By; Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna.
A student driven non-profit organisation, Entrepreneurial Actions For Us (ENACTUS), Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, has called for partnership with journalists on issues of development in Nigeria.
Speaking to a group of journalists at the ENACTUS Kadpoly secretariat, the Team Leader of the NGO, Adikpe Odeh, said investigative journalism is the only way to go in highlighting challenges faced by rural communities.
He commended the journalists for their works in developmental and investigative reporting with the aim of identifying communities that need intervention in terms of education, health and water.
“We are impressed with your drive to take on investigative reporting with the aim of providing developmental solutions to our communities. We will very much like to partner with you; we can work together to help such communities within the state and beyond that need assistance.
“You can help us identify these types of communities,” he said.
The visiting Journalists recently reported on Unguwan Kanti village, a community in Western Rigasa – Kaduna, that has no potable water, no healthcare facility, but has a very difficult road and terrain which makes access to the village challenging.
Weeks after the report, ENACTUS Team visited the community and commenced construction of a ‘Sand Dam’ for the people.
“We were touched with the level of under development in that community. So, we decided to turn their only pond that serve as source of water for the residents to Sand Dam.
“Sand dam is new in this country – there is none in the whole of West Africa – you can only find it in Ethiopia and Kenya. We resolved to construct a dam not borehole for sustainability, because we realised that borehole can only last for a short term, which may only provide a temporary solution to their water problems.
“The dam is a life-time solution to their water problems, because it’s going to be used for both drinking and irrigation farming,” he said.
In a remark, team leader of the visiting investigative journalists, Iliya Kure, said the team is out to shape journalism profession in the region by leading others in the direction.
He commended ENACTUS for the effort of addressing the water problem of Unguwan Kanti village, as he assured them of the journalists support to help identify other communities in need of social amenities for intervention.
ENACTUS provides a platform for students of higher institutions to create community development projects that put people’s own ingenuity and talents at the center of improving their livelihoods.
The group is guided by educators and supported by business leaders, while students take entrepreneurial approach that empowers people to be a part of their own success.
Their work transforms both the lives of the people they serve, and in turn, the lives of students, as they develop into more effective, value-driven leaders.
