2016 ORIENTATION OF NEW STUDENTS
Bina Foundation kicked off her training activities for the year 2016 with the orientation of about 200 new students. The exercise took place on the 11th of February 2016 at the Foundation’s Arena. Officials of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Enugu State and other notables were present at the occasion. Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, President/Founder of Bina Foundation assured the new students of the foundation’s preparedness to do everything within her reach to give them the best training which will enable them actualize their dreams. She advised them to pay attention to their instructors and be committed to their class work.
VISIT OF THE ANGLICAN DIOCESAN WOMEN OF ENUGU TO BINA FOUNDATION
The skills acquisition training and empowerment program of the Foundation had so much attracted the admiration and attention of the Anglican Diocesan Women of Enugu – Nigeria that on Saturday, 19th March 2016, a special visit was paid to the Foundation by the Diamond Mummy, Dr. Mrs. Joyce Chukwuma, President of Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild, Girls’ Guild, Diocesan Women, and women of Enugu Province (Anglican communion). The visit was in commemoration of the 2016 Mothering Sunday celebration. Donations of food items and cash were also made to the foundation in support of her capital intensive programs.
His Grace, Dr. E.O. Chukwuma, OON, Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of the Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion), was also at the occasion. He encouraged the students with disability and advised them to fully utilize the free training opportunities offered by Bina Foundation to become useful to themselves.
PAUL KING, NEUROSURGEON, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A. VISITS BINA FOUNDATION
The good news of the benevolence of Bina Foundation caught the attention of Dr. Paul Kings, MD, Neurosurgeon in Atlanta , Georgia, USA. Consequently, he decided to pay a visit to the Foundation on 7th April 2016. On his arrival, the President/Founder of the foundation, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, conducted him round the facilities during which he expressed satisfaction at the enormity of sophisticated and special learning equipment at the Recourse and Recreational Centre for the Blind. He was moved to promise to support the Foundation in the near future.
THE VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR DR. CHRIS NWABUEZE NGIGE, OON, MINISTER OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT TO BINA FOUNDATION
His Excellency, Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, OON, Minister of Labour & Employment, visited Bina Foundation on 14th April 2016 to assess the facilities available at the foundation. He was conducted round the various departments during which he saw the modern training equipment in the Resource and Recreational Centre for the Blind. He met students during training sessions and encouraged them to show dedication to their training. He promised that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) under his ministry would collaborate with the foundation to ensure successful training, rehabilitation and re-integration of the foundation’s students.
THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF BREAST CANCER ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (BRECAN) AT QUEEN’S SCHOOL, ENUGU – NIGERIA
Based on the positive impact of the activities of Bina Foundation in the society, and in recognition of the Foundation’s generosity to people with disability, the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) considered the Foundation as partners in progress. Therefore, Bina Foundation was invited to be part of the launching of BRECAN Club at the Queen’s School, Enugu on Friday, 29th April 2016.
Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, President/Founder of BRECAN gave a lecture titled “USING MY BREAST CANCER EXPERIENCE TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER IN NIGERIA.” The purpose of the visit was not only to be part of the lecture on Breast Cancer, but was also meant to socialize and integrate people with disability into the society so that the isolation and discrimination suffered by people with diverse disabilities would continue to dissipate .
During the occasion, the physically challenged students of Bina Foundation interacted with the guests and students of Queen’s School, Enugu, and became strengthened when they came face to face with a breast cancer survivor.
BINA FOUNDATION AT THE CARNIVAL/CULTURAL DAY OF THE NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND (EBONYI STATE CHAPTER)
Based on the fast growth of Bina Foundation, and its positive impact on the lives of the blind and visually impaired in the society, the Nigerian Association of the Blind (Ebonyi State Chapter) invited Bina Foundation to her Carnival / Cultural Day on 14th May 2016. During the event which took place at the Akanu Ibiam International Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, one of our blind students, Revd. Ogbonnia Ude gave the keynote address titled : “SHUN DESTITUTION, WORK HARD, YOU CAN MAKE IT.”
STUDENT NURSES FROM THE SCHOOL OF NURSING, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ENUGU, NIGERIA ON EDUCATIONAL EXCURSION AT BINA FOUNDATION
The authorities of the School of Nursing of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, had officially written to Bina Foundation, asking to be allowed to visit our facilities on 2nd June 2016 for educational purpose.
Three public health educators, Mrs. Ndubuka C. C. (Asst. Director, Public Health), Mrs. Moneke U. J. (Senior Tutor, Public Health) and Mrs. Ubosi Nneka (Senior Tutor, Public Health) led the 72 student nurses from the School of Nursing, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, on excursion visit to Bina Foundation. On their arrival, they were taken round the various departments and facilities BY the Chairman, Board of Directors of Bina Foundation, Sir Chris Atuegwu, FPSN. He educated the students on the relationship of the Foundation’s activities to the health of the community.
BINA FOUNDATION FEEDS THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS AT THE ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH PSYCHIATRIC HOME, OTOLO NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
The Foundation did not lose sight of the mentally challenged persons at the St. Thomas Anglican Church Psychiatric Home, Otolo, Nnewi in Anambra State. On 24th June 2016, food and drinks were distributed to the patients. Prayers for their full and speedy recovery were also offered. The caregivers at the home were happy for the visit and thanked Bina Foundation for their charity work.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT, MR. KUNLE OBAYAN, WITH HIS STATE COORDINATORS VISIT BINA FOUNDATION FOR FACILITY ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION
On 2nd August 2016, Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, Mr. Kunle Obayan, and some of his State Coordinators visited Bina Foundation for facility assessment and accreditation exercise. They include Mr. Iroegbu Joseph Eke from NDE Enugu State; Ms. Buchi Ojei from NDE Abia State; Mr. Igbanude Maxwell from NDE Ebonyi State; Mr. Mbata Mike from NDE Anambra State, and Mrs. Ngozi P. Iheanacho from NDE Imo State. Sir Chris Atuegwu, Chairman, Bina Foundation, welcomed them and conducted them round the facilities.
Based on the sophisticated and special learning equipment on ground, they gave a pass mark to Bina Foundation and promised support and collaboration of the NDE with the foundation.
MRS. BERNADETTE WAKOLBINGER PIENZE FROM AUSTRIA VISITS BINA FOUNDATION
Being passionate about the general condition of people with disability, Mrs. Bernadette Walkolbinger Pienz from Austria visited Bina Foundation on 25th October 2016. The Chairman, Board of Directors of the foundation, Sir Chris Atuegwu, took the visitor round the facility and classes where she met the students during training sessions. She praised the president/founder of the foundation, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, for her noble initiative and encouraged the students not to relent.
She and her mother Mrs. Marianne Danner are now good friends and supporters of the Foundation
2016 SET OF STUDENTS GRADUATE AND ARE AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF PROFICIENCY
The 2016 set of students with disability graduated from the skills acquisition and Resource and Recreational Centre for the Blind. They were trained in various skills, including shoe and bag making, cosmetology, paint making, hairdressing and barbing, catering and fast food, fashion designing, GSM Phone Repairs, TV/Radio Repairs, Computer Literacy for the Blind, Bead making and Wire works, etc
During the graduation ceremony on 10th December 2016, Bina Foundation awarded them certificates of proficiency.
SETTLEMENT OF THE STUDENTS WITH FREE WORK EQUIPMENT, TAKE OFF KITS AND CASH
Does the foundation gather students, train them in various skills and issue them certificates of proficiency and allow them to go just like that? No! Bina Foundation goes further to empower them with various startup equipment, take off kits and start off cash to enable them become self-reliant
That was why on Tuesday, 13th December 2016, sewing machines, gas cylinders and burners, cosmetology equipment, shoe and bag making equipment, bead and wire works kits, Typewriters and other equipment for the Braille class, Hair dressing and Barbing equipment and cash were given to the 2016 graduating students to enable them to be self reliant so that the rehabilitation and re-integration aims and objectives of the foundation would be achieved.
FREE MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE SICK AT THE 2016 ANNUAL CONVENTION AND GRADUATION CEREMONY
One of the cardinal activities of Bina Foundation aimed at putting smiles on the faces of people with disability is free medication. The foundation has dedicated team of medical doctors, including eye doctors, pharmacists, lab scientists, nurses and social workers which conduct medical screening tests for common ailments like malaria, diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and other blinding diseases. The eye doctors examine their sight, provide free prescription and treatment. Free reading glasses are also given out to those that need them. Free medical services are rendered to the sick always and also during our 2016 Annual Convention and Graduation Ceremony on 10th December 2016.
EXHIBITION OF FINISHED PRODUCTS MADE BY GRADUATING STUDENTS
The 2016 Annual Convention and Graduation Ceremony for 180 special needs students also featured exhibition of finished products made by the graduating students. Dignitaries that graced the occasion took a tour of the exhibition stands and had a closer look of the products, which included cosmetology products, paints, Clothes, ornamented bead bangles, traditional chieftaincy bead caps, gorgeous bead bags and purses, bead slippers, bead necklaces, shoes and sandals, etc. In attendance were the Archbishop of Enugu Province Anglican Communion, Dr E.O. Chukwuma, The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Nwabueze Ngige, First Lady of Ondo State Mrs Betty Akeredolu-Anyanwu, Chief Barr. Nnia Nwodo (Ike Ukehe), Mrs Bernadette Wakolbinger Pienze from Austria and others.
BINA FOUNDATION CELEBRATES A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR ORPHANS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY
Bina Foundation does not trivialize with anything which concerns the orphans, motherless babies, and children with disability. This is why the foundation always treats them to special parties during festive periods. For the 2016 Christmas celebration, special Christmas party was staged for them.They had lots of fun, food and free educational books and gifts. Majority of these children are from motherless babies’ homes and special schools for the blind, the deaf and mute across Enugu and Anambra States.