Zaram Life Clocks Seven, urges Stronger Partnerships to Protect Vulnerable Groups, Promote Safe Migration

Elochukwu Benjamin | Ichie Times 

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 in Anambra State, held in Awka.

The celebration was held under the theme, “From Grassroots Action to Lasting Impact: Building Communities Where Everyone Thrives.”

Onyemaobi said the foundation, since its establishment seven years ago, had remained committed to community development, safe migration awareness, prevention of irregular migration and human trafficking, protection of vulnerable populations, and empowerment of women and young people.

She explained that through community engagement, sensitisation, advocacy, capacity building and 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 called on 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 tackling these challenges through initiatives such as the 1Youth2Skills Plus programme and the Solution Innovation District, which equip young people with multiple skills, entrepreneurial competencies and opportunities to establish businesses.

The commissioner maintained that empowering young people with marketable and exportable skills would reduce their vulnerability to exploitation, crime, human trafficking and irregular migration.

He commended Zaram Life Foundation for its interventions in safe migration awareness, survivor support, girl-child education, prevention of gender-based violence and child protection, assuring that the state government remained open to partnerships that would advance youth development and inclusive community growth.

In their separate remarks, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor and his Women Affairs and Social Welfare counterpart, Lady Esther Onyekesi said the Soludo administration has demonstrated inclusivity through employment and open policies, citing that over 40% of the state’s law enforcement personnel and many civil servants are non-indigenes.

They disclosed that even the free education policy benefits children from border towns outside Anambra who come in daily to attend school, which the Governor insists should continue in the spirit of “live and let live.”
They, however, clarified that while Anambra remains open to all, it is not open to crime and criminality.

In their separate goodwill messages, the National Coordinator of CSOnetMADE (Civil Society Network on Migration and Development) Dr. Emeka Obiezu and other partners commended the foundation for its efforts over the years and pledged support in the coming years.