By Chukwunyere Nwosu and Sejoro Ekundayo
To support the growth of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), The Network of Disabled Women (NDW) has partnered with Disability Rights Fund to equip managers, staff and global executive members of NDW with appropriate skills to facilitate successful organizational management within Federal Capital Territory.
The one-day Skill-up event was held on Wednesday, June 29, at Laps New World Hotel, Jabi, Abuja.
At the event, managers and staff of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and executive members were trained to build capacity on financial management, NGO governance and organization safeguarding.
Speaking at the occasion, Vice President Rose Daniel of NDW observed that resource personnel at the program were experts in their fields and have been carefully selected to train and equip PWDs with deeper insights, skills, and knowledge that will reposition them to better manage their Organizations and finances.
The training was aimed at strengthening and upskilling the capacity of Persons wIth Disabilities to function effectively and efficiently in the execution of tasks in their respective organizations. It also aimed at strengthening Organizations of PWDs in administering and delivering projects with professionalism and competence.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to participants and facilitators. Participants also took pre & post tests and engaged in interactive sessions.
One of the facilitators, Mr. Solomon O. Imooje, managing partner of S.O. Imooje & Co. chartered accountants remarked that ”the lifeline of any organization is funds, and the purpose of the presentation on financial management was to guide and train PWDs on how to manage funds gotten from donors for specifically set goals”. He added that financial management is crucial to the sustainability of NGOs.
A beneficiary of the training, Mrs. Biboara Yinkere, a special parent from The Engraced Ones Prayer Support and Advocacy Initiative, in an interview remarked on how she has learned a lot and can now go back to hold a meeting with her team to implement what she learnt. Yinkere noted that it isn’t just about the passion but the need to do things in a more professional way – meanwhile getting the financial aspect right.
She advised those who couldn’t make it to the training to learn how to budget properly because for NGOs to thrive and achieve their purpose and vision, funds are needed. Therefore to attract donors for financial support, there has to be accountability and transparency. Hence, financial management is crucial to sustain and thrive as an NGO.
Facilitators at the training were Mr. Solomon O. Imooje (Financial Management), Biodun Bukky Ogundipe (NGO Governance), Mr Fabian Tukmen (Organization Safeguarding Policies and Practice).