As Jose Foundation, an international non-governmental organisation, with bias for Africa and the less privilege, marks its ten years of existence, it has lined up a couple of activities to commemorate the mile stone.
A statement made available to the press by the President of the foundation, Prince Martins Abhulimhen revealed that the foundation has concluded plans to make its own contribution in youth development felt through sports as well as to appreciate the efforts being made by President Goodluck Jonathan in the area of maintaining peace in the country.
According to Abhulimhen, in this regard, a collaboration meeting was held with representatives from Universita La Sapienza, Rome, Mr. Stefano Catteddu and Mr. Ian Smith “at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London on the 14th December 2013 to celebrate our 10th year anniversary”.
The essence of the meeting, he stated, was sequel to the decision of the university to bestow an honourary doctorate degree in Political Science on President Jonathan and his wife, as well as sponsor talented Nigerian kids between 5-16 years from all the states of the country in football development.
Abhulimhen added that “our foundation is working with the university and the football academy in Rome, as Jose Foundation is dedicated to ensure that talented kids get the needed sponsorship and exposure they need through this collaboration”.
“Mr. Stefano Catteddu who is also representing the Football academy in Rome will be in Nigeria Janurary 2014. Our president love sports and you can see how many laurels the country has won and many more still in view”. He advised that parents can register their kids online on the foundation’s website.www.josefoundation.org or email president@josefoundation.org.
It would be recalled that in 2003, the foundation activated its health programme with a donation to the Social Welfare department and some patients of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH). The donation was handed over to the then Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Femi Olugbile (now the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health). This is was amongst other donations made by the foundation to the needy.
Making the donation, on a visit to the premises of the hospital, President of Jose Foundation, Prince Martins Abhulimhen, noted that his foundation has been identifying areas in the society where it can positively affect the lives of the people.
Abhulimhen who was accompanied on the visit by Vice President of the Foundation, Mr. Edmund Otudeko, expressed his foundation’s readiness to further aid the hospital in areas of needs.
Olugbile had stated that “Government has always been interested in Public-Private partnership, because government recognises that it cannot do it alone, so we have always welcome partnership as they come in different ways to provide services or to supplement the facilities”.
With the mission statement: “Building Bridges to Eradicate Poverty and Improve Life”, Jose Foundation, according to the initiators, was established to assist governments and charitable organisations in their effort at helping the impoverished peoples of the world.
The organisation seeks to use its vast resources and connections as well as such funds and contributions it receives from world bodies as government institutions, aid donors and philanthropists to help develop communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean Island.