Airtel Provides Relief for internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria …Backs Group to Raise Funds for IDPs

L-R: Femi Adeniran, Head, PR, Airtel Nigeria; Remi Abere, Project
Ambassador, Climb with Remi and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,
participant/climber; and Debo Laditan, participant/climber; at Climb
with Remi press conference in partnership with Airtel Nigeria, on November 7, 2015 in Lagos

In its continued efforts at providing succour and relief to internally displaced
people across the country, leading telecoms services provider, Airtel Nigeria,
has announced the sponsorship of an initiative tagged ‘Climb with Remi,’ aimed
at raising funds to care for internally displaced people (IDP) in Nigeria.

Under the
programme,
a group of six passionate Nigerian women have
decided to climb the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, as part of activities
to attract global attention and raise funds in support of government’s efforts at
improving the living conditions of displaced women and children in IDP camps
across Nigeria.


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Backed by Airtel Nigeria, the project is championed by Mrs.
Remi Abere, the oldest Nigerian woman to reach the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. She
is joined by other women including the wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Funsho
Amosu; former member, Federal House of representatives, Hon. Abike
Dabiri-Erewa; Mrs. Joke Olanipekun; Mrs. Uzo Nwani and Mrs. Debo Laditan.  
Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, noted that the telco
remains committed towards bringing relief and giving hope to internally
displaced persons across the country.
L- R: Femi Adeniran, Head, PR, Airtel Nigeria, Remi Abere, Project
Ambassador, Climb with Remi and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,
participant/climber; at the press conference of Climb with Remi,
sponsored by Airtel Nigeria on November 7, 2015 in Lagos.
“Through the ‘Climb with Remi’ intervention, Airtel Nigeria
has joined these committed, compassionate and selfless women and mothers on the
need to sensitise more Nigerians to give and extend love to underprivileged people
including women and children who are victims of unfortunate social menace in
our society.
“By defying height and other unfavourable conditions known
with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, these women have shown that as individuals or
collective groups we can overcome challenges when we unite,” Mr. Ogunsanya
said.
At the press launch of the ‘Climb with Remi’ initiative held
at GRA, Ikeja, Mrs. Abere, explained that the group is committed to rehabilitating
and reintegrating internally displaced women and children back into the
society.
She said, “The decision to climb this mountain is a symbolic
gesture on our part to demonstrate our eagerness to attempt to identify with
the struggle of these women and children – of their need to ‘climb’ out of
despair into hope – to take a stand of solidarity with every step we take
towards the peak of this mountain, as a reminder to our family, friends, and
fellow Nigerians that whatever hardship they perceive we may experience on the
mountain can never compare to the constant emotional and physical struggle that
these displaced women and children go through just to eke a living.”
She
added that the distribution of procured supplies will be carried out in a
responsible and transparent manner; supervised by credible international and
local relief organizations.
Joke
Olanipekun, volunteer/climer, Climb with Remi; Femi Adeniran, Head, PR,
Airtel Nigeria; Abike Dabiri-Erewa, volunteer/ climber, Climb with Remi
and Remi Abere, Project Ambassador, Climb with Remi at the press
conference of Climb with Remi on November 7, 2015.

Prior
to this, Airtel Nigeria has been extending succor to displaced people through
donation of items to various IDP camps in Nigeria.
According to the 2014 report by Internally Displaced
Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), it is
estimated that there are 3.3 million persons displaced by conflict in Nigeria –
the highest number in Africa. In addition to this figure, the number of births
recorded at these IDP camps is expected to reach 60, 000 by the end of 2015.
Through concerted efforts of individuals, corporate
organisations and governments, the group hope to alleviate the plight of IDPs in
Nigeria
.