Zain Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the Inspire Africa Benefit Concert, an initiative designed to protect and prevent street children in Lagos State from abuse, violence and all forms of exploitation.
Put together at the instance of the Inspire Africa Foundation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Lagos State Government, the Benefit concert which will hold at the Expo Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on the 31st of January, 2009 will feature a long list of popular Nigerian and international artistes such as 2Face, 9ice, Banky W, D’Banj, Omawumi, Sasha, M.I, Asa, J. Martins, Donell Jones, Carl Thomas and Angie Stone among several others.
Commenting on Zain’s involvement in the project, Emeka Oparah, Head: Corporate Communications, Zain Nigeria, said the company’s partnership with the organizers of the event is borne out of a sincere desire to give a helping hand to less privileged kids parading the streets of Lagos, stressing that Zain will always go the extra mile to support any programme that will help better the lives of children who have been deprived of basic needs, support, love and care.
Specifically, he noted that Zain, as a frontline Telco brand in Nigeria, will continue to support initiatives that align with its corporate philosophy of identifying with youths and children because of the important roles these young people will play in the future.
In their submission, organizers of the concert said the funds raised from the event will be used to establish and operate reception centres for implementing intervention activities for street children such as provision of meals, temporary shelter, counseling and preliminary needs assessment.
Particularly, the organizers noted that in addition to empowering parents/caregivers and children by providing them with the right information and skill training, efforts will be made to measure the impact of the programme on the less privileged children.
For people who would like to contribute to the initiative, a telethon, a media-driven event used as a means of soliciting donations from members of the public will be deployed on the 24th of January, 2009. The will serve as an avenue to drum up support for the project as well as provide opportunity for privileged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of giving, thereby helping to transform the lives of children roaming the streets of the country.
To participate in the telethon, one is expected to send an SMS with their name and the word, INSPIRE AFRICA to 35058 or make a phone call to 35059. A call or an SMS costs a hundred naira only, and participants, according to organizers of the concert, stand a chance of winning fantastic prizes with every call or SMS they send.
The event will be covered by both the national and international media. Also, organizers of the event have completed plans to partner with governments and well respected Companies that are ready to create a better life for the underprivileged children in Nigeria and by extension the African continent.
The Inspire Africa Benefit Concert will be broadcast live on NTA from 6pm till midnight on the 31st of January, 2009.
