Iheanyi Alozie
19 August 2008
Lagos — MacArthur Foundation, a US-based humanitarian outfit, has committed a whopping sum of $68 million in grants for various individual and national developmental projects within 17 years of its operation in Nigeria.
This was in partnership with government agencies, individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in a collective effort towards ensuring the growth and development of the country.
This was disclosed by the Foundation's President, Dr. Jonathan Fanton, in a message delivered at this year's Annual Grantees' Network Meeting held recently at the Action Health Incorporated, Lagos.
Fanton, who was represented by Ms. Elizabeth Ramborger, said the grants were made in three main areas of human needs, including strengthening Nigerian Universities, improving sexual and reproductive health of women and adolescents, as well as advancing human rights and the rule of law.
According to Fanton, $32 million was expended on the propagation of population and sexual/reproductive health of women and adolescents through various government agencies and non-governmental organisations, $22 million on education development, while the rest was committed on human rights obligations and rule of law.
In an address at the event, Lagos State Health Commissioner, Dr. Jide Idris commended MacArthur Foundation for its numerous projects and contributions to the development of Nigeria and Lagos State in particular.
He said the theme of the Grantees' network meeting: 'Collaboration for Promoting Reproductive Health in Nigeria', was apt, at a time when reports stated that about 52,900 women in Nigeria die annually from pregnancy related complications out of the global total of maternal deaths of 529,000, with maternal mortality ratio of 1:13 or 650 per 100,000 live births when compared to 1:2,500 in developed countries.
He noted that with about 18 million people within its land mass, the Lagos State Government was under immense pressure to provide for all, stressing that tackling the issue of reproductive health in Nigeria and indeed Lagos State, calls for purposeful collaboration among stakeholders.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the occasion, the Executive Director of the Foundation's regional office in Abuja, Dr. Kole Shettima noted that its grants encompass a more comprehensive approach, which reflects the belief that women's well-being is central to effective population policy that guarantees individual freedom to determine and plan the size of their families.
He observed that with information in hand and access to adequate health care, and women being treated as equal partners with men in making sexual and reproductive decisions, people will make wise choices.
Areas of the Foundation's focus include improving ICT, library support, scientific research and infrastructural development. Others are staff/faculty development, encouraging collaborations with other universities and private sector, strengthening strategic planning and building fundraising capacity.
Some of the benefiting universities are University of Ibadan (UI), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Abubakar Balewa University (ABU) and University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), among other institutions of higher learning across the country.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
