organization
4. Rebranding to keep your services current
5. Diversification into different projects to remain relevant
6.  Digital visibility
7. Creative thinking for fund-raising and more.

Head of Transparency International, Auwal Musa Ibrahim Rafsanjani, advised civil societies, particularly in Nigeria, not to be over-dependent on donor grants for sustenance. He encouraged them to utilize the media to attract random philanthropists. He also expounded on integrity and the need to connect with equally morally-justifiable institutions, as well as the idea of properly cultivating local philanthropy amidst critical and strategic partnership.

Reiterating the importance of the seminar, Uwem Robert, Secretary, Outreach and Partnership, Sub-Committee GNEC, said that the idea of affiliation with the UN and GNEC respectively, is to raise their organization’s standard with the attainment of international status. Accessibilities to grasp resources to broaden opportunities while servicing the civil society.

The anchor of the event, Oyebisi Oluseyi, who is the Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) did a beautiful job of highlighting the salient points raised by the speakers. He also effectively moderated the question-and-answer session to the satisfaction of the participants.

Another representative at the event, Olujimi Jiboye, the Lightup Foundation Editor, brought the event to a close with gratitude to the participants and organizers for the unflinching motive to bring Help for the Helpers, for a sustainable development that would relentlessly enable individual organizations to bridge the gaps in every marginalized society in today’s global dwindling economy.