MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy Centre

Plot 120, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Wuye District Abuja. Email: [email protected] Tel: 234 8089788590 Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy Centre mamacentre.org.ng @mamacentreng @mamacentre1 MOTHERS AND MARGINALISED ADVOCACY CENTRE (MAMA CENTRE)

MAMA CENTRE 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Ngwo community elected target-led women (right holders) for proposed strategic policy and legislave advocacy under the aegis of EMPOWER project implemented by MAMA Centre with support from OXFAM

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 001 TABLE OF CONTENT

The Board of Trustee ...... 3 The Advisory Council...... 3 The Secretariat ...... 3 Office Address ...... 3 Brief About MAMA Centre ...... 4 The Vision ...... 5 The Mission ...... 5 The Motto ...... 5 Objectives ...... 5 Message from the Executive Director ...... 6 Agriculture and Women Empowerment ...... 7 Foreign Skill Acquisition Training for Young Females ...... 16 Gender, Human Right and Social Inclusion ...... 16 Girl Child Right ...... 19 Maternal and Child Health ...... 19 Media Tracking Reports ...... 21

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 002 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE This is the policy-making organ of the organisation. The Board approves the budget of the organisation, provides contacts for operational funds and supports the operation of the secretariat.

1. Princess Ufoma Hamman-Obels – Chairperson 2. Barr. (Ms.) Chiamaka Nnadika – Member 3. Mr. Nwagwu Ezenwa Sampson – Member 4. Ms. Chioma Kanu – Secretary

ADVISORY COUNCIL The Advisory Council is an advisory organ consisting of people with vast experience and knowledge of socio-economic and political dynamics in the country and across the world.

1. Hon. Henry Nwawuba 2. Ms. Chiamaka Joyce Onyegbula 3. Dr. Cephas Lerewonu 4. Ms. Akunne Kanu 5. Yushau A. Shuaib 6. David Valera

THE SECRETARIAT The Secretariat is vested with the day-to-day running of the organization. It implements the decisions of the Board of Trustees. It is headed by an Executive Director who oversees the day-to-day running of the organisation while a Senior Program Officer oversees programmes implementation along with other programme staff.

1. Barr. (Ms.) Ola E. Onyegbula – Executive Director 2. Ms. Chioma Kanu – Program Manager 3. Ms. Peace Ikoku – Program Officer 4. Mrs. Joy I. Okara – Finance Manager 5. Ms. Rahma Oladosun – Office Manager 6. Abubakar Jimoh – Communications Manager 7. Ms. Grace Oriaku – Volunteer

OFFICE ADDRESS Headquarters: Plot 111a Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Wuye District, Abuja.

Regional Office, Enugu: House No. 4, Real Estate, Uwani, Enugu state.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 003 BRIEF ABOUT MAMA CENTRE

he Mothers And Marginalized reproductive life, including shared Advocacy (MAMA) Centre was responsibilities for the care and nurturing of Testablished and registered with the children and maintenance of the household. Nigeria Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on 5th November 2014 with the The organization works to alleviate threat to registration number CAC/IT/NO73269 as a women's lives, health and well-being as a Non-Governmental, non-profit making, result of being overburdened with work and non-partisan organisation with primary of their lack of power and influence. It mandate to engage government on empowers women to receive formal legislative and policy advocacy to eliminate education in showcasing their knowledge, threats to socio-economic and political abilities and coping mechanisms to attain status of the marginalised groups and healthy and fulfilling lives. advance their socio-economic and political rights towards self-determination, self- Through regular field-based research and reliance and self-sustenance in Nigeria. fact-findings, MAMA Centre creates socio- economic empowerment platform that Through its engagement enables women to innovatively improve on strategies—advocacy, capacity building, the existing income generating activities, research and networking, the Centre works save more money, develop financial literacy, to ensure full participation and partnership and diversify in other income-generating of women and men in productive and activities. reproductive life, including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy children and maintenance of the household. (MAMA) Centre has hitherto through public donation and support from partners, MAMA Centre works to ensure recorded tremendous achievements in its empowerment and autonomy of women programmes and activities. and the improvement of their political, socio-economic and health status and self- The organisation has a vision to see “A sufficiency towards achieving inclusive and world where women are involved in decision sustainable development. Through its making for sustained development” and a engagement strategies—advocacy, capacity mission to ensure:“Women and building, research, service delivery and marginalized groups participate in networking, the organization works to governance and economic resources are ensure full participation and partnership of distributed equitably”. women and men in productive and

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 004 VISION “A world where women are involved in decisions making for sustained development”

MISSION “Women and marginalized groups participate in governance and economic resources are distributed equitably”.

MOTTO “Giving voice to marginalised”

OBJECTIVES The aims and objectives of MAMA Centre are as follow:

· To engage legislative and policy advocacy to eliminate threats to socio-economic and political status of the marginalised groups and advance their socio-economic, education, health and political rights towards self-determination, self-reliance and self-sustenance in Nigeria.

· To empower women and young girls to receive formal education in showcasing their knowledge, abilities and coping mechanisms to attain healthy and fulfilling lives.

· To eliminate threats to sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young girls in Nigeria.

· To raise public, public and community consciousness on the impact of adequate maternal and childhood nutrition status to physical and cognitive development of a child through advocacy, capacity building and outreach services.

· To create socio-economic empowerment platform that enables women to innovatively improve on the existing income generating activities, save more money, develop financial literacy, and diversify in other income-generating activities.

· To ensure full participation and partnership of women and men in productive and reproductive life, including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintenance of the household.

· To deploy engagement strategies—advocacy, capacity building, service delivery, research and networking in achieving its objectives.

In addition to increasing women's access to financial services, the organization priorities skills learning and capacity building, self-esteem, increasing access to information and resources, and promoting collective action among women in community associations.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 005 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

n the year under review, MAMA Centre an open door to select young experienced continued to expand in its programmes Nigerian female to participate in various skill Iand activities with a new support from acquisition trainings in Kazakhstan. OXFAM-The Voice Projectto implement a project titled “Engendering More Through its Girls Hub platform Participation of Women for Economic https://mamacentre.org.ng/report-assault/ Revitalization (EMPOWER)”, a target-led supported by public donation and partners, project where the target groups which MAMA Centre received several 11 reported include aged and female headed cases of sexual assault out of which 4 cases indigenous women of the Igbo ethnic are currently in court. Under the platform, group (Ngwo community) in Enugu state, MAMA Centre produced and disseminated through which women (right holders), who an enlightenment Drama/video on girl child are facing exploitation, socio-economic abuse and it dreaded impacts. deprivation, abuse and violence are Furthermore, as part of our efforts to presently underdoing series of legislative, advance child and family health, MAMA policy advocacy, empowerment further engaged massive public and policy programmes. awareness and sensitisation on the MAMA Centre leveraged its growing media importance and key messaging outreaches to amplify public and policy fromMaternal New-born and Child Health awareness on key advocacy messaging from (MNCH) Week. United Nations' Days through media MAMA Centre will continue to enhance motions such as published press releases advocacy to promote equal opportunity, and features in both online and national self-sufficiency, social justice and good dailies. governance at all levels through advocacy, Also, MAMA Centre was contacted by the capacity building, research and networking. largest business chamber in all of Central Barr. (Ms.) Ola E. Onyegbula Asia called Atameken Executive Director https://atameken.kz/en/ with over

1 million member in conjunction with THE US/KZ Trade Council, a Non-Profit organization. MAMA Centre was provided

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 006 AGRICULTURE AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

n the year under review, MAMA Centre published and implemented a project titled disseminated“Advocacy/Campaign Strategy I“Engendering More Participation of for the EMPOWER Project”. The strategic Women for Economic Revitalization document aims at devising combination of (EMPOWER)” with support from OXFAM. holistic approaches, techniques and messages to empower women of Ngwo with knowledge, The project is a target-led project where the to recognise their rights, get organised, learn target groups which include aged and female how to coordinate ideas to be able to demand headed indigenous women of the Igbo ethnic from the government of Enugu state social group (Ngwo community) in Enugu state, who amenities that can empower women. The are facing exploitation, socio-economic document also identifies holistic guide and deprivation, abuse and violence are presently campaign strategy for programmes and underdoing series of legislative, policy activities in the course of the project advocacy, empowerment programmes with implementation as well as enabling legislation knowledge to recognise their rights, get and policy environment to support organised, learn how to coordinate ideas to advocacy/campaign and messaging be able to demand from the government of development for policy and legislative Enugu state social amenities that can advocacy to achieving project's desired empower women in existing agricultural change. business—palm oil processing. This aims at enhancing the women's earning capacity The organisation held a Town Hall Meeting towards financial empowerment and socio- on Socio-economic Empowerment of Ngwo economic sufficiency. Women (Right Holders) with over 200 selected women from Ngwo community in Under the project, MAMA Centre Enugu state. This Meeting aims at supporting conducted“Stakeholder mapping and women of Ngwo with legislative and policy power analysis of key influencers” to advocacy knowledge to recognise their rights, identify and document relevant stakeholders, get organised, learn how to coordinate ideas key influencers within the state that can to be able to demand from the government of influence policies and bring about desired Enugu state social amenities that can change to Ngwo women. The Mapping empower women. The women were trained identified and document key influencers on several ways to organize themselves, among men and women of reputable socio- mobilize, coordinate and advocate to those in economic background that influence political authority to facilitate provision of mechanized decisions or effect policy changes in the state. equipment used in extracting palm-oil. The MAMA Centre also researched, developed, normal practise is harvested palm-fruits are

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 007 crudely processed through the very tedious identified under the mapping exercise. Over process of matching with feet or pounding 200 branded advocacy T-Shirts with with mortar and pestle to extract oil. This campaign messaging“Nothing without us” tedious process of course hinders massive were disseminated to the women during the production of palm-oil which will in-turn Town-Hall Meeting. There were series of enrich these women. The Meeting was media reports capturing development from attended by key socio-political influencers as Town-Hall meeting.

The Executive Director of MAMA Centre, Barr. Ola E. Onyegbula presenting the background and objectives of the project, during the Town Hall Meeting on Socio-economic empowerment of Ngwo women (right holders) held in Enugu state under the aegis of The Voice Project.

Chief (Engr.) Emma Amano, a Key Influencer under the Project addressing Ngwo women during the Town Hall Meeting. He committed to ensuring proper linkage between the community and government.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 008 The Ama Achara Ngwo community women in a group photo after the Town Hall Meeting organised by MAMA Centre.

Dissemination of advocacy T-Shirts to the Right holders by Mama Centre at the Town Hall Meeting.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 009 Cross-section of participants (right holders) during the Town-Hall meeting organised by MAMA Centre under the aegis of the Voice Nigeria project

Cross-section of participants (right holders) during the Town-Hall meeting organised by MAMA Centre under the aegis of the Voice Nigeria project

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 010 Cross-section of participants (right holders) during the Town-Hall meeting organised by MAMA Centre under the aegis of the Voice Nigeria project

Cross-section of participants (right holders) during the Town-Hall meeting organised by MAMA Centre under the aegis of the Voice Nigeria project

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 011 Also, under the project, MAMA Centre led in the state. While commending the unique selected women champions/Leaders (right initiative led by MAMA Centre, Hon. Ugwu, holders) on advocacy visit to Enugu State said the visit had further exposed the House House of Assembly. During the visit, the to the common socio-economic needs and Chairman House Committee on Agriculture, priority across various communities in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Hillary state. He promised full support to the right Ugwu has assured of the House commitment holders in achieving their goals through to securing socio-economic priority and rights appropriate legislation and oversight of the AmachallaNgwo women (right holders) activities.

The Chairman, Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Hillary Ugwu (right) addressing the Executive Director of MAMA Centre, Barr. Ola E. Onyegbula and representatives of Ngwo women (right holders), during an advocacy visit to Chairman to discuss way forward on socio-economic empowerment of the women.

The Executive Director of MAMA Centre, Barr. Ola E. Onyegbula (3rd from left) in a group with the Chairman, Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Hillary Ugwu (4th from left) and representatives of women (right holders) of Ngwo, after extensive discussions and elicited commitments on the way forward towards improving socio-economic empowerment of Ngwo women (right holders) at the State House of Assembbly Complex in Enugu.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 012 The Executive Director of Mothers And appropriate follow-up. Also, the Ngwo women Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA leader and Volunteer under The Voice project, Centre), Barr. Ola E. Onyegbula, during the Mrs. Grace Oriaku, recalled that the economic visit called on the Committee to through mainstay of Enugu people if not the entire constituency outreach services, prioritise Igbo race was palm-oil production. According sustainability and development of Ngwo to her, overtime, the very viable means of palm-oil processing to further empower and economic empowerment has eroded for promote self-sufficiency among the female- increased priority for white collar jobs and headed households in the community; and other means of livelihood. “This is owing to assist in reiterating the need for prompt the fact that palm-oil production is still legislative attention to sustained palm-oil practised in the crudest form, making it not processing and socio-economic development such an attractive business for the teeming of Ngwo at relevant plenaries and committee population of Enugu and its environs.“It is for sessions of Assembly.Other requests by her this purpose that MAMA Centre chose to were strengthening oversight function on work with Ngwo Women (right holders) at this budgetary allocation to agriculture to ensure pilot stage to seek this Committee support judicious utilisation to enhance Small, and intervention towards resuscitating the Medium and Large scale agricultural ailing palm-oil industry with the hope of productivity in the state; legislative support in empowering about 100 women from Ngwo prioritising the development of Ngwo palm oil with Palm-oil processing machines to enhance processing in legislative budgetary decisions their economic capacity,” she added.There and allocation; and creating linkage with were documented media reports on the visit. Member representing the Ngwo for

MAMA Centre organised Capacity Building Workshop on Socio-economic Empowerment for Ngwo women (right holders) at Ngwo community in Enugu state.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 013 Mrs OgochukwuOzoagu from Enugu state Small and Medium Enterprise also one of the facilitators at the Workshop educating the Right holders on the importance of SME in improving socio-economic status of the women.

MAMA Centre further held another 2-day representing Enugu State Small and Medium Capacity Building Workshop for Socio- Enterprise, encouraged the women to economic Development of Ngwo Women leverage available opportunities through (right holders)for over 100 women in Ama formation of well-coordinated community Achara community, Ngwo Enugu state.The cooperative union in fund raising to boost Workshop aimed at opening up the women to their palm oil productivity. Commenting existing financial opportunities they can during the session, Mrs Chidiebere Asadu, a leverage as they work towards enhancing right holder, explained that the Workshop was their palm oil production capacity, while an eye-opener, while the lessons learnt would galvanising policy advocacy for the provision be deployed by women in the formation of of modernised tools for standardization and community cooperative as an enabling value-added commercialisation.Speaking at platform in fund-raising for improved palm oil the Workshop, Mrs Ogochukwu Ozoagu business.

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 014 A right holder speaking during the Capacity Building Workshop on Socio-economic Empowerment for Ngwo women (right holders) at Ngwo community in Enugu state

The right holders at the end of the Workshop unanimously agreed to the formation of Community Cooperative to be supervised by MAMA Centre.

Cross-section of rights holders during the Capacity Building Workshop on Socio-economic Empowerment for Ngwo women (right holders) at Ngwo community in Enugu state

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 015 FOREIGN SKILL ACQUISITION TRAINING FOR YOUNG FEMALES MAMA Centre was contacted by the largest specialization to qualify for the selection and business chamber in all of Central Asia called training included: Designer for the production Atameken https://atameken.kz/en/ with over 1 of tables and chairs, woodworking master; million member in conjunction with Mr. David Veterinarian and animal technician for poultry Valera of THE US/KZ Trade Council, a Non- farm; Arborist, gardener; production and sales, Profit organization. MAMA Centre was increase sales, product promotion; expert in provided an open door to select young business development who has experience in experienced Nigerian female to participate in the production of confectionery and bakery various skill acquisition trainings in products; packaging of polypropylene and Kazakhstan. The Council in 2019 budgeted a polyethylene (big bags, wagon liners, considerable amount of money to help assist canopies); expert in extrusion and weaving local businesses improve best practices by equipment; technologist for sewing men's bringing in individuals from different parts of shoes; expert in the production of the world for 10 days of paid training. The polyurethane foam products; and expert in opportunity, along with a slight salary offered Crop production (potato growing). So far, the and all expense covered trip was an US/KZ Trade Council have had close to 70 opportunity for MAMA Centre in getting our guests from all over the world ranging from girls to perhaps participate in what would be a Teachers, Janitors, Healthcare professionals, once in a life time experience. In creating a agricultural experts and others and thankfully, safe and secure environment, each home is have received the highest grades possible in vetted, selected for the training. Required terms of experience and hospitality.

GENDER, HUMAN RIGHT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION

In the year under review, MAMA Centre was opening address at the auspicious invited by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) to event.German Ambassador to Nigeria, attend a two-day conference on “Migration Mr.BrigittOry; and Minister of Interior, in West Africa: Challenges and Solutions” RaufAregbesola, represented by Muhammad in Abuja.The event, which was held on Babandede, Comptroller General of the Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9, October 2019, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), gave the attracted top government functionaries, opening remarks.The themes of the panel seasoned academics, Civil Society groups, discussion include “Migration in West Africa: diplomats, and Non-Governmental Challenges to and Benefits of the ECOWAS Organisations (NGOs) including Mothers And Free Movement of People Regime”; Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA “Demographic Development and Climate Centre).Dr. Vladimir Kreck, who is the Resident Change as Drivers of Migration in West Representative of KAS Nigeria, delivered the Africa”; “Tackling Insecurity Induced Migration

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 016 in West Africa”; and “Migration to Europe and implementation of Violence Against Persons Migrants in Europe”. In her contribution to the Prohibition Act with sincere political will to panel discussions, MAMA Centre emphasized punish offenders, while urging more the need for formulation of an effective independent judiciary to constructively political/development agenda and proper interpret cases and impose sanctions without information dissemination to builda peaceful fear, intimidation or favour. It also call for environment as pre-condition for progress more proactive policy actions for women and development across West African nations. empowerment to encourage self-reliance and socio-economic self-sustainability of women Also, during the year, MAMA issued and with holistically instituted reporting published a press statement to commemorate system/mechanism to ease and encourage International Day to End Violence against complaints process and efficiently address Women. Through the press statement, MAMA reported cases of violence against women at Centre calls for holistic policy actions, all levels. independent judiciary to sanction violence. The organisation called for more stringent and As the world commemorated the holistic policy actions to address recurring International Women's Day 2019, MAMA violence and abuses against women in both Centre through a published press statement public and private spheres. called for increased priority for the full- fledged inclusiveness of girl child, women and MAMA Centre expressed serious concern over other maginalised groups in socio-economic the intensity of women subjected to rape, and political policies and decisions in Nigeria. undignified torture, mental and physical The Organisation raised concernthat as a abuses on daily basis in all ramifications nation with the highest population in African including armed forces with deliberate silence continent, no fewer than 38 percent of its or pretentious intervention by relevant women lacking formal education as against 25 authority. It raised awareness against the percent for men and only four percent of overbearing disproportionate responses by women have higher education against the Nigerian security forces personnel towards seven percent of their male counterpart. civil cases involving women are among the ruthless in the world for their intentional use It express worries that girl-child school of excessive force and extra-judicial killing, enrolment in the Northeast and Northwest verbal attacks and psychological intimidation were 20 per cent and 25 per cent respectively, reportedly mounted on women at both formal while Southwest and Southeast were 85 per and informal sectors. It also noted that cent, and South-South was 75 per cent, as marriage constitutes an enabling harbouring reported by Word Bank data in 2017. It also platform for continued and unchecked raised concerns over delayed implementation domestic abuse, violence and other social of 35% Affirmative Action for Women by stigma levelled against voiceless women. governments at all levels discourages appreciable participation of women as leaders MAMA Centre therefore, call for full and decision-makers in households,

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 017 communities, and in the public and private organisation also called for improved access sphere in the nation's political decision to education and elimination of gender gaps making. According the statement, majority of in education, public awareness and girls and women face real-time poverty, gross sensitization on the provisions of the Rights of inequality, molestation and injustice, denying Women. them effort to acquire meaningful skills and contribute positively towards the nation's On the World Humanitarian Day 2019, in a development; with less than 39 per cent of the published press statement, MAMA Centre total female population is literate as against honoured humanitarian efforts and support the 63 per cent of literate male population. It by Women Humanitarians, who passionately stated that since democratic rule in 1999, propagate the idea of supporting people in women are under-represented in all key crisis worldwide. It acknowledged the unique political decision making bodies in Nigeria role of women in peace and conflict which metamorphosed in the 9th National resolution, we commend and celebrate the Assembly, where women secured only 6.2 per dogged contributions of Women cent (seven female senators) of seats (out of Humanitarians in making the world a better 109 senators) in the Senate while men place, despite the associated risks identified constituted 93.8 per cent; and 22 women as with Humanitarian world. The organisation against 338 men in the House of appreciated Women Humanitarians as the first Representatives, while condemning persistent responders to the “darkest hours of crisis”, discrimination and atrocities against women revealing their incomparable exceptionality, include poor education, poor nutrition status, while validating the global affirmation of violence and brutalization, vulnerability and female strength, power and perseverance at low pay employment. all levels. MAMA Centre therefore demanded MAMA Centre condemned in totality, appreciable effort at all levels to recognise discrimination and violence against female aid girls and women as equal players in the game workers in any form or place across the world, of life whilst empowering, up-skilling and while calling for more robust and supportive investing in them for a better world; full policy environment through implementation implementation of 35% Affirmative Action for of appropriate surveillance system and Women by governments at all levels to competent reporting mechanism to encourage adequate participation of women encourage and address the plights of Women as leaders and decision-makers in spheres of Humanitarians. It encouraged every life including politics, health, households, and humanitarian effort to take as cognisance, the communities as well as public and private essential role of women and girls as first sector. It called for re-presentation by the 9th responders, agents of change, as well as the Assembly and passage into Law, the Gender best representatives of needs in humanitarian and Equal Opportunities Bill at the Federal situations, while calling for specific effort to and State levels in order to domesticate the reach marginalized women and girls, CEDAW and AU Women's Protocol. The

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 018 including women with disabilities, indigenous community level for regular awareness on women, elderly women, and women of child rights to healthy and productive living; diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, against girl child abuses, discrimination, and to building on their needs and capacities in early marriage. Through various media order to effectively engage them as active motions, MAMA Centre de-normalised under- partners in humanitarian process. MAMA reported cases and awful impacts of child Centre further advocate for safe operation marriage on sexual and reproductive health spaces for women and adolescent girls in through thorough encouraged media every humanitarian response to enable them reportage, media advocacy, public awareness brainstorm and devise appropriate response campaign, and strategic messaging strategies at all levels. development; and raise public, policy and community consciousness on the effects of child marriage to sexual and reproductive GIRL CHILD RIGHT health and socio-economic development of the communities and states. In the year under review, through its Girls Hub platform https://mamacentre.org.ng/report- assault/supported by public donation and MATERNAL AND partners, MAMA Centre received about 11 CHILD HEALTH reported cases of sexual assault out of which 4 cases are currently in court. MAMA Centre In the year under review, MAMA Centre through the platform creates awareness invarious policy and public awareness through against incessant rape and girl child abuse Maternal New-born and Child Health (MNCH) across Junior Secondary and Senior Week called on the government at all levels to Secondary schools with females legal take as priority appropriate awareness advocate volunteers. The platform is creation to improve health seeking behaviour leveraged in raising girl students' of Nigerian mothers and children to consciousness on their sexual and complement the on-going efforts of the reproductive rights and encouraging report government and development partners to on threat of early marriage. deliver basic health services to mothers, new born babies and children under five years, to Under the platform, MAMA Centre produced ensure the universal coverage of high impact and disseminated an enlightenment and low cost interventions. It leveraged the Drama/video on girl child abuse and it Week to call for increased priority for Water, dreaded impacts. The Drama titled "Ills and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Pains" shows the awful impact of early child marriage on socio-economic development of MNCHWeek was introduced in 2010, as a bi- Girl Child with the #ChildNotBride. annual programme following the recommendation of the National Council on The organisation also constituted Women Health. Consequently, one week every 6 Against Child Marriage (WAC-M) at

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 019 months - May and November, the health malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies system in Nigeria works for MNCHW. MAMA are also enduring challenges. Nationally, 36% Centre noted that the main objective of of children under-5 years are stunted and 30% MNCHW is to reduce morbidity and mortality of pre-school aged children suffer from in mothers and children less than 5 years of Vitamin A Deficiency. Consumption of foods age in Nigeria. It also explained that the rich in Vitamin A is rare and access to fortified specific objectives include to ensure access by foods remains limited. Only one third of all mothers and children 0-59 months to: routine children aged 6-23 months receive a immunization as scheduled, and for missed minimum acceptable diet. opportunities; mobilize the community and create demand for routine services; ensure MAMA Centre called on mothers and parents that at least 80% of children 6-59 months are at all levels to: ensure all children under 5 given Vitamin A every 6 months; deworm years old are given Vitamin A children 12-59 months every 6 months in the supplementation to prevents diseases, target LGAs; screen for acute malnutrition in protects lives and is good for your child's children; 6-59months and appropriate referral eyes; and ensure all acutely malnourished when malnourished; provide focused ANC - children 12 to 59 months are screened using Iron-Folate, SP for pregnant women, HIV the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Counseling and Testing (HCT); distribute LLINs tape. It encouraged mothers to adopt to pregnant, lactating women and under-five exclusively breastfeed their children; ensure children; provide health education on key adequate routine immunization for their household practices. children to protect them from preventable childhood diseases; ensure birth registration MAMA Centre throughout the Week raised of the children. serious concerns over the cases of severe acute malnutrition in Community In order to prevent malaria, MAMA Centre Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) urged mothers must ensure that all children across the country, while expressing worries under 5 years old and pregnant women sleep over inadequate Ready to Use Therapeutic under long lasting insecticide treated nets Foods (RUTF) across the states as a threat to (LLINs) at all times. Pregnant women should saving lives of children with conditions of visit the nearest health facility for Ante - Natal severe acute malnutrition, thus defeating the Care (ANC), Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccination, efforts in addressing childhood malnutrition HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) and malaria and mortality. prevention and treatment. It also recommendedFamily Planningas a proven The organisation also galvanised public method to improve the lives of women and campaign over complete stock-out of RUTF children, adding that at least four ANC visits and stoppage of CMAM activities that during pregnancy save the lives of mother and consequently amplify childhood mortality and child. morbidity in some states in northern Nigeria. According to MAMA Centre chronic

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 020 MEDIA TRACKING REPORTS

ncreasingly media awareness on the social, Nigeria:https://www.sunnewsonline.com/grou economic and political rights of women p-calls-for-inclusive-accessible-educational- Iand girls through our regular media system-in- motions at all levels. nigeria/?fbclid=IwAR0g2ZgwFCzxSxaaNjTC0y nmQR5MdlRREF-ErLxYsg_wJsGdvn1aIZvpD5Q Centre calls for safe operation spaces for women, girls: International Youth Day: MAMA Centre https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/centre-calls- calls for inclusive, accessible educational for-safe-operation-spaces-for-women- system in Nigeria: girls.html https://prnigeria.com/2019/08/12/mama- centre-youth- World Humanitarian Day: MAMA Centre day/amp/?fbclid=IwAR3wLyJE8NEJTMDTqIq6 Celebrates Humanitarian Women, Calls for WYUY5iRepg1MxH2Aw75XLqX3SJc40BHH_2m Safe Operation Spaces: K3Q0 https://prnigeria.com/2019/08/18/world- humanitarian-day-mama/ MAMA Centre calls for holistic policy actions to end violence against MAMA Centre celebrates Humanitarian women:https://newsdigest.ng/news/2019/11/ Women, calls for safe operation spaces: 25/mama-centre-end- https://newsdigest.ng/news/2019/08/18/mam violence/?fbclid=IwAR1jaDj2a8AqSL5dyVVH2 a-centre-humanitarian-women/ mZSEj3wLsYVyR0DjZTxhgH6SbsVbDCNKVmSy zQ Centre calls for safe operation spaces for women, girls – Daily International Youth Day: MAMA Centre Trusthttps://headtopics.com/ng/centre-calls- calls for inclusive, accessible educational for-safe-operation-spaces-for-women-girls- system in daily-trust-7655976 Nigeria:https://mamacentre.org.ng/internatio nal-youth-day-mama-centre-calls-for- World Humanitarian Day 2019: MAMA inclusive-accessible-educational-system-in- Centre Celebrates Humanitarian Women, nigeria/ Calls For Safe Operation Spaces: https://economicconfidential.com/2019/08/m MAMA Centre Calls For Policy Actions To ama-centre-celebrates-humanitarian- End Violence Against Women: women/?fbclid=IwAR2F- https://economicconfidential.com/2019/11/m XG3gjn4GEpBqaKMXzDnR7KvkGoq- ama-centre-end-violence-women/ 87vV6bKuSHRV-eaYqBw5uZzehI Group Seeks Holistic Policy Actions, Group calls for inclusive, accessible Independent Judiciary To End Violence educational system in Against

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 021 Women:https://www.independent.ng/group- https://www.sunnewsonline.com/mama- seeks-holistic-policy-actions-independent- centre-empowers-women/ judiciary-to-end-violence-against-women/ MAMA Centre empowers MAMA Centre calls for holistic policy women:https://news.xyz.ng/94863-mama- actions, independent judiciary to sanction centre-empowers-women violence:https://dailynewsappraisal.com/id- https://web.facebook.com/economicmagazine to-end-violence-against-women-mama- /posts/10156782623135910?_rdc=1&_rdr centre-calls-for-holistic-policy-actions- independent-judiciary-to-sanction-violence/ Palm processing made easy for Enugu women:https://www.sunnewsonline.com/pal MAMA Centre celebrates humanitarian day m-processing-made-easy-for-enugu- 2019: https://dailynewsappraisal.com/world- women/?fbclid=IwAR0mTDZFHDhELtpdZymfG humanitarian-day-2019-mama-centre- gsHvNVmAZ0ERrnnWIfeLtJWW_XW5RAEhu78 celebrates-humanitarian-women-calls-for- LS8 safe-operation-spaces/

MAMA Centre trains Ngwo women, right MAMA Centre calls for inclusive, accessible holders on agrifinance: education system in https://dailynewsappraisal.com/mama-centre- Nigeria:https://dailynewsappraisal.com/intern trains-ngwo-women-right-holders-on- ational-youth-day-mama-centre-calls-for- agrifinance/ inclusive-accessible-educational-system-in- nigeria/ MAMA Centre trains rural women in oil production - Vanguard Newspaper, 4th Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre Parley On October.https://web.facebook.com/60664038 Improving Socio-economic Status Of Ngwo 9855047/photos/a.660233364495749/701203 Women Read more at: 390398746/?type=3&theater https://economicconfidential.com/2020/01/en ugu-assembly-mama-centre-ngwo/ Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre parley on improving socio-economic status of Ngwo Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre Unite To women:https://dailynewsappraisal.com/enug Improve Socio-Economic Status OfNgwo u-assembly-mama-centre-parley-on- Women: https://www.independent.ng/enugu- improving-socio-economic-status-of-ngwo- assembly-mama-centre-unite-to-improve- women/ socio-economic-status-of-ngwo-women/

Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre Dialogue We'll empower Ngwo women, MAMA On Improving Socio-economic Status Of Centre promises: Read more at: Ngwo https://newsdigest.ng/news/2019/09/30/emp Womenhttps://www.thedevelopmentreport.c ower-ngwo-women-mama-centre/ om/enugu-assembly-mama-centre-dialogue- MAMA Centre empowers women: on-improving-socio-economic-status-of-

MAMA Centre 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 022 ngwo-women/ holders on agrifinance: https://www.businessagenda.ng/mama- https://www.naijadailies.com/News/Nigeria/En centre-trains-ngwo-women-right-holders-on- ugu-Assembly-MAMA-Centre-Parley-On- agrifinance/ Improving-Socio-economic-Status-Of-Ngwo- Women-8711465 TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT PRESENTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MOTHERS Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre parley on AND MARGINALISED ADVOCACY CENTRE improving socio-economic status of Ngwo (MAMA CENTRE), BARR. OLA E. women https://mamacentre.org.ng/enugu- ONYEGBULA AT A TOWN HALL MEETING assembly-mama-centre-parley-on-improving- ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF socio-economic-status-of-ngwo-women/ NGWO WOMEN (RIGHT HOLDERS) HELD AT NGWO COMMUNITY ON 26TH Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre Dialogue SEPTEMBER 2019: On Improving Socio-economic Status Of https://mamacentre.org.ng/text-of-press- Ngwo Women: statement-presented-by-the-executive- https://www.businessagenda.ng/enugu- director-of-mothers-and-marginalised- assembly-mama-centre-dialogue-on- advocacy-centre-mama-centre-barr-ola-e- improving-socio-economic-status-of-ngwo- onyegbula-at-a-town-hall-meeting-on-socio- women/ economic-empowerment-of-ng/ MAMA Centre trains Ngwo women, right MAMA Centre Trains Ngwo Women, Right holders on agrifinance: Holders on Agrifinance: https://www.businessagenda.ng/mama- https://www.newstalkafrica.com/mama- centre-trains-ngwo-women-right-holders-on- centre-trains-ngwo-women-right-holders-on- agrifinance/ agrifinance/ MAMA Centre trains Ngwo women right

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