User talk:Taofiqademola/sandbox

Taofiqademola (talk) 10:01, 1 April 2015 (UTC)Welfarewatch International (WI)

Established 2003, WI is non-governmental organisation that promotes social welfare of humankind through youth empowerment activities, gender equality promotion, social justice advocacy and community development programmes. WI engages itself in services that mostly support and promote the social well-being of the poor and marginalised people in Nigeria and beyond. The principal focus of the organisation is social capital formation and community organising through capacity building for local-self management and community development schemes. In its effort to make the world a better place WI saddles itself with following responsibility:

1-	Public education, enlightenment and awareness on topical issues that are inimical to human welfare through printed and electronic media, debates, quiz competitions, dramas, brainstorming events, public lectures, community service awards, summit and conference events among others. 2-	Training programmes for the marginalised people, stake holders and policymakers on important social issues that WI works to improve. 3-	Conduct issues based advocacy through protests, vigils, lobbies, rallies, letters, petitions and others with the sole aim of influencing social attitudes and governmental policies on certain social issues. 4-	Research and conduct case studies to identify impacts of social policy on the people. 5-	Support the disadvantaged, less privileged and people negatively affected by socio-economic policies and public service programmes. 6-	Coalition building and networking with other non-governmental organisations and civil society groups that share common-goals with it.

WI Vision and Mission

Vision: To promote globally social welfare of humankind Mission: Through social capital formation, community organising, grassroots mobilization, community assets development and management, WI is poised to promote globally, social welfare of humankind.

WI Aims and Objectives

Among other things WI set out: 1-	 To promote consistently, social well-being of humankind all over the world. 2-	To support the global efforts aimed at finding lasting solution to the incidence of climate change impacts, unemployment, hunger, poverty, diseases, maternal and child mortality, crimes and other social problems. 3-	To conduct public enlightenment programmes and organse people at the grassroots with the sole aim of helping them improve their living standard through self-help community assets development practices. 4-	To promote healthy society through public education on health issues such as reproductive health and rights, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and other preventable diseases. 5-	To conduct research and disseminate beneficial information, ideas, solutions, lessons learned and global practices on social needs of women, rural people, the poor in general and other disadvantaged groups of people in the society by giving adequate publicity to research findings and solutions to human problems in its publications and training programmes. 6-	To improve, through community organising and self-management training, provision of extension services to farmers and support women enterprise development, the living conditions of the rural dwellers. 7-	Through healthy and result-oriented networking, convening of conferences, consultative meetings, seminars and rallies among to reach-out to groups, institutions, opinion setters, decision and policymakers in Nigeria and beyond with a view to establishing useful social links in the effort to make the world a better place. 8-	To publish life coping materials, job (skills) readiness handbooks and community development manuals, with the fundamental objective of building the capacity of children, youths, women and men within its areas of influence on how to handle effectively life challenges, situations, uncertainties and difficulties.

WI Major Thematic Focus

Poverty reduction and alleviation Human rights advocacy Good governance campaign Gender-rights and women welfare promotion Reproductive health and HIV/.AIDS prevention Drug demand-reduction and crime control Environmental protection

WI Core Programmes

In its self-imposed responsibility to promote the social welfare of humankind in Nigeria and beyond, WI is actively involved in the following poverty alleviation, equality and social justice promotion, community development schemes and environmental protection activities that include: -	Promotion of child and maternal health, conduct of anti-malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB and other health problems campaigns as well as provision of potable water and proper solid waste disposal services to check health hazards caused by these diseases and environmental pollutants. -	Conduct programmes that help in reducing level in Nigeria such as empowerment programmes, vocational training, job search-support services for job seekers, enterprise/business development seminars, entrepreneurial skills acquisition training, technology transfer to the poor and other skills acquisition schemes for youth, women, girls, unemployed, persons living with disability and other under privileged groups in WI area of influence. -	Give support to the agricultural communities to create job opportunities, increase food production and security among the poor by giving them farm inputs and appropriate extension/outreach support services. -	Organise public enlightenment, information sharing and awareness campaigns on the plight of the poor, the less privileged and socially oppressed through public education, advocacy, brainstorming sessions, debates, quiz competitions, youth parliament and town meetings among other activities as well as lobby all levels of governance for pro-poor socio-economic policies and programmes. -	Micro credit services for smallholder farmers, rural women in agricultural value-chain enterprises, petty traders, small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Summary of WI Programmes and Activities

Youth empowerment Gender equality education Poverty reduction through job readiness skills acquisition and enterprise development and entrepreneurial skills training Business financial support through micro-credit schemes Water and sanitation campaigns Community health promotion among disadvantaged communities Community leadership development among others

Target Groups and Beneficiaries''' ''' Youth, girls, women and disadvantaged segments of the society Community groups Political gladiators Social opinion leaders (religious and members of civil society groups) Organised private sector Voluntary organisations Government officials and other stakeholders

WI Management Structure

The day to day activities of WI is ran and managed by a management team comprising the Director of Project, Senior Programmes Officers, Programmes Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Account Officer and Clerks, Secretary/Receptionist, Office Assistants and Drivers. In the same manner, activities and cause of the management team are charted and guided by a Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee that consist of eminent personalities fromn different sectors of Nigeria’s socio-economic life.

Contact Information''' ''' All correspondence should be directed to: The Adninistrative Secretary Welfarewatch International (WI), Nigeria 2, Oloruntosin Street, Behind Wema Bank Plc Sango-Ota P.O.Box 547 Ota Ogun State E-mail: winigeria@gmail.com Tel: 234-8033541121

Taofiqademola (talk) 10:06, 1 April 2015 (UTC)== Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Ado-Odo/Ota Division ==

Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Ado-Odo/Ota Division

NRCS, Ado-Odo/Ota Division was established in 1995 and has since then grown in leaps and bounds in term of community services, humanitarianism and disasters management activities.

Origin of the Red Cross: How it all began

In 1859 Henry Dunant, A Swiss businessman travelled to Italy on a business trip but on getting there he was a witness the grim aftermath of the atrocious battle of Solferino on his return to Geneva he wrote an account of what he saw during the French, Italy and Austrian war in memoir he titled, A Memory of Solferino, Dunant in the document put forward two proposals aimed at improving assistance for war victims:

•	To set up in peacetime, in every country, groups of volunteers that can take care of casualties in wartime •	To get countries to agree to the notion of protecting aid workers and the wounded on the battlefield

The first proposal led to the establishment of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and today there are over 185 National Red Cross Societies recognised by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. On the other hand, the second proposal set the stage for the drafting of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 acceptable to all States. The desire legal protection emblem that will confer on army medical services, volunteer aid workers and victims of armed conflict was one of the main objectives of the five-member committee that met on 17 February, 1863 to study Dunant’s proposal that led to the adoption of a single and distinctive sign as Red Cross and Crescent emblem. Something that is simple, identifiable from a distance, known to everyone and identical for friend and foe alike. That five-member committee later became the International Committee of the Red Cross and Crescent (ICRC).

The Red Cross Emblems Issues

In August, 1864, a red cross on a white background, the colours of the Swiss flag in reverse that is now the emblem of Red Cross was adopted at a diplomatic conference that met in Geneva. During the 1876-1878 war between Russia and Turkey however, the emblem became a contentious issue when the Ottoman Empire declared that it would use a red crescent instead of a red cross as its emblem, although it agreed to respect the red cross used by the other side. Persia also opted for a different sign: the red lion and sun. Both emblems were recognized by a diplomatic conference held in 1929. In 1980, the Islamic Republic of Iran decided to use the red crescent instead of the red lion and sun. Under international law, the red cross and red crescent emblems are entitled to full respect. They are however, sometimes perceived as having cultural, religious or political connotations thus jeopardising the protection they confer on victims of armed conflicts, armed forces medical services and humanitarian personnel. Until recently, National Societies that did not wish to use either the red cross or the red crescent could not be recognized as full members of the Movement. This made it impossible for the Movement to achieve universality- one of its fundamental principles-and raised the likelihood of proliferation of different emblems.

The contentious issues of Red Cross were resolved when an idea of introducing an emblem that would be accepted by all National Societies and States was put forward. In December, 2005, the idea which was strongly supported by the Movement became a reality when a diplomatic conference recognized the red crystal as distinctive emblem of Red Cross alongside the red cross and red crescent.  The Nigerian Red Cross Society

Red Cross activities began in 1917 in Nigeria when an Adamu Orisha event was organised in Lagos to raise funds for the Red Cross humanitarian cause of providing relief for returning soldiers of World War 1 and later in 1951, the Nigerian Branch of the British Red Cross was formally launched in Lagos by the Governor General. An era of rapid expansion of the society across Nigerian nation followed.

In August, 1960 the two legislative houses in Nigeria passed the Nigerian Red Cross Act and the General Conventions Acts translating to the formal handover by the Vice chairman of the British Red Cross Society, the Countess of Limerick, to the Prime Minister of the Federation, the Hon. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Following the official recognition in February 1961 by the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, the Nigerian Red Cross Society became an independent National Society. In September, 1961, Nigeria was recognised as the 86th member nation of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Committee in Prague. The same year, the Nigerian Red Cross Society shot into international limelight of Red Cross management, when it was elected to serve on the league of Executive of the International Federation.

The Nigerian Red Cross society was again honoured in 1977 when the late Hon. Justice J. A. Adefarasin its National President was elected to a four year-term as the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

With its 500,000 plus volunteers in the 36 states branches and the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) provides a veritable platform for emergencies in Nigeria.  Source of NRCS mandate:

- The Movement Statutes - Main Movement Resolutions - RCRC Statutes and Byelaws - Geneva Conventions and - Nigerian Red Cross Act 1960. Its driving principles are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.  NRCS Management Profile Structurally, the NRCS has two arms, the Governance and the Management. The governance formulates policies and the management implements policies so formulated and sees to the day-today running of the society. While the National President heads the Governance, the Secretary General, who is the Chief Executive Officer, is at the apex of the management. Furthermore, the National Society has its Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, 37 States’ Branches and Divisions in Local Government Areas.

The strength of NRCS lies in its geographical spread and professionalism in the area of first aid training, emergency preparedness and response and disaster risk reduction. With over 350,000 well-trained volunteers in all the 36 states branches and the Federal Capital Territory.  NRCS Service Platforms

In its effort to provide support for victims of disasters in Nigeria, NRCS renders the following services. Disaster Management- Disaster preparedness and response, Disaster Risk Reduction, (DRR) Restoring Family Link (RLF), Relief material distribution etc.

Health and Care- community based health programmes, HIV/AIDS, health education on public health and emergencies, community based first aid, prison sanitation, motherless and abandoned babies homes, blood donor recruitment services, Water and Sanitation (WatSan), Mothers’ Club (Maternal and child health), ambulance services, etc.

Humanitarian Communciation: Dissemination of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principles, emblems. Youth Development- youth development, volunteers management, staff capacity building.  First Aid Activities and Courses Offered by NRCS •	Basic Life Support (BLS) •	Standard Competence Based First Aid •	First Aid at Work Course •	First Aid Bags/Kits •	Manual Handing Course •	Community Based First Aid Course •	First Aid Trainers Course — Preceding unsigned comment added by Taofiqademola (talk • contribs) 09:45, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

Welfarewatch International (WI)
Welfarewatch International (WI)

Established 2003, WI is non-governmental organisation that promotes social welfare of humankind through youth empowerment activities, gender equality promotion, social justice advocacy and community development programmes. WI engages itself in services that mostly support and promote the social well-being of the poor and marginalised people in Nigeria and beyond. The principal focus of the organisation is social capital formation and community organising through capacity building for local-self management and community development schemes. In its effort to make the world a better place WI saddles itself with following responsibility:

1- Public education, enlightenment and awareness on topical issues that are inimical to human welfare through printed and electronic media, debates, quiz competitions, dramas, brainstorming events, public lectures, community service awards, summit and conference events among others. 2- Training programmes for the marginalised people, stake holders and policymakers on important social issues that WI works to improve. 3- Conduct issues based advocacy through protests, vigils, lobbies, rallies, letters, petitions and others with the sole aim of influencing social attitudes and governmental policies on certain social issues. 4- Research and conduct case studies to identify impacts of social policy on the people. 5- Support the disadvantaged, less privileged and people negatively affected by socio-economic policies and public service programmes. 6- Coalition building and networking with other non-governmental organisations and civil society groups that share common-goals with it.

WI Vision and Mission

Vision: To promote globally social welfare of humankind Mission: Through social capital formation, community organising, grassroots mobilization, community assets development and management, WI is poised to promote globally, social welfare of humankind.

WI Aims and Objectives

Among other things WI set out: 1- To promote consistently, social well-being of humankind all over the world. 2- To support the global efforts aimed at finding lasting solution to the incidence of climate change impacts, unemployment, hunger, poverty, diseases, maternal and child mortality, crimes and other social problems. 3- To conduct public enlightenment programmes and organse people at the grassroots with the sole aim of helping them improve their living standard through self-help community assets development practices. 4- To promote healthy society through public education on health issues such as reproductive health and rights, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and other preventable diseases. 5- To conduct research and disseminate beneficial information, ideas, solutions, lessons learned and global practices on social needs of women, rural people, the poor in general and other disadvantaged groups of people in the society by giving adequate publicity to research findings and solutions to human problems in its publications and training programmes. 6- To improve, through community organising and self-management training, provision of extension services to farmers and support women enterprise development, the living conditions of the rural dwellers. 7- Through healthy and result-oriented networking, convening of conferences, consultative meetings, seminars and rallies among to reach-out to groups, institutions, opinion setters, decision and policymakers in Nigeria and beyond with a view to establishing useful social links in the effort to make the world a better place. 8- To publish life coping materials, job (skills) readiness handbooks and community development manuals, with the fundamental objective of building the capacity of children, youths, women and men within its areas of influence on how to handle effectively life challenges, situations, uncertainties and difficulties.

WI Major Thematic Focus

Poverty reduction and alleviation Human rights advocacy Good governance campaign Gender-rights and women welfare promotion Reproductive health and HIV/.AIDS prevention Drug demand-reduction and crime control Environmental protection  WI Core Programmes

In its self-imposed responsibility to promote the social welfare of humankind in Nigeria and beyond, WI is actively involved in the following poverty alleviation, equality and social justice promotion, community development schemes and environmental protection activities that include: - Promotion of child and maternal health, conduct of anti-malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB and other health problems campaigns as well as provision of potable water and proper solid waste disposal services to check health hazards caused by these diseases and environmental pollutants. - Conduct programmes that help in reducing level in Nigeria such as empowerment programmes, vocational training, job search-support services for job seekers, enterprise/business development seminars, entrepreneurial skills acquisition training, technology transfer to the poor and other skills acquisition schemes for youth, women, girls, unemployed, persons living with disability and other under privileged groups in WI area of influence. - Give support to the agricultural communities to create job opportunities, increase food production and security among the poor by giving them farm inputs and appropriate extension/outreach support services. - Organise public enlightenment, information sharing and awareness campaigns on the plight of the poor, the less privileged and socially oppressed through public education, advocacy, brainstorming sessions, debates, quiz competitions, youth parliament and town meetings among other activities as well as lobby all levels of governance for pro-poor socio-economic policies and programmes. - Micro credit services for smallholder farmers, rural women in agricultural value-chain enterprises, petty traders, small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Summary of WI Programmes and Activities

Youth empowerment Gender equality education Poverty reduction through job readiness skills acquisition and enterprise development and entrepreneurial skills training Business financial support through micro-credit schemes Water and sanitation campaigns Community health promotion among disadvantaged communities Community leadership development among others

Target Groups and Beneficiaries Youth, girls, women and disadvantaged segments of the society Community groups Political gladiators Social opinion leaders (religious and members of civil society groups) Organised private sector Voluntary organisations Government officials and other stakeholders

WI Management Structure

The day to day activities of WI is ran and managed by a management team comprising the Director of Project, Senior Programmes Officers, Programmes Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Account Officer and Clerks, Secretary/Receptionist, Office Assistants and Drivers. In the same manner, activities and cause of the management team are charted and guided by a Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee that consist of eminent personalities fromn different sectors of Nigeria’s socio-economic life.

Contact Information All correspondence should be directed to: The Adninistrative Secretary Welfarewatch International (WI), Nigeria 2, Oloruntosin Street, Behind Wema Bank Plc Sango-Ota P.O.Box 547 Ota Ogun State E-mail: winigeria@gmail.com Tel: 234-8033541121 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Taofiqademola (talk • contribs) 09:48, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

Ifo Division of Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Ogun State, NigeriaTaofiqademola (talk) 10:16, 1 April 2015 (UTC)
Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Ifo Division, Ogun State

Established in 2004, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Ifo Division, Ogun State is a detachment of Nigerian Red Cross Society and as with every other Red Cross Society world over is guided by the seven (7) Vienna Proclamation Principles; Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.

Under the energetic and result-oriented leadership of Instructor. Hannah Omoloyin Taiwo, the Division’s Chairperson and its proactive executive members, NRCS Ifo Division is well focused to deliver on its mandates as the local government level administrative segment of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRSC). From all parameters, Ifo Local Government Division of NRCS is poised towards the hallmark of NRCS humanitarian services.

Apart from being active in the convectional activities of NRCS and that of International Red Cross and Crescent Society such as community disaster management, humanitarianism, conflict resolution and management as well as First Aid and leadership training programmes, Ifo Division through innovation and resourcefulness of its executive and members is at the forefront of promoting the ideals of Red Cross Society. As part of activities to deliver on its mandates as a Division of NRCS, the Division saddles itself with the responsibilities of empowering the society with disaster prevention and management skills, safety awareness campaigns and community development activities.

Though, fettered by weak financial resources, Ifo Division of NRCS gives succor to the needy and disaster victims based on its financial capability and as well partner other social welfare promoting organisations to ameliorate the sufferings and burdens of the less privileged and disadvantaged people in the society.

Towards realising its strategic objective of rendering humanitarian services to the people of Ifo Local Government Area, the Division regularly conducts human development training for its members and general public on issues bordering on leadership skills, first aid and disaster management, conflict prevention and resolution. 1965 Vienna Proclamation: The Guiding Framework of NRCS Ifo Division Activities

In its jealously guided effort to provide humanitarian services in Ifo and beyond, the Division holds tenaciously to the humanitarian framework of Red Cross and conducts its operations guided by the seven principles of Vienna Proclamation as follow:

-	All NRCS Ifo Division activities are conducted in accordance with the spirit of preventing and alleviating human suffering throughout Ifo Local Government Area, respect for human being and promotion of mutual understanding, friendship, cooperative and lasting peace among the people (Humanity). -	The Division provides support to people solely according to their felt-needs regardless of nationality, race, religion or political opinions as well gives priority to the most distressed urgent cases. In other words, Ifo Division like every other Division of NRCS stands above partiality but emphasises equality as a symbol of humanity (Impartiality). -	Everyone enjoy the total trust and services of Red Cross no matter what their background. That is to say the society refrains from taking sides in any community conflict or hostility, may it be political, racial, religious or ideological dispute (Neutrality). -	Like the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies and its State Branch, Ifo Local Government Division of NRCS is independent of governmental control and influences but serve as an auxiliary of the government at all levels in the humanitarian service as well as subjected to the law of the country. At all times, NRCS Ifo Division maintains its autonomy so as to render an unfettered services to the community (Independence). -	NRCS Ifo Division offers voluntary help to people of Ifo Local Government Area whenever there is need for such without desire for any gain or rewards (Voluntary Service) -	Unity bonds and glues Ifo Division of NRCS as there can only be one Red Cross and Crescent Society in the world, any country, state or local government area. Ifo Division is open to all and works throughout the local government united (Unity). -	As stated in International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement statute, all societies are equal as well as share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other worldwide, Ifo Division is equally positioned (Universality).

About Red Cross Society

It all started June 24, 1859 in Solferino, north of Italy during the atrocious war between French and Italian troops against the occupation of Austrian military. At the cease of firepower, more than 40,000 fighters on both sides were wounded and several of others were killed within a few hours of the feud. Medical services of the feuding sides were overwhelmed, the wounded were abandoned and groaning in pains. Appalled with the sight of suffering, a young and energetic Swiss businessman Henry Dunant swung into action to assist the injured and the suffering soldiers regardless of nationality, race or religion. He appealed to the locals to join him in providing first aid to the wounded armies.

On his return to Switzerland, still basting in the euphoria of the humanitarian outing experience in Solferino, Henry Dunant wrote a piece on the tragedy he witnessed titled: A Memory of Soliferino and in the book he discussed the idea of setting up a platform of action when he said; Would it not be possible in time of peace and quiet to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in war time? The issue raised in Dunant’s book resulted to what today is known as Red Cross and Crescent Societies worldwide.

On February 17, 1963, Henry Dunant convened a meeting and met with four prominent Geneva citizens to establish the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded which later metamorphosed to International Committee of the Red Cross and Crescent.

In furtherance of the that strategic effort towards establishing a formidable and veritable humanitarian organisation that will provide relief in the times of conflicts and disaster, the Red Cross with a white background was adopted as the distinctive emblem of the society at an international conference in 1863 attended by 16 States. Many events that followed laid the firm foundations and principles that had sustained the work of Red Cross all over the world as well as the formation of many national societies of Red Cross. From that Solferino incidence, the Red Cross progressively extended its humanitarian role from victims of armed conflicts to victims of natural and technological disasters.

In 1919, following World War I, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRCS) was set up among other things to provide support for the humanitarian activities carried out by its National Societies members to the victims of conflicts and disasters, the less privileged, the disadvantaged and the vulnerable groups. The IFRCS is statutorily responsible for coordinating international relief operations in any situation of disaster, to promote and encourage development aid as well as endaevour to prevent and alleviate human suffering around the world.

Presently, there are 170 plus recognised National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with over 500million members making it the largest humanitarian movement in the world. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Federations are independent bodies. Each has its own individual status and exercises no authority whatsoever over others. The three components of the Movement mentioned above alongside representatives of the States that are party to the Geneva Convections constitute the Movement’s highest deliberative assembly that meet every four years at an international Conference to essentially consider general humanitarian problems, adopt resolutions and assign mandates. Today, for its commendable humanitarian services worldwide, Red Cross and Crescent Movement enjoys observatory status at the United Nations proceedings.

How it all Began in Nigeria

NRCS began as a branch of British Red Cross in 1917 when an Adamu Orisha (Eyo Festival) event was staged in Lagos to raise funds for the Red Cross and in April, 1951, the Headquarters of the Nigerian Branch of the British Red Cross Society was opened in Lagos by the Governor General and this subsequently led to a period of rapid expansion of the society throughout the country.

August, 1960, the two legislative houses in Nigeria passed the Nigerian Red Cross Society Act as well as the Geneva Conventions Act leading to the formal handover of the society to the Prime Minister of the Federation, the Hon. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa by Countless Limerick, the Vice Chairman of the British Red Cross Society hence the Nigerian Red Cross and Red Crescent Society became an independent National Society in February 1961.

In September 1961, Nigerian Red Cross Society became 88th member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement following the official recognition by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Crescent thus formalize its official admission into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. At this time also, Nigerian Red Cross Society through a representative was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the International Federation. Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) shot into global limelight in 1977 when Its National President, late Hon. Justice J.A. Adefarasi was elected for a four year term as the President of the international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Since established, NRCS has played pivotal roles in the development of Nigeria as a nation. The society has always provided paramedical services during disaster or in prevention of it. For instance, during the awful period of the Nigerian Civil War of the early 1960s and the events that trailed it, NRCS assisted by IFRCS and other international partners played a major role on both sides of the (war) divide in terms of providing support for victims of the conflict.

However the massive disaster relief operations during the Biafran war constituted the most significant challenge to the Red Cross and Crescent Movement since World War II. But the NRCS has not only been a beneficiary of international solidarity, it has also shown compassion for victims of the in other scenes of conflict particularly on the African continent. Over the years, in various occasions of natural disasters in Nigeria (floods and epidemics) the Nigerian Red Cross Society has been an important factor in the provision of relief assistance to the affected populations. Also, in the immediate past and recently, NRCS has provided malaria aid and expertise to the victims of Liberian and Rwandan conflicts.

As of today NRCS has branches in all 36 states of the Nigerian Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja enabling it to have easy access to the vulnerable groups in Nigeria it wishes to assist.

Though, NRCS is independent of all forms of governmental influences according to international conventions, it however acts as an auxiliary of public authorities when it comes to the provision of first aid, disaster management and humanitarian matters. NRCS is an independent humanitarian, relief and development organization whose mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering guided in its work by the seven fundamental principles of the movement.

NRCS provides accident and emergency services, embarks on roll back malaria project and blood donation bank drive among others.

The Red Cross and Crescent Emblems

The Red Cross and Red Crescent on a white background is the recognised emblem of Red Cross and Crescent Movement by international law. They can be used to protect medical personnel, building and equipment in time of armed conflict. It is equally used to identify International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Crescent (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The emblem does not have religious, cultural or political connotations but Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) uniformly use Red Cross with white background to identify its national society.

Activities of NRCS Ifo Division

NRCS Ifo Division like every other division in Nigeria and abroad renders many services in its effort to support victims and vulnerable groups in the society among are:

-	Information Dissemination and Public Enlightenment: One of the cardinal activities of Ifo, Division of the NRCS is to domesticate, amplify and increase awareness as well as promote the knowledge of fundamental principles of Red Cross and Crescent Movement and the basic rules of International Humanitarian Law hence NRCS Ifo Division regularly gather and organise community-welfare promoting information then disseminate them through platform such as rallies, seminar training, town hall meetings, conferences, school visits, liaisons with governmental personnel and policymakers among other in effort to reach its target audience such as Red Cross volunteers, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, parents, teachers, media, the military, the police and generality of the people. -	Recruiting and training of new members: NRCS relies heavily on its volunteers for its humanitarian services and one important activity of NRCS Ifo Division is the recruitment of new members and training them in various fields of NRCS operations such as first aid, disaster relief and home nursing. -	Disaster Preparedness and Response: Through its national body, Ifo Division of NRCS provides early warning of impending disaster while its networks of volunteers (who are trained in many areas of disaster relief) as well as medical and paramedical personnel has the capacity to respond in a timely and appropriate manner to the needs of disaster victims. -	Family Tracing: Closely working with NRCS and the ICRC (International Committee of Red Cross) Central Tracking Agency, Ifo Division can also provide tracking services to families separated by conflict through tracing of missing persons, exchange of Red Cross family messages and family reunions. -	Community Servicing: NRCS Ifo Division and every other division runs a spectrum of services for vulnerable groups and communities within its jurisdiction most especially in the field of public health that include but not limited to the following:

- Health Education (This is community awareness and education for the  prevention of epidemics) - HIV/AIDS/Drug Abuse Prevention - Blood Donor Recruitment - Primary Care Health Services - First Aid Training - Vaccination Programmes (In close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and others, the NRCS Ifo Division participate in community immunization and vaccination sessions) - Environmental Protection Activities (clean environment campaign events such as drilling of boreholes, construction of latrines, drainage cleaning, proper refuse and sewage disposal promotion) - Motherless and Abandoned Babies Home, among others  How You Can Support the Services of NRCS Ifo Division

Millions of people all over the world, in line with fundamental principles of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement put their voluntary services at the disposal of distressed beings without discrimination. In view of this, every member of human society can make his/her contribution to the ideals of the Red Cross and Crescent Movement of protecting and preserving human dignity in all situations. Categorically, the following are some of the things you can do to support NRCS Ifo Division in its humanitarian and community development activities: -	Become a volunteer and get trained: This prepares you to assist the Division in the areas such as first aid, home nursing, disaster relief, ambulance services, conflicts prevention and resolution among others are pivotal to the NRCS Ifo Division activities. -	Render your professional services: As doctor, nurse and other relevant medical personnel you can support NRCS Ifo Division by providing your voluntary services in areas such as public health education programmes, vaccination campaigns or ambulance services. -	Volunteer when a disaster affects your community: You can assist your local Red Cross Society in its effort to help victims by providing relief items or helping with transportation. -	Support NRCS in your community: At all levels of human interactions (homes, offices, churches, mosques, associations and communities) you can be of help to Ifo Division of NRCS and you are always welcome to contribute your quota to the Red Cross programmes in your community. Your inputs will be beneficial to the vulnerable groups in the community without discrimination. -	Support NRCS motherless and abandoned babies homes: Across Nigeria, NRCS runs many homes for orphans, motherless and abandoned babies, these homes are regularly in need of support to provide for these vulnerable children and helpless members of our society. -	Donate to the organization: To run NRCS Ifo Division efficiently requires adequate funding and the Division realize on charities, public spirited individuals’ gift and corporate organisations. Therefore, you can equally help Ifo Division of NRCS by publicising the activities of Red Cross or organise fundraising events for the Division in your office, church, mosque, associational meetings and the entire community. Every kobo received counts with NRCS across Nigeria.

How to Become a Member of NRCS Ifo Division Membership of Ifo Division of NRCS is open all persons of goodwill irrespective of race, place of origin, political opinion, creed or gender (sex). The Division therefore offers the following categories of membership to the public spirited individuals who want to become a member of Red Cross in Ifo Division and beyond:

-	Life Associate Membership: This is for persons who have pledged some amount of money to the society. -	Associate membership: This is available for members who have paid their annual subscription. -	Active Qualified Membership: This is meant for members who are set-up in groups or in the strength of a detachment to carry out voluntary services. These members pay annual dues to their units. -	Youth Membership: This is open to persons who enrolled in youth links or youth detachments, such members pay an annual subscription to their units. -	Junior Membership: This membership opportunity is available to children in primary schools, each member pays a token annual due.

Through the above membership opportunities NRCS offers you the benefit of becoming part of the biggest humanitarian movement in the world with over 500 million members. Through your membership opportunities you have the honour to service humanity and to wear the Red Cross uniform and badge.

Through this membership also NRCS will provide you with specialised training in first aid, disaster relief, home nursing etc. These training will equally improve your understanding of common health issues and how they can be better managed.

Through your membership of NRCS you will contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and enduring peace among peoples.

Perhaps, the greatest benefit of becoming a Red Crosser is the free passage pledges around the world Red Cross members enjoy. All over the world, members of the Red Cross have free passage because it is known and believed that all members of Red Cross are volunteers, they are not paid any salary or remunerated for the jobs they do and they can never agitate for increase in wages nor go on strike. Everything they do is purely voluntary service.

Taofiqademola (talk) 10:16, 1 April 2015 (UTC)Why not become a volunteer today or donate towards the cause of Red Cross! Come join us, age is not a barrier, religion is not a barrier, profession is not a barrier, race or tribe is not a barrier, we are all one in the service to humanity.