THE RESCUE PROJECT: 1st QUARTER 2022 IN IMO AND ABIA STATES

WHAIafrica in partnership with Keystone Bank held a three-day training and empowerment program for the teachers and the indigent students of :

1. Oforola Community Secondary School, Owerri West, Imo State,

2. Community Secondary School, Lagwa, Aboh Mbaise, Imo State,

3. Amakanma Community High School, Umuahia, Abia State

4. Girls’ Commercial Secondary School, Aba, Abia State.

Ezinwa Chinyere educated the indigent girls on menstrual health hygiene education, John Onuigbo facilitated the Teachers Empowerment Program, Amaka Duru identified and collated the data of the beneficiaries, Jane Achukwu facilitated the logistics while Nkechi Udegboka- ED of WHAIafrica and Udochukwu Chikwendu facilitated a session on mentorship and empowerment of the beneficiaries.

The following activities took place:

* Mentoring and exposing the beneficiaries to opportunities

* Paying WASSCE, BECE and school fees for the 230 beneficiaries

* Preparing the SS3 for life after school/WASSCE

* Talent discovery among the indigent students

* Teachers’ empowerment program

* Menstrual health hygiene education

* Distribution of NAFDAC certified reusable sanitary pads

With the training, the community leaders, school administrators and students of the aforementioned schools gained intense knowledge and skill on the training topics, which will enable them to be a better individuals, horn their talents and become relevant in the society.

OUTCOMES:

- 230 indigent Students in Abia and Imo State at the verge of dropping out of school were rescued and given hope for brighter future.

- The beneficiaries also learnt how to harness their inert potentials (talents),

- Their school fees, WASSCE and BECE fees were paid

- 35 teachers gained new skills through the Teachers Empowerment Program

- 100 female students received free NAFDAC certified reusable sanitary pads .

Dignitaries who graced the program include the Traditional Ruler of Oforola Community, reps from the Ministry of Education bod both states, community stakeholders, branch managers of Keystone Bank in the states, parents of the beneficiaries etc.

#RescueProject #EmpoweringLives

Local2Global with #AdaAfrica: WHY 2022 IS NOT YOUR YEAR – BE PATIENT

I have been observing many wishes and proclamation of achievements and success to achieve in 2022. “My year of break through” "My year of multiple blessing etc. Those are good, however, I want to speak to startups who are the love of my career.

I have freely mentored some startup entrepreneurs over the years that won millions of naira to either startup or expand their enterprise. In 2021, My team and I through WHAIafrica got over $184,000 funding to 14 young entrepreneurs.

Some of them got funding after 2-3 years of the mentorship (Category A) while few got within one year (Category B). Those in category B, already have some level of structure, capability, professional training and put in much work that went with sleepless nights.

For those in category A, I had to do a lot of work from scratch with them and be sure they have the capability to manage the funds when it finally comes.

I see a lot of those in category A rushing and prophesying that they will hit the money in 2022. Winning grants and opportunities is a process. Tony Gaskins says, “Trust the process. Your time is coming. Just do the work and the results will handle themselves.”

Somto is one of our volunteers at WHAIafrica for about 4 years and he has a startup enterprise. I have been doing a lot with him to build his capacity including getting professional financial and entrepreneurship programs for him.

I have never seen a patient person like Somto. When I know he was ready for funding, we started working on his business plan. I drilled and drained him expecting him to give up, this guy was patiently swallowing all the ‘bads’ I was ruling out from all that he sacrificed his night sleep to put up.

Patience is not the ability to wait or have hope but the ability to keep building and developing oneself while waiting. Somto is that person and in Nov. 2021, he won a million naira to launch his business.

I am highly disciplined when it comes to mentorship. As an official mentor with Hero Kickstart Nigeria , where I formally mentor shortlisted grantees by assessing their business needs, operations, scalability and send approvals for when each tranche should be released, some of the mentees sensed I am too wicked. LOL.

Two among them blocked me immediately they got their last tranche of money thinking they’ve gotten all they need from me. However, Reginald kept on with the mentoring relationship. I was following up with his business, getting him more opportunities and reviewing his applications, all for free.

In 2021 he won over $30,000 and another mentee, $75,000. I celebrate them for their patience. Be patient and consistent, good things take time. If they weren't patient, those millions of funds wouldn't have come to them.

Simon Cowell, UK TV personality and entrepreneur shared this, “My dad said to me – Work hard and be patient. It was the best advice he ever gave me. You have to put the hours in.” WHAIafrica has chosen entrepreneurs to mentor in 2022, I am yet to see any of them put in the work by disturbing his or her mentor to get going.

These words from Napoleon Hill resonate well “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”

Recognize what God has called you to be, accept the gif He has given you and start building on them!

Trust me, you will go places but it may not be in 2022!

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN MORE https://youtu.be/gnmdt3Pnoi4

©Udegboka NT

empower@whisperinghopeafrica.com

WhatsApp +2348174120686

MY BAD PERSONALITY THAT BRINGS ME #MILLIONS - DON'T BE LIKE ME

Sometime early in 2021, a friend of mine in Abuja, Chinenye John sent me a document to nominate WHAIafrica for a project that recognizes organizations that worked to cushion the effects of covid on poor individuals and communities.

I told her not to nominate us because we haven't done enough that there are organizations that are doing better especially in Lagos.

She reluctantly left.

Two weeks after she came back again and asked, 'Am I sure? ' I told her yes. Let her nominate other organizations. I reminded her how I don't apply for anything award, prize or campaign for votes to win award or to be named the Best whatever.

Chinenye quietly left me again.

Unknowingly to me she started nominating me for the award and got back to me when she needed some information about WHAIafrica. I asked her, 'why are you insisting on this.?'

I told her I was busy, that will supply her the information later in the week. Meanwhile the submission deadline was already closeby.

Two months later, I got a congratulatory mail from +1Global Fund by The Roddenberry Foundation that I have been awarded $15,000.

I was in tears - how I pushed this oppourtunity away but God pushed it back to me.

Sometime again later this year, Airtel Touching Lives nomination came up. A friend sent it to me to apply. I told him, I don't apply for awards or nomination.

I only shared the link with one of our Advisory Board Member, Ifii and forgot about it.

One day I got a call from a guy who said he was calling from Airtel Touching Lives. Initially, thought it was a scam as I became the one asking him probing questions like how many people nominated WHAIafrica that we have to be shortlisted.

I got back to Ifii if she nominated WHAIafrica and she said yes. I said, how can Airtel shortlist an organization only one person nominated and leave out organization hundreds of persons have nominated.

After months of due diligence and background checks on WHAIafrica, we finally got a congratulatory mail that Airtel found WHAIafrica and the work we do worthy.

These two scenario became a sober reflection for me this 2021. We all have different calling and destiny. Don't try to copy someone's lifestyle because that might not workout for you.

I have received some global awards in the past which I didn't solicit for or asked anyone to nominate me. I don't apply for any oppourtunity that will end up asking me to solicit for votes to be shortlisted.

I don't put my eyes on awards or recognition while I do my work. I allow them to come naturally and organically. 😂.

I have never shared campaign asking my network to nominate or vote me to win, though I campaign for others. This is my bad but please don't do such, it may not work for you.

Come 2022, should I trash this bad part of me and welcome asking people to vote or nominate the work we do?

Recognize what God has called you to be, discover the talent He has given you and start building on them. Trust me, you will go places.

#AdaAfrica