Challenged by the growing level of poverty in the country and socio-economic problems faced by children, Clothe the Child (CtC) initiative, founded by Godbless Otubure, has taken up the burden of making the world better for as many children as possible.

In this interview with YNaija, Otubure tells us about his organization, their mission and challenges encountered in the quest to save as much children as possible.

1. What led to the formation of Clothe-the child initiative?

In a world desperately in search of solutions to its ever growing challenges as it relates to the needy and people of poor-parentage, and the need to maximally utilise oneself in the face of obvious distractions and threats for the benefit of humanity and the society at large, Hence, Clothe the Child Initiative (CtC) was born to help bring succor to the vulnerable and needy of in the society.

The first problem that really pushed me to start CtC was from my direct experience seeing kids all over the place without clothes on. For me, it was not the best. So I got the leading to start something that corrected it. Then we discovered that after clothing comes Education. Hence, our core focus is on Child care and education as well as young youth support.

The Initiative is registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission as Clothe the Child Initiative.

2. What exactly is the mission and objective of the initiative?

Objectives: This Initiative has a mandate to provide Clothing, Hygiene-Supporting as well as Educational Support Materials and Scholarships to vulnerable children and adolescents across Nigeria and the rest of the world.                                                

Mission: To ensure that children of poor backgrounds in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world do not live on a daily basis without clothes on; do not drop out of school due to parent’s inability to buy books and other educational support materials; and are also provided basic support like scholarship opportunities.

The Initiative has the following goals:

i. To ensure that vulnerable Kids and adolescents of poor parentage across Nigeria and the rest of the world are clothed

ii. To provide educational support materials to the vulnerable kids of society so as to keep them in school

iii. To provide life-enriching support to the less privileged through identified- Needy orphanages, Slums and Destitute-Settlements as well as inner city communities.

3) How long has your NGO been around? Have you made any impact or achieved any of your goals? 

CtC has been around since 2011 September. CtC has given support to over 10,000 direct beneficiaries spread across 3 states in Nigeria. Edo, Lagos and Ogun State.

As touching our goals, Yes we have met some and still looking forward to greater heights as we set new ones daily for the organisation.

4) Can you tell us about some of the programmes done by your organisation?

Our board of trustees and advisers: As a result of our passion and genuine drive to affect our world, we have been able to affiliate ourselves with the following highly respected Nigerians in their chosen field of endeavour.

1. Mr Atuyota Akporobomeriere A.k.a (Ali Baba) GCFR
2. Mr Olakunle Soriyan (CEO, Olakunle Soriyan Company)
3. Mr Tunde Ojikutu      (CEO, 360 Degree Learning Solutions – Apprentice Africa)
4. Mr Godbless Otubure (CEO, Significance&Company, Founder Clothe The Child Initiative)

5. Mrs Semira Oguntoyinbo ( Corporate Communications Manager – Property Mart)

What we have done: The Initiative has till date carried out 7 different high impact projects in three states of Nigeria namely; Edo, Lagos and Ogun State Respectively. CtC’s first project carried out in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria was themed – Clothe and Educationally Support the Cornerstone of Hope Orphanage Home (CESCHOH) with about 30 beneficiaries. The second project carried out by CtC in Lagos State was themed – Clothe and Educationally Support Otumara Community Slum (CESOCS) with over 1000 beneficiaries. The third project carried out by CtC in Ogun State was themed – Clothe and Educationally Support Ibafo Community (CESIC) with over 600 beneficiaries.

The fourth project carried out by CtC in Lagos State was themed – Clothe and Educationally Support Ogudu-Orioke-Agboyi Community (CESOOAC) with over 1000 beneficiaries. The Fifth project carried out by CtC in Lagos State was themed –Educationally Support Makoko Community (ESMC) with over 600 beneficiaries. The Sixth project to be carried out by CtC in Lagos State was themed –Moment of Impact – #LifeMadeEasy in Ajegunle Community with 2000 beneficiaries. The seventh project to be carried out by CtC in Lagos State was themed – – #iTakeResponsibility in Mushin Community with over 2500 beneficiaries and 10 Scholarship Awards to teenagers and kids of poor parentage.

CtC will be marking its 5 years this year even though we were officially registered with the CAC in 2014. We would have a fund raising dinner for our scholarship scheme, a #iTakeResponsibility Football Awareness game and a Community Impact Project to mark our 5th year anniversary.

Website: www.clothethechild.com or www.clothethechild.org, Facebook: www.facebook.com/clothedchildngo, Twitter: @clothedchildngo, Mobile: 08158865606

5) What is the Political and Economic Leadership Academy? 

The Political & Economic Leadership Academy (PELA™) is an organisation that focuses on the development of Ideology-driven political systems, Nation-profiting economic ideas and the training of would-be and   active political & economic leaders using time-tested ideals, technology and research based solutions.

This is the part of me that gives back to the society when it comes to the discuss of Leadership and Economy management. Having led politically as an SUG Executive back at the University of Benin, coupled with my close working experiences with government officials and institutions over the last few years as a Youth development executive, I came to a position that has also been informed by an extensive research and observation of political office holders behaviour and economy management, that those who should lead politically tomorrow must be skilled in economy management as well as those with ideological belief system for leadership.

6) How are you working towards educating and engaging with young people with in the country?

Within the country, PELA organizes events in partnership with other bodies where we train would-be political office holders (Youths) on leadership and how to design economic solutions.

At PELA, we also use the internet through our posts on Facebook to communicate our ideas and thinking. We have existing partnerships with YALI Network Face2Face, The Olakunle Soriyan Company, Business-Connect, Significance&Company as project partners.

We currently have a High-Level Political & Economic Leaders Forum at the US Consulate on the 11th of July, 2016 with Prof Pat Utomi, Olakunle Soriyan, Muhammed Garuba and Godbless Otubure as speakers and thought leaders to look at: Forming Political Ideology; Building a Modern Economy, Analysing Youth Employment Solutions and Government & Business Relations. As part of our innovation move, we are also looking at creating the PELA App where we can meet tomorrow’s leaders with contents designed to improve their understanding of leadership in the 21^st century on the go.