From PALANG KASMI, Bokkos
Stefanos Foundation, along with two of its partners, has distributed over 100 buckets of assorted food items to 100 widows in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Leading the team to COCIN Church New Layout, Bokkos, for the distribution on Monday, Programme Manager of Stefanos Foundation, Engr. Mark Lipdo, alongside the two partners, Dennis O. Cansey, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nigeria Abuja Mission, and Mr. Mathew James from the Forb Foundation, urged the women to remain hopeful despite the tragic December attacks that left them homeless and widowed.
On hand to receive the team and coordinate the distribution of items to just 100 of the widows were Vice Chairman of the Bokkos IDP Committee, Rev. Mandong Bitrus, a traditional leader, Saf Manda Amos Jalang, and Chairman of Bokkos LGA IDP’s Welfare Committee, Bishop Dr. Ayuba Matawal.
Lipdo stated that this was the fourth time the foundation had embarked on a visit to provide relief to the victims.
He disclosed that upon hearing of their predicament, the two partners not only offered to support the victims but also volunteered to come all the way from overseas to visit the women and offer comfort.
Mr. Matthew, representative of the Forb Foundation, and his counterpart, Dennis O. Cansey, expressed their understanding of the widows’ pain, stating that that was why they travelled miles to visit them to offer support.
The Vice Chairman of the Bokkos IDP Committee, Rev. Mandong Bitrus, lamented that many of the widows had been rendered homeless, with no homes or food and nothing to fall back on.
“From the 23rd to 25th December till today, they have been living on humanitarian support. Just as you have come today, on Friday, Samaritan’s Post was here; they came with support for 15 families. And that is how we keep collecting and inviting the affected who are in need to come and receive the items,” he said.
“We have five communities in Bokkos that were attacked and involved, and we have asked community leaders to send us the names of widows from the December attack and affected persons. So, as you can see, these are just part of the women. They are not the whole number of widows affected.”
Mandong stated that in one community there are about 42 widows, in another about 37, and in other communities about 28, adding, “The number is above 109, but we have asked them to send us all the names.”
Chairman of the Bokkos Local Government IDP’s Welfare Committee, Bishop Dr. Ayuba Matawal, not only appreciated the visit but also called on the government to ensure security and a safe return of the displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
Speaking on behalf of the widows displaced by the conflict in Bokkos, Mrs Juliana Makwin expressed gratitude to the foundation for putting smiles on their faces with the intervention, which they described as timely considering the current economic hardships.
Learning to survive by acquiring new skills
In today’s rapidly changing world, learning new skills is emerging as a critical pathway for survival, especially in a country like ours, which finds itself in a precarious situation. Clinging to outdated methods can often lead to a waste of time and energy. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is revolutionising the way we live and work, and those of us who identify as part of the “old school” are at risk of being phased out before we realise it.
At a recent training session I attended, I was labelled a “digital migrant” in my own country. This term highlights a stark reality: if I do not actively seek to acquire new skills and embrace innovative practices, I run the risk of being relegated to the margins of my profession. The implications of this are profound, particularly in a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology.
In contrast, my child, a millennial, is considered a “digital native.” Born into a world of smartphones and laptops, they have been immersed in technology since infancy – often being breastfed while their mother juggles a phone call or types on a laptop. For them, navigating new media comes naturally, underscoring a generational divide in digital literacy.
Digital and new media are now essential gateways to the future. To remain relevant and competitive, we must all engage with these platforms. It is vital to understand the global shift towards leveraging the digital economy to benefit society. The wealthiest individuals today are capitalising on these opportunities.
Mark Zuckerberg, for example, is often cited as a prime illustration of how one can achieve immense wealth at a young age through digital innovation. Many Nigerians are also tapping into the potential of new media to build their fortunes. Notable success stories include Konga, founded by Sim Shagaya, which revolutionised marketing in Nigeria, and Linda Ikeji, whose blog has become a household name and a significant source of income.
Given Nigeria’s population of over two hundred million, we are in a unique position to harness the digital landscape to improve the livelihoods of our citizens. However, this potential can only be realised if we make the right decisions. It is imperative that we avoid appointing individuals of questionable integrity to lead this vital sector of our economy. We must not allow extremists to hinder our progress in this promising area that holds the potential to elevate Nigeria to a status of global competitiveness. There are lots of talented young Nigerians excelling in the digital space, we need only to seek them out and encourage their efforts.
A significant challenge we face in Nigeria is our tendency to view everything through the lens of religion and ethnicity. Often, our perspectives are clouded by these divisive factors, hindering our ability to act for the collective good.
Many of us, identifying as “digital migrants,” feel intimidated by the prospect of exploring the digital realm. We offer a myriad of excuses for our reluctance to engage with technology when presented with a computer or smartphone. However, the time for complacency has passed; we must seize the moment and adapt while we still can. The reality is that failure to master these devices could lead to significant disadvantages. In fact, there are numerous transactions that are now impossible to complete without some degree of technological proficiency. Unfortunately, some individuals have lost their hard-earned resources simply because they were too apprehensive to embrace digital tools.
No doubt, adapting to the demands of our modern world through acquiring new skills is no longer just an option; it is a necessity. The future belongs to those who are willing to learn, grow, and innovate. As we navigate this digital landscape, let us commit to equipping ourselves with the knowledge and skills required to thrive, ensuring that we are not left behind in this new era of boundless opportunities.