Ademosu Advocates Compassionate, Inclusive Society Anchored on Education, as Taide Foundation Turns 10 – THISDAYLIVE

Report on the Taide Foundation’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

A recent event marking the 10th anniversary of the Taibat Ademosu (Taide) Foundation highlighted the organization’s significant contributions to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within Nigeria. The foundation, established in memory of Mrs. Taide Ademosu, champions a compassionate and inclusive society through targeted interventions in education, healthcare, and social welfare, directly aligning with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Foundation’s Core Mission and Alignment with Global Goals

The foundation’s mission is rooted in the legacy of its namesake, Mrs. Taide Ademosu, whose principles of kindness, selflessness, and community support form the basis of its operations. Co-founders Dr. Akinwande Ademosu and Mrs. Afolakemi Henry-Onifade emphasized that the organization’s work is a testament to the belief that true progress is measured by service to humanity. This ethos directly supports the overarching SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.”

Strategic Interventions and SDG Impact

SDG 4: Quality Education

The foundation has placed a significant emphasis on SDG 4, viewing education as the primary catalyst for social transformation and poverty reduction. Key initiatives include:

• Infrastructure Development: The complete reconstruction of the Omo Edumare Primary School, transforming it from a state of disrepair into a model institution. This directly addresses SDG Target 4.a, which calls for building and upgrading education facilities.
• Access to Education: The provision of scholarship awards to numerous students, with plans to expand the scheme to accommodate 1,000 beneficiaries, contributing to SDG Target 4.1 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
• Youth Engagement: The establishment of the Taide Innovation and Leadership Centre as a learning hub and the organization of academic debates for primary and secondary schools to foster critical thinking and excellence.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

In line with SDG 3, the Taide Foundation has actively worked to improve health outcomes in local communities. Its efforts are focused on providing essential healthcare services to vulnerable populations.

1. Medical Outreaches: The foundation regularly conducts medical outreaches to provide essential health services.
2. Surgical Interventions: It has successfully carried out numerous life-transforming eye surgeries in Sagamu, with strategic plans to extend this critical intervention to other parts of Ogun State, thereby improving community health and well-being.

SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

The foundation addresses fundamental human needs by providing direct support to vulnerable families. This work is a direct contribution to SDG 1 and SDG 2, aiming to eradicate poverty and hunger through community-level action by providing food and comprehensive welfare support.

Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The anniversary event underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17. The participation and commendation from prominent figures from both the public and private sectors highlight the foundation’s success in building effective partnerships.

• Private Sector Engagement: Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, lauded the foundation’s impact and called for greater private sector involvement in education to accelerate progress towards SDG 4.
• Government Collaboration: The Chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, wife of the Ogun State Governor, commended the foundation for its service and impact, signaling strong government support for its initiatives.

Conclusion

The Taide Foundation serves as a model for non-governmental contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. Through its focused initiatives in education, health, and social welfare, the organization demonstrates a profound commitment to creating a more equitable and sustainable future, directly impacting the lives of thousands and inspiring broader community and private sector action.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article mentions the Taide Foundation’s work in providing “food and welfare support for vulnerable families,” which directly addresses poverty by providing basic necessities and support to those in need.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The foundation’s initiatives include “medical outreaches” and conducting “life-transforming eye surgeries,” which are direct contributions to improving health outcomes and ensuring access to essential healthcare services for the community.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – This is a central theme of the article. The foundation’s activities, such as providing “scholarship awards,” the “total rebuilding of Omo Edumare Primary School,” and establishing the “Taide Innovation and Leadership Centre,” are all aimed at improving access to and the quality of education.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By focusing on “vulnerable families” and providing opportunities through education and healthcare to children from “modest backgrounds,” the foundation works to reduce inequalities and promote social inclusion. The call for a “more compassionate and inclusive society” reinforces this goal.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article highlights the collaboration between the Taide Foundation (a civil society organization), the private sector (represented by Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie of Rainoil Limited), and government (represented by the wife of the Ogun State Governor). This multi-stakeholder involvement is key to achieving the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The foundation’s “welfare support for vulnerable families” is a direct action towards alleviating poverty at the local level.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services. The foundation’s provision of free “medical outreaches” and “life-transforming eye surgeries” contributes to this target by offering essential healthcare services to the community, likely to those who could not otherwise afford them.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. The “total rebuilding of Omo Edumare Primary School” from a “state of disrepair” into a “model institution” directly supports the provision of quality primary education.
   • Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university. The foundation’s “scholarship awards” and the mention of the late Mrs. Ademosu “paying university students’ school fees” align with this target.
   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The reconstruction of the dilapidated Omo Edumare Primary School is a clear example of upgrading education facilities to create an effective learning environment.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The event described in the article, involving the foundation, a private sector leader (Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie), and a government representative (Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun), exemplifies the kind of multi-stakeholder partnership this target promotes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Implied Indicator: The number of medical procedures performed. The article specifically mentions “life-transforming eye surgeries,” and progress can be measured by tracking the number of surgeries conducted and patients treated.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Implied Indicator 1: Number of scholarships awarded. The article states the foundation has provided “scholarship awards” and has plans to “expand its scholarship scheme to accommodate 1,000 students,” providing a clear, quantifiable metric for progress.
   • Implied Indicator 2: Number of educational facilities upgraded. The “total rebuilding of Omo Edumare Primary School” serves as a specific instance that can be counted. The article notes this inspired others, implying this could be a recurring and measurable activity.
   • Implied Indicator 3: Number of beneficiaries of educational programs. The article mentions the foundation has “impacted thousands of lives” and aims to reach “100,000,” which can be used as a high-level indicator of the foundation’s reach and impact.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thisdaylive.com