Create 40 New Jobs & 3 Businesses in Nigeria

Dear Leadership Initiatives Supporters,

We wanted to give you an early update on the programs you are supporting in Nigeria because of the increased tensions within the country at the moment. As many of you know, protests have plagued the entire nation due to the repeal of gasoline subsidies by President Goodluck Jonothan. This has caused many of the newly created business you support to halt their work production while this increase in gas prices has simultaneously tripled transportation and food prices in the Bauchi area. An article further detailing this problem can be found here. 

We here at Leadership Initiatives want to assure our supporters that even with these problems, our young leaders remain dedicated to creating a better Nigeria and greater world. While our tailoring shops, mechanic, welding and carpentry businesses are not allowed to work during the strike (to be clear, no one officially joins a union in Northern Nigeria, if you own a business you are in a Union and businesses that operate during striking hours have been known to be vandalized, set fire to or destroyed), our fish, cattle and poultry farms have been providing meals to other leaders and community members for little to no cost to keep everyone fed and moving forward during this strike. 

It is our sincere hope that the strikes will end soon and Leadership Initiatives’ new business leaders can continue to create jobs, send more children to school and build a better republic. 

If you are looking for a way to support these dedicated men and women during this unfortunate time please make a donation to Leadership Initiatives at our program site on GlobalGiving or purchase a ticket to our Gala for February 17th here.

Below is the announcement of what is sure to be one of the most amazing events in Leadership Initiatives history!

Dear Friend

I have exciting news: Leadership Initiatives will be hosting our sixth annual Gala for Global Change at the Nigerian Embassy on February 17th celebrating Nigeria’s 51 years of independence. This is the first time Leadership Initiatives history that we have been selected as the opening event for the Nigerian embassy’s event season. 

In 2010, Leadership Initiatives hosted the largest attended event at the Nigerian Embassy with over 300 participants, a record we plan to beat in 2012.  

This year, Leadership Initiatives has tapped diverse talents to create a beautiful showing of local and professional artists and artisanal producers from around the world to enhance this special event. Join international dignitaries, US officials and local celebrities at the Nigerian Embassy for a dazzling night of artisanal food and cocktails, a silent art auction with several surprise live auction items, and Leadership Initiatives 1st Annual Service Awards ceremony.

Leadership Initiatives Sixth Annual Gala For Global Change

 Date: February 17th, 2012

Time:  6 p.m. V.I.P. Preview $100

7-9 p.m. General Admission $35

Where: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 3519 International Court NW Washington, D.C. 20008 

Please bring friends, dates, parents, potential supporters and professionals. Your attendance will help Leadership Initiatives expand on the successes of 2011, notably the launching 24 new business initiatives in the fields of mechanics, carpentry, electronic repair, tailoring, farming and transportation. New leaders were created as graduates reinvested in Leadership Initiatives programs along with our first orphan care program, providing the communities’ first outreach, job training, care and education program for disadvantaged orphans. 

This year's event is being hosted by the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, the honorable, Dr. Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, who will be in attendance. V.I.P Preview tickets are available to allow a small group of attendees to have a more intimate experience with the attending diplomats and artists. 

More information and tickets are available on the Art Gala website at: 

www.LIgala.org

We hope you will join us as we celebrate a momentous year of growth and development both here and in Nigeria. 

Sincerely,

Marshall Bailly, Lynsie Hall and  Khalifa Lawan

Executive Director, Gala Committee Chair and Field Programs Manager-Nigeria

PROJECT UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 2011

FISH FARMING

The beneficiaries are reinvesting the money earned during the previous harvest, and identifying areas for improvement. Up until now they have been maintaining the concrete tanks, but they are hoping to make the shift to plastic tanks soon. They haven’t yet determined whether the money earned will be used to purchase the plastic tanks, so the concrete tanks will be used for the upcoming harvest, after which the final decision will be made.  They continue to enjoy working together as a team, but are also looking forward to the possibility of expanding so that each beneficiary can run his or her own farm.

The beneficiaries have also been working in their farm planting crops and are currently preparing to harvest the crops.  They plan to proceed with the fish farming immediately after crops have been harvested.

COMPUTER LITERACY

The computer training for physically challenged persons has brought significant opportunities to the students, and has encouraged them to become independent, successful members of the community while successfully reducing the number of people who resort to begging on the streets.  The new graduates are continuing to work on expanding and developing their computer skills.  Some of the more advanced students were able to use their skills and the machines given to them to invest into a business, like a computer center or a photo studio. One of the students elected to become an instructor and to teach individuals who are in need of computer skills. 

Still others are applying for admission into tertiary institutions with the goal of establishing a career in IT, and LI-CGLAO is willing to assist those who are interested in learning new computer skills like Hardware Maintenance, Local Area Network and Graphics Design etc. 

SKILLS ACQUISITION

Welding business: the beneficiaries are highly committed to the business and were eager to approach and learn any type of metal work, no matter how technical it could be. Many of them have become experienced enough to train others as well, and are looking forward to developing these opportunities.

Tailoring: What started with just a sewing machine and its accessories has turned into several established businesses.  Many beneficiaries have rented shops and purchased additional equipment in order to handle expanding business, while others are learning more about the art of designing clothing. 

Motorcycle Repairs: the beneficiaries have worked harder in learning how to repair new modern motorcycles, which has opened new doors of opportunity as motorcycle vendors seek their assistance in coupling and assembling new motorcycles for sale.

NEW SKILLS ACQUISITION PROJECTS

• Carpentry: currently being trained as apprentices and they are doing remarkably well. 

• Car Mechanic: currently being trained as apprentices and they are doing remarkably well.

• Electrician: currently undergoing orientation on IBA’s methods

• Bead making: currently undergoing orientation on IBA’s methods

• Plaster of Paris (POP): currently being trained as apprentices

• Cobbling: currently undergoing orientation on IBA’s methods

• Fattening: currently undergoing orientation on IBA’s methods

• Irrigation Farming: currently undergoing orientation on IBA’s methods

• Poultry Farming: currently work is been done to expand the already established business