This week brought the usual UK-Nigeria meeting at which a number of issues were discussed. But at this juncture I would like to take a moment to highlight another part of the two groups’ work together - namely how our network can be utilised for good.

On January 9th, Dadamac in the UK received a message from http://www.peoples-uni.org/ " target="_self">Peoples-uni (Australia), an organisation which is building public health capacity using internet based e-learning. In this message, staff there informed us that they had received a message from one of their Nigerian students, who was clearly distressed. This student had informed them that he was in the process of being evacuated to safe ground after enduring a set of very unpleasant experiences, which saw him trapped amid Nigeria’s ongoing unrest.

Following a short Christmas break, Wednesday the 4th of January saw the restart of the weekly UK-Nigeria team Meetings.

The last UK-Nigeria weekly meeting of 2011 unearthed a sad situation which is unfortunately faced all too often by those attempting to provide aid in developing countries.

Once again it involves an instance where such aid fails to reach those in dire need. The major frustration is that Fantsuam Foundation possesses the necessary skills and expertise to deliver this help, yet - despite its 10-year history of bringing innovative integrated programmes to its impoverished rural host community - “top down” funding remains hard to come by.

John Dada of Fantsuam explained the situation to Pam and myself. He said: “We feel sorry that we constantly have to inform folks that we do not have the level of slack in our budget for meeting unplanned expenses.

“A young man came in this morning, his home was burnt in the crisis and now he needs to have a surgery on Friday at the Teaching Hospital. He wanted help from Fantsuam Foundation.
He is one of many we have to turn away. There is a lot of talk from the Government end on peacebuilding, but it seems largely for photo opportunities and the assistance is not reaching the folks who really need it.”

A glitch with Skype meant that the Nigerian posts from this week’s UK-Nigeria team meeting were significantly delayed. However, as this is now an increasingly rare occurrence it gave us an opportunity to test previously relied upon communication channels. So, with a mixture of Skpe typed messages, sms, emails and Yahoo, here is this week’s update.

• John reported that Comfort is in Abuja for a meeting with the World Bank pertaining to the rice business development service project which they had previously supported in June.
• Fantsuam Foundation is expect to host a team from the Minnesota Renewable Energy from January 15th 2012 for training and solar installation at for the paediatric ward of Kafanchan Hospital.
• John and Pam had both made contact with Fola at Dadamac’s outpost in Ago-Are.
  The photo above, from Fola, shows the Life Fountain School, Nigeria where Fola reports he will be teaching pupils computer and internet usage next term.
• Fola has been able to add more photos to the Dadamac’s community Flickr

During this week's UK-Nigeria online meeting John Dada, CEO of Fantsuam Foundation, shared with the team his vision.
John told us: " I woke up this morning with this thought that I could get youths from opposing camps to come together to rebuild one of the homes that was destroyed in the violence...I see this as an opportunity for a landmark in some symbolic activity that can draw a line under the cycle of violence and genuine peaceful dialogue begins..an activity to mark Martin Luther Day in January.

The problem

John Dada: "The safe disposal of plastic waste is a perennial problem that gets worse by the day, so we have to be committed to efforts to control it".

The solution

The idea is for a 3 month feasibility study which covers the following issues in preparation for setting up a pilot production unit:

1 Identify the density and nature of the waste.

2 Evaluate the specifications and market for plain tiles and the economics of production

3 Evaluate the demand for rain-water harvesting systems that could be produced from the tiles, potential market outlets and economics of production

4 Identify the market for other products that could be produced from the tiles and assess the economics of production

5 Research local availability of resources needed for construction and operation of a pilot plant

Following the post election violence In April a medium sized NGO in Kafanchan (where it was considered to be safer in Jos) has been trying to address the sectarian problems.

With the trust of large sections of both communities it has been practically offering positive interventions such as the Kafanchan peace market and the Feeding programme for the Muslim Street children. However it  is already overstretched and despite its proven track record it has applied for various aid and submitted proposals with out much joy.

Here is one of the interventions that they were asking people to support in November 2011.

 John Dada, CEO of Fantsuam Foundation, has sent Dadamac his concept note and suggestions for a Non - Violent Communication strategy for this conflict resolution.

John Dada in his typically understated manner told us during our usual Wednesday online meeting that: “Not much going on around here today except.........