Ngreporters: Can you please tell us about yourself, your family life, Education background and any other thing you will like us to know about you.
My name is Hajiya Sefia Abdulmumin. I'm from the family of Suleiman Achoko in Idogido, Okene LGA. I had my primary and secondary education in Okene before I proceeded to University of Abuja for my university degree. I'm happily married to Hon. Abdulmumin Danga, the Hon. Commissioner for Water resources in Kogi state and God has blessed the union with children.
Ngreporters: You are the wife of Kogi state Commissioner for water resources. That is not all. You also have a non governmental organization (NGO). We would like you to tell us about your NGO, the name and when it was founded ?
The name of my NGO is Maya Care Foundation. You see, I've been nurturing the ambition of having something like this and it only came to reality when I gave birth to my daughter, Maya. So I named the foundation after her. The foundation is fully registered with relevant authorities.
Ngreporters: What inspired you to found and NGO rather than a hotel or a school?
I'm a muslim and I've listened to alot of Islamic teachings. I know how being nice to people can be rewarding. I usually feel bad when I see children suffering. It's also my way to thank Allah for all the victory He gave me and my family. I've faced challenges and Allah (SW) gave me victory over them. All thanks giving is due to Allah always. So I get satisfaction putting my money in a rewarding cause, such as the Maya Care Foundation.
Ngreporters: What was the most challenging problems in the management of your NGO?
The major challenge is funding. Sometimes we will need to chatter vehicles to convey our materials and our volunteers. We are expected to provide some logistics too for our volunteers. People are unwilling to help us because some of them sees the NGO as a political organization. What is always coming to their mind is that, when I support you, your husband who is a politician will take the glory.
The second challenge is that, when ever we try to extend kind gesture to the people, the response will get is not pleasing, like you hear somebody saying, is it not our money they are sharing to us. Such amentality needs to be changed. Even if it's government money like they said, such person spending the government money should be commended for having the will to spend it on charity.
Ngreporters: Can you please tell us your success story. Some of the achievements of your organization?
We've succeeded in paying WAEC fees for school children across the schools in Kogi central. We did that too last year and God willing we will do more next year. The foundation has also awarded scholarships to students, and the major beneficiaries were orphans. We are able to distribute school bags, text books, school sandals, and exercise books to school children. We have touched all the LGAs in Kogi Central.
Ngreporters: We have seen cases where people who truly needs help were denied and funds to ease the suffering of the vulnerables were syphoned. How closely are you monitoring the volunteers in your organization to ensure materials and funds gets to the right people that need them?
I've been monitoring them keenly. They have been coporating too. I have made them to understand the essence of every program. Whenever it came to my notice any of the volunteers is not working with the set rules, I will do away with him or her.
Ngreporters: Looking at the statistics of out of school children, how do you think children can be encouraged to go to school, especially the girl child?
Things have really changed. Today we have seen women occupying positions of authority. Education is important for the girl child much as it's important for the male child. So I'm urging all the well to individuals in the society to support every child by making education accessible to them. Let's join the government in rebuilding our schools. Let's assist our communities to stock the libraries with text books. And schools fees should be such that it's affordable for the people.
Ngreporters: There are many graduates out their with university and polytechnic certificates waiting for white collar jobs. What's your advice to them. Should they continue to wait?
Our youths should be productive, contended with whatever is at their disposals and be prayerful too. They should be willing to go into trades and farming after graduation. Let's kill the lazy mentality. Just get busy to enable you pay your bills, until your desired job comes your way.
Ngreporters: In our society today, looking at the way the youths (both male and female) takes hard drugs and other substances to get high. This has often times led them to indulge in criminal activities and to disregard constituted authority. How do you think this problem can be best tackled?
Hard drugs have ruined many lives. All hands must be on deck to arrest this menace. Parents should be disciplined. They should live by example. The government, relevant authorities like the NDLEA, the community, religious leaders should play an effective role to curb this menace.
Ngreporters: What's your message to people of Kogi state in few words?
I wish H.E, Governor Yahaya Bello, the New Directions Team, the traditional rulers, religious leaders and my darling husband who is in the new direction team, well in office. I pray God continue to strengthen the leadership of the state and bless our land. Thank you for coming. I'm indeed grateful.
Ngreporters: Thank you. God bless you too ma.
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