Zaram Life Foundation has called for stronger partnerships with government, development organisations and the private sector to expand interventions aimed at protecting vulnerable groups, preventing human trafficking and promoting safe migration in communities.
The Founder and Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Eucharia Onyemaobi, made the call during its seventh anniversary celebration and humanitarian stakeholders’ forum held in Awka, Anambra State.
The event was themed, “From Grassroots Action to Lasting Impact: Building Communities Where Everyone Thrives.”
Onyemaobi said the foundation had remained committed to community development, safe migration awareness, the prevention of irregular migration and human trafficking, the protection of vulnerable populations, and the empowerment of women and young people since its establishment seven years ago.
She explained that through community engagement, sensitisation, advocacy, capacity building and strategic partnerships, the organisation had continued to promote human dignity, safety, opportunities and sustainable development despite challenges, including limited resources.
The founder said the foundation was determined to strengthen its programmes, deepen community engagement, expand its reach and adopt innovative approaches to migration communication, prevention, protection and empowerment in its next phase of development.
She urged government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, community leaders and the private sector to support the foundation’s efforts, noting that sustainable solutions to the challenges facing vulnerable communities required collective action.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Mr Patrick Aghamba, who represented Governor Chukwuma Soludo, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to youth empowerment, skills acquisition and strategic partnerships with credible civil society organisations.
Aghamba identified unemployment, poverty, human trafficking, drug abuse and unsafe migration as major challenges confronting young people, stressing the need to address their root causes through sustainable economic opportunities.
He said the Soludo administration was addressing these challenges through initiatives such as the 1Youth2Skills Plus programme and the Solution Innovation District, which provide young people with multiple skills, entrepreneurial competencies and opportunities to establish businesses.
The commissioner maintained that equipping young people with marketable and exportable skills would reduce their vulnerability to exploitation, crime, human trafficking and irregular migration.
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He commended Zaram Life Foundation for its interventions in safe migration awareness, survivor support, girl-child education, the prevention of gender-based violence and child protection.
He also assured the foundation that the state government remained open to partnerships that would advance youth development and inclusive community growth.
In their separate remarks, the Commissioners for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, and Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Lady Esther Onyekesi, said the Soludo administration had demonstrated commitment to inclusivity through its employment policies and open governance.
They cited the fact that more than 40 per cent of the state’s law enforcement personnel, alongside many civil servants, were non-indigenes.
They also disclosed that the state’s free education policy benefited children from neighbouring communities outside Anambra who crossed into the state daily to attend school.
According to them, the governor had insisted that the policy should continue in the spirit of “live and let live”.
However, they clarified that while Anambra remained open to everyone, it would not tolerate crime and criminality.
In separate goodwill messages, the National Coordinator of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE), Dr Emeka Obiezu, and other partners commended the foundation for its contributions over the years and pledged continued support for its activities.
