On Wednesday, 18th December 2024, a stampede incident took place at The Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan Nigeria. The venue of the family event organised by Wings Foundation and Media partners Agidigbo FM headed by Queen Naomi Silekuola Ogunwusi witnessed a ghastly stampede where several minors have been reported dead at the family event.
Olori Naomi and seven other people allegedly arrested over Ibadan stampede as Nigeria Police Force confirms 35 minors dead. It has been reported that the case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, lyaganku with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge leading the investigations.
Olori Naomi Silekunola, born on October 12, 1993, is a Nigerian religious leader and best known as the former wife of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.
In October 2018, at the age of 25, Naomi married the Ooni of Ife in a traditional ceremony held in Akure. The couple welcomed their son, Prince, on November 18, 2020. However, in December 2021, Naomi announced their separation via social media, stating that she would no longer be referred to as the Queen of Ile-Ife.
Despite the separation, Naomi has remained active in her faith role and public engagements and retains her title Queen.
Naomi maintains a presence on social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook where she shared the details of the family event to mark the festive season.
The tragedy blighted the charitable cause of the NGO. It highlights the cruel world the Children of the Poor live in. This tragedy highlights the challenges faced by children living in poverty in countries like Nigeria with lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic needs. Poverty can significantly impact their physical, emotional, and social development.
Looking for fun and something to brighten their horizons at a festive time reflects on the struggles and resilience of poor families, especially mothers who strive to protect and nurture their children despite harsh circumstances only to meet their fate.
Across the world, millions of children live in poverty, facing risks of malnutrition, exploitation, and limited opportunities for social mobility.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, especially in alleviating the struggles of marginalized groups like children of the poor. Their contributions include:
1. Education Support
- Building Schools: NGOs establish schools in underserved areas.
- Scholarships & Materials: They provide scholarships, books, and uniforms to children.
- Awareness Campaigns: NGOs encourage education, especially for girls, to combat dropout rates.
2. Healthcare Initiatives
- Medical Aid: Free vaccinations, health camps, and treatment for children.
- Nutrition Programs: Distributing food and supplements to combat malnutrition.
- Mental Health Support: Offering counseling and emotional support to children in distress.
3. Advocacy and Rights
- Child Protection: NGOs work to prevent child labor, trafficking, and abuse.
- Legal Aid: Support for families fighting for justice or access to social benefits.
- Policy Influence: Lobbying for better laws and government programs for children.
4. Economic Empowerment
- Skill Development for Parents: Training programs to improve family income.
- Microfinance: Offering loans to help families become self-sufficient.
5. Disaster Relief
- Emergency Aid: Providing food, shelter, and support to children during natural disasters or conflicts.
- Rehabilitation Programs: Helping children get back to school and life stability after crises.
6. Awareness and Community Engagement
- Workshops and Campaigns: Educating communities on issues like hygiene, child rights, and the importance of education.
- Mobilizing Volunteers: Engaging the public to participate in welfare programs.
NGOs bridge the gap between government efforts and grassroots needs, ensuring that children of the poor have a chance for a better future.
It’s disheartening when the NGOs fall on their on own sword just for helping their overwhelming subscribers and beckons the question;
Where are the efforts of governmental agencies?
Governments in developing or “third world” countries play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges faced by their populations, particularly in improving the lives of marginalized groups like the poor. Their responsibilities can be summarized as follows:
1. Policy Formulation and Implementation
- Anti-Poverty Programs: Governments design policies aimed at reducing poverty, such as cash transfer schemes, food subsidies, and employment guarantee programs.
- Education for All: Implementing free or low-cost education policies and encouraging enrollment through mid-day meal schemes or scholarships.
- Healthcare Access: Initiatives to provide affordable or free healthcare services, including immunization drives, maternal care, and nutrition programs for children.
2. Infrastructure Development
- Basic Amenities: Ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity for underprivileged communities.
- Transport and Connectivity: Building roads and infrastructure to connect remote areas with urban centers, making services accessible.
3. Economic Empowerment
- Skill Development: Setting up vocational training centers to improve employability.
- Job Creation: Promoting industries that create local jobs or launching public works programs.
- Microfinance and Subsidies: Offering low-interest loans to small businesses and farmers.
4. Social Welfare Programs
- Food Security: Running food distribution systems or subsidies to ensure the poor have access to basic nutrition.
- Housing Programs: Providing affordable housing or shelters for homeless families.
- Insurance and Pensions: Offering social protection to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and the disabled.
5. Promoting Equity
- Empowering Marginalized Groups: Addressing inequalities in gender, caste, ethnicity, or religion by providing special incentives for education and employment.
- Land Reforms: Redistributing land to poor farmers to reduce rural poverty.
6. Governance and Accountability
- Transparency: Ensuring that funds allocated for welfare programs reach the intended beneficiaries by tackling corruption.
- Partnership with NGOs: Collaborating with NGOs and international organizations to enhance the reach and efficiency of welfare programs.
7. Crisis Management
- Disaster Relief: Providing immediate and long-term support during natural disasters, conflicts, or economic crises.
- Pandemic Response: Strengthening healthcare systems and distributing aid during public health emergencies.
Challenges Faced by Third World Governments
While their role is vital, governments in developing countries often face hurdles, such as:
- Limited financial resources.
- Corruption and inefficiencies.
- Political instability.
- Lack of infrastructure and skilled manpower.
By tackling these challenges and prioritizing inclusive development, third-world governments like Nigeria with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which grew by 3.19% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2024. This growth rate is higher than the 2.51% recorded in the second quarter of 2023 and higher than the first quarter of 2024 growth of 2.98%. The GDP per Capita PPP expected to reach 5854.00 USD by the end of 2024, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations can significantly improve the lives of the poor and foster sustainable growth.
Our prayers are with the families of the departed.
