By Favour Oriaku

Building a more vibrant, secure, and sustainable future is important to eHealth Africa (eHA). And a key part of that mission is engaging the next generation with real-life work experiences. Where better to do that than around their heroes—their parents? Bringing kids into the office might conjure up images of chaos: papers scattered everywhere, loud noise, and maybe even crayon drawings on the walls. But at eHA, “Bring Your Kids to Work” day has turned into a big hit that everyone looks forward to—kids, parents, and colleagues alike.

For the past two years, eHA has been hosting “Bring Your Kids to Work” days. This event gives families a chance to learn more about what we do, understand our culture, and see our mission in action. We recently held our second edition, and it was a huge success! The office was buzzing with excitement as staff members welcomed their children into the workplace, creating a unique day filled with learning, creativity, and lots of laughter.

The day was jam-packed with activities to engage and educate the children. There were career talks where professionals shared insights into different career paths, inspiring the kids to think about their futures. Health tips were provided, thanks to the eHA Clinics, where the children learned about healthy living and even received vaccinations. They had a chance to ask questions about what their parents do at work, giving them a better understanding of the “mystery” behind the job titles. A campus tour allowed the kids to explore the office space, and creative painting sessions gave them the chance to unleash their imaginations. Of course, it wouldn’t be a kids’ day without playtime—bouncing castles were set up, and they were a big hit. Throughout the day, there were plenty of snacks and a delicious lunch to keep everyone energized. Each child left with wonderful gifts to remember the day by, a little piece of the organization’s branded materials to take home.

The event was about more than just fun, though. As Mr. Adesina, our HR Manager at eHealth Africa’s Kano HQ, put it, “This event was inspired by the HR team to bring families together, seeing that the staff are usually busy with a lot of work. It was also an avenue for the kids to meet other family members of eHA and for the children to see where their parents work, what they do, and integrate family life with work. We want to make sure our staff feel a sense of belonging. After the maiden edition, staff wanted it to be an annual event, hence the second edition.” He continued, “One of the intentions of this event was to educate staff kids on healthy living and career choices. Thanks to Dr. Ben Igbinosa, our Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), and eHA Clinics, these goals were achieved. There is an improvement from last year’s edition with the inclusion of health talks and vaccinations. We have plans to accommodate hybrid and remote staff, using technology as eHA is technology-driven. I appreciate the Executive team and staff for their support to the HR team and for making their children available for the event.”

Safety was a top priority for us during the event. Regina, our Associate HR Manager at eHealth Africa’s Kano HQ, highlighted this, saying, “What stood out for me is ensuring a safe space for the kids. Though eHA is always a safe space, with children, extra attention was needed. Knowing that kids love to explore their environment, we worked to seal up all electrical points.” We wanted to create a memorable experience, so each child went home with gifts to remember the day. “As one of the best places to work, our goal is to make eHA a family-friendly organization, so the ‘Bring Your Kids to Work’ event speaks to that,” Regina added.

Linda, our Senior HR Coordinator in the Abuja office, explained that this event is part of our corporate social responsibility towards our staff. “eHA believes in the power of shared experiences and the value of family,” she said. “Bringing your kids to work is a fun activity for the children while also showing our commitment to creating and supporting an inclusive workplace for all our staff. It also helps us recognize work-life balance, which is part of our culture.” Linda praised our staff for their ability to balance work and family life, noting, “Parents, especially those who have a professional career, are doing so well. I commend eHA staff for being able to balance their work with family life.”

At eHealth Africa, we know that our employees perform at their best when they can balance their professional and personal lives. Events like “Bring Your Kids to Work” not only provide a fun day for the children but also strengthen the bond between employees and the organization. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event and many more opportunities to celebrate our staff and their families.

Favour Oriaku, is a Senior Communications Coordinator, eHealth Africa

By Musa Abdullahi Sufi

In a bold step towards empowering African youth, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, renowned educationist and philanthropist, has announced the establishment of the Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo (AAG) Fellowship.

The initiative, which will be housed under the AAG Leadership Centre, aims to mentor young people on leadership and entrepreneurship, equipping them with the skills needed to achieve self-reliance and contribute to the development of Nigeria and the African continent.

The Fellowship, according to Professor Gwarzo, is designed to build the capacity of young Africans by providing them with opportunities to learn valuable skills in entrepreneurship and leadership.

“My intention is to build the capacity of our young people across Africa,” Professor Gwarzo remarked, “so they can be trained on modern entrepreneurship and leadership skills. These young people will become agents of change, contributing to making Nigeria and Africa great

This new initiative is a testament to Professor Gwarzo’s commitment to youth development and his vision of creating a generation of leaders and innovators capable of transforming Africa’s socio-economic landscape.

By focusing on mentorship, training, and hands-on experience, the Fellowship will help young people to realize their potential as self-reliant individuals who can drive sustainable development in their communities.

Building the Next Generation of Leaders

The AAG Fellowship will offer a structured program that includes practical training on entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development. Fellows will receive guidance from local and international experts, gaining the knowledge and tools necessary to launch their own businesses, lead organizations, and influence positive social change.

For Professor Gwarzo, the future of Africa depends on the ability of young people to take ownership of their destinies through self-reliance and proactive leadership. “Africa is full of potential, and our young people are the key to unlocking that potential,” he emphasized.

This Fellowship will empower them to take on leadership roles, create innovative solutions to local challenges, and drive the continent toward a brighter future.”

Strategic Partnerships for a Broader Impact

The success of the AAG Fellowship hinges on strategic partnerships with both local and international experts and organizations. Professor Gwarzo highlighted the importance of collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure the program reaches as many young people as possible.

We intend to partner with experts and organizations from around the world who share our vision of youth empowerment. This initiative requires collective action, and by working together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of young Africans.” He said.

These partnerships will not only provide technical expertise but also create a global network of support for the fellows. Through these collaborations, the Fellowship will foster an environment where young people can engage with thought leaders, industry experts, and successful entrepreneurs, learning directly from those who have made a mark in their respective fields.

A Vision for Africa’s Future

Professor Gwarzo’s vision for the AAG Fellowship aligns with his broader mission of enhancing access to education, leadership, and entrepreneurship opportunities for African youth.

The Fellowship aims to create a ripple effect, where young people who benefit from the program will, in turn, become mentors and role models for others, fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and growth.

By investing in the next generation of leaders, the AAG Leadership Centre hopes to lay the foundation for a prosperous and self-reliant Africa.

We want our youth to be at the forefront of change, actively participating in shaping the future of Africa. This Fellowship will provide them with the tools they need to succeed and contribute to the development of their communities and beyond.” Professor Gwarzo said.

As the program launches, it stands as a beacon of hope for young Africans, offering a pathway to personal and professional growth. The AAG Fellowship not only promises to equip participants with critical skills but also aims to inspire them to take on the mantle of leadership, driving the transformation of Africa into a continent of innovation, growth, and opportunity.

Through this initiative, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo is once again demonstrating his unwavering dedication to youth empowerment and his belief in the potential of Africa’s young people to lead the continent into a brighter future.

BY
MUDASSIR ALIYU YUNUSA
mudassiray@gmail.com

The aftermath of the recent demonstration tagged ‘#EndBadGovernanceProtest’ has exposed the morality, probity and its effects on our children more especially the growing population ranging between 15 – 30 years. Innitially, the protest is believed to be organized as peaceful one and to be demonstrated in a good manner but unfortunately it was hijacked and forcefully changed to be violent in many state of the federation. The conducts exhibited by some adolescents and young generations during the protest have no doubt become threat to our future generation as it is often said children of today are the elder/leaders of tomorrow. However with the above notion, it is easily possible to have assessment of the next generation to come by looking at the present lifestyle and moral etiquettes of our adolescents and youths population displayed during the protest.

It is really a worrisome to see underage children in the society turned to be cruel, nasty, brutal and outrageous all in the name of protest which was planned to be a peaceful one. In some states of the federation So many evidences and exhibits of footage, images and still pictures have captured children and youths that wrecked havoc, vandalised shops, super markets, offices and carted away with people belongings and destroying public properties. This brings total breakdown of law and order, lost of lives, many injured as well as destruction of public goods which led to the government engagement of security operatives and in sequence imposition of 24 hours curfew in many states and cities across the country.

My point of concern is these underage children and youths that are believe to be the future generation and part of them will surely immanent as leaders of the society in the next generations to come. However, with bad inclination and behavioral pattern demonstrated by some youths and adolescent age of the population it is a threat to the peace and harmony of our society and hence if urgent and imperative actions are not taken to change the fortune of our youths, the future of our country is in jeopardy and the danger is signaling now.
The way forward to this danger is a collective responsibility of both government and the society. Government need to be alerted that the issue of economic well being of the citizens is paramount and it (Govt) need to explore and implore all possible ways in respect to this issue and provide an enabling environment for children to acquire sound education, skills and moral etiquettes right from the childhood age to enable them obtain sense of belonging, morality and integrity as backbone of building a just and prosperous nation. Government on the other hand should provide a smooth pathway for children to develop creativity, innovation and invention especially from primary school. This will surely make our youths self reliant and it will also reduce the burden of over dependence on government by people in the country.
The role of community in shaping the behavior of children and youths is highly needed particularly parents, guardians and elders in the society. These children and youths are integral part of the society and the they are living within the community and therefore it is imperative for elders and good people within the community to contribute positively toward proper upbringing of our young ones by giving them good orientation, moral discipline, virtues, meritocracy, decency, good gesture and acceptable behavoural inclination. I want call on various societal organisation like old student’s/pupil’s association, community base social groups, self-help associations, families’ associations that are given more attention to megre things especially during festive period of Sallah, Xmas, New year where we used to witness various meetings and get together where huge amount of money is spent in just food, drinks and event centres, let these meetings go beyond mere eating and drinking, we can make it an avenue for planning our lives, giving out self assistance and let it be geared toward supporting the needy among ourselves. It is obvious that all these children are members of various family and I believe the family meetings could serve as an avenue to embrace these children and youths by touching their lives positively. Those that are in bad shape could be rehabilitated to become good people in the society
Moreso, I call upon all societal base groups including social media platforms to engage themselves in this regard with the aim of changing the fortune of our youths from bad to good, worse to better and indeed worst to best citizens in the rankings. This will certainly build more confidence and patriotism in their minds which in essence provide an excellent, brilliant and exceptional future generation and within them the making of altruist leaders accountable and responsible for transforming our dear country into prosperity, admirable and developed nation.
Caution: in present time, if government and the society fails to do the needful on youths and children our future generations/leaders will be in a great jeopardy