By NEWSCOUNT Desk
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents Chapel, has celebrated the humanitarian contributions of the Executive Director of Still Waters Foundation, Dr Femi Lanre-Oke, commending his support for vulnerable women, girls, widows and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The chapel’s delegation, led by its chairman, Comrade Felix Ojo, paid a courtesy visit to Lanre-Oke and congratulated him on the 10th anniversary of Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministry.
Ojo said the visit was an opportunity to recognise Lanre-Oke’s contributions to humanitarian services, community development and the welfare of disadvantaged Nigerians.
He noted that the foundation’s interventions reflected the ideals of democracy by addressing the needs of ordinary citizens, particularly those whose challenges often receive limited public attention.
According to him, Lanre-Oke had also supported the NUJ through encouragement and welfare assistance to journalists, making it important for the chapel to acknowledge his contributions to society and the union.
Responding, Lanre-Oke said Still Waters Foundation remained committed to supporting vulnerable members of society, particularly women, adolescent girls, widows and children from low-income households.
He disclosed that the foundation had awarded scholarships to some students and assisted women seeking to improve their livelihoods.
He also announced plans for a menstrual hygiene initiative targeting 2,000 girls, particularly those in rural communities who struggle to afford sanitary pads.
Lanre-Oke said the initiative was intended to ease the difficulties faced by girls who lack access to basic menstrual hygiene products, adding that discrimination and social disadvantages continued to limit women’s and girls’ access to education and economic opportunities.
He stressed that investing in women was essential to national development because of their roles in raising children, strengthening families and shaping society.
“When you empower a woman, you empower the nation,” he said.
The foundation’s executive director also highlighted its empowerment programmes for widows and economically disadvantaged women, including skills acquisition, business start-up assistance and the distribution of essential food items.
He recalled an empowerment programme involving about 200 women in Lugbe, Abuja, where participants received training in the production of perfume, insecticides and groundnut snacks.
According to him, the programme went beyond training, as beneficiaries also received materials to help them establish small businesses and generate income to support themselves and their families.
He said the foundation had also distributed food items, clothing materials and other necessities to widows, while providing educational support to children from disadvantaged households.
Lanre-Oke described widows as particularly vulnerable, noting that some face the loss of their homes and property following the death of their husbands.
He said the foundation would continue to explore interventions that address both the immediate needs of vulnerable women and their longer-term economic challenges.
Lanre-Oke also challenged Nigerian journalists to strengthen their reporting on insecurity, poor public services and other issues affecting ordinary citizens.
He questioned whether the media was doing enough to hold public institutions accountable and ensure that the concerns of Nigerians received sustained attention.
Citing a reported kidnapping incident involving members of a church community in Kaduna State, Lanre-Oke expressed concern over allegations that security personnel had advised relatives of abducted persons to pay ransom.
He recounted claims that the families were struggling to secure the release of their relatives despite notifying security agencies. He further alleged that information communicated to the families suggested that the abductors had postponed a planned release while preparing for another kidnapping operation.
The allegations were not independently verified in the account of the visit and would require confirmation from the affected families and relevant authorities.
Lanre-Oke said cases of this nature highlighted the difficulties families encounter when seeking assistance and the need for sustained media attention to kidnapping and the response of security agencies.
He also raised concerns about waste disposal and environmental sanitation in parts of Abuja, including the Airport Road corridor, saying accumulated refuse and poorly maintained roadsides raised questions about the effectiveness of public services.
He said he had made efforts to draw attention to the problem and urge the relevant authorities to take action.
According to him, journalists could promote accountability by documenting environmental challenges in affected communities and following up on the responses of responsible agencies.
He urged the media to give greater attention to issues that directly affect residents rather than allowing political disagreements to dominate public discourse.
Lanre-Oke called for stronger cooperation among citizens, journalists and public institutions, stressing that building a better Nigeria required people and institutions to take responsibility for improving society.
The NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel commended Lanre-Oke for his contributions to the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians and called for closer collaboration between the media and organisations working to improve lives and promote accountability in society.
