Press Release
2nd, October 2013
Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria celebrates 12th Anniversary and Awareness Week 2013.
The Board of Trustees, staff and members of the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN), announces the commencement of her 12th Anniversary celebration and 2013 Awareness Week, which will commence on Saturday, 5th - 13th October, 2013.
The Awareness Week is part of a global event supported by all Down syndrome groups worldwide and is used to raise awareness and celebrate people with Down Syndrome as well as showcase the potentials, talents and capabilities of people with Down Syndrome to live independent lives.
The observance of this unique week is aimed at educating and enlightening Nigerians across the country about people with this condition and also to consolidate our efforts in advocacy, awareness and fundraising for them.
Having championed the causes of people with Down Syndrome for 12 years, the foundation has taken a bold step to significantly integrate people with Down Syndrome into the Nigerian society.
According to the National President of the foundation, Mrs. Rose Mordi, it is time the Nigerian corporate societies, religious institutions and the general public move a step further from just empathizing with people with the condition but make their lives more qualitative than is being witnessed.
“We have been advocating for people with Down syndrome and have been preparing them for the future these past12 years, I think it is time that Nigeria gives them a chance in areas that will affect their lives positively. We are specifically saying that it is time people with DS start getting employment especially in government establishments, they deserve patronage of businesses they have been trained to set up and also they should be given equal rights to fend for themselves in any area of endeavor. It is time for Nigerians to walk the talk,” she said.
And to show the resolve to the foundation in realizing this important objective, the Awareness Week will focus on the human rights and the quality of life of people with DS as the theme for this year’s celebration, I Have a Voice, is not only a statement but a strong expression of their readiness to live as Nigerians in Nigeria.
“People with Down Syndrome have a voice, they have rights; right to employment, right to work and fend for themselves and earn a salary and also a right to be given that chance to contribute to the development in this part of the world,” Mordi said.
Series of activities have been lined up for the celebration and these include an 8 Km Charity Walk which will start from National Theatre through Apapa road- Herbert Macaulay to terminate at St Agnes Primary School in Yaba, Lagos State. The walk is slated for Saturday, 5th October, 2013.
The walk will be followed by the hosting of an International Seminar to discuss educational, medical and socio-economic issues of Down Syndrome in Nigeria scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 8th October, 2013 at the Office of the Public Defender situated on Iyun Street, Surulere.
The seminar will present resource persons from within and outside Nigeria participating in an interaction with parents, care givers, guests and advocates for people with Down Syndrome. Mrs. Vanessa Dos Santos, the Executive Director, Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) is the guest speaker in the seminar which will also have speakers like Dr. O.A Ogunlowo of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State who will deliver a paper on: The Need for Early Medical Intervention for persons with Special Needs.
The second lecture entitled: The Need for Routine Dental Checks for Persons with Special Needs will be presented by Dr. J.O Kosoko from the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan while Mrs. Helen. O. Enemose of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) will deliver a paper on Counseling for parents of Persons with Special Needs and The Director, Office of the Public Defender, Barr. Rotimi Omotola, will deal on The Right of Persons with Special Needs.
An Awards and Fundraising Gala night will hold on Friday 11thOctober at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos. This occasion will offer the foundation an opportunity to raise funds needed to commence the construction of the Down Syndrome Foundation National Resource centre which will be located at Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The foundation is targeting raising N100 Million (One hundred Million) needed to start off immediate development of this facility which will be equipped to train people with the condition across the country and beyond. Also, at the Gala Night, partners, donors and advocates for people with Down Syndrome will be honoured with awards for their relentless support over the years. Leading the award list this year is the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babtunde Raji Fashola (SAN) who will be recognized for his unrestricted support to the foundation.
The grand finale of the Awareness Week slated for Sunday, 13th October at the Union Bank Sport Complex Bode Thomas, Lagos is a family oriented fun day with a charity 5-Aside competition between corporate/group teams as well as ample children activities. The football tournament will feature matches between male and female teams.
The foundation appealed to kindhearted Nigerians to come out and support these special persons and make society hear their voice.
“We are calling on everybody to make out time and be part of our week, people with Down Syndrome may not have a choice to be born with an extra chromosome, Nigerians should make a choice to help make their lives worthwhile by lending their support.”
2nd, October 2013
Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria celebrates 12th Anniversary and Awareness Week 2013.
The Board of Trustees, staff and members of the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN), announces the commencement of her 12th Anniversary celebration and 2013 Awareness Week, which will commence on Saturday, 5th - 13th October, 2013.
The Awareness Week is part of a global event supported by all Down syndrome groups worldwide and is used to raise awareness and celebrate people with Down Syndrome as well as showcase the potentials, talents and capabilities of people with Down Syndrome to live independent lives.
The observance of this unique week is aimed at educating and enlightening Nigerians across the country about people with this condition and also to consolidate our efforts in advocacy, awareness and fundraising for them.
Having championed the causes of people with Down Syndrome for 12 years, the foundation has taken a bold step to significantly integrate people with Down Syndrome into the Nigerian society.
According to the National President of the foundation, Mrs. Rose Mordi, it is time the Nigerian corporate societies, religious institutions and the general public move a step further from just empathizing with people with the condition but make their lives more qualitative than is being witnessed.
“We have been advocating for people with Down syndrome and have been preparing them for the future these past12 years, I think it is time that Nigeria gives them a chance in areas that will affect their lives positively. We are specifically saying that it is time people with DS start getting employment especially in government establishments, they deserve patronage of businesses they have been trained to set up and also they should be given equal rights to fend for themselves in any area of endeavor. It is time for Nigerians to walk the talk,” she said.
And to show the resolve to the foundation in realizing this important objective, the Awareness Week will focus on the human rights and the quality of life of people with DS as the theme for this year’s celebration, I Have a Voice, is not only a statement but a strong expression of their readiness to live as Nigerians in Nigeria.
“People with Down Syndrome have a voice, they have rights; right to employment, right to work and fend for themselves and earn a salary and also a right to be given that chance to contribute to the development in this part of the world,” Mordi said.
Series of activities have been lined up for the celebration and these include an 8 Km Charity Walk which will start from National Theatre through Apapa road- Herbert Macaulay to terminate at St Agnes Primary School in Yaba, Lagos State. The walk is slated for Saturday, 5th October, 2013.
The walk will be followed by the hosting of an International Seminar to discuss educational, medical and socio-economic issues of Down Syndrome in Nigeria scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 8th October, 2013 at the Office of the Public Defender situated on Iyun Street, Surulere.
The seminar will present resource persons from within and outside Nigeria participating in an interaction with parents, care givers, guests and advocates for people with Down Syndrome. Mrs. Vanessa Dos Santos, the Executive Director, Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) is the guest speaker in the seminar which will also have speakers like Dr. O.A Ogunlowo of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State who will deliver a paper on: The Need for Early Medical Intervention for persons with Special Needs.
The second lecture entitled: The Need for Routine Dental Checks for Persons with Special Needs will be presented by Dr. J.O Kosoko from the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan while Mrs. Helen. O. Enemose of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) will deliver a paper on Counseling for parents of Persons with Special Needs and The Director, Office of the Public Defender, Barr. Rotimi Omotola, will deal on The Right of Persons with Special Needs.
An Awards and Fundraising Gala night will hold on Friday 11thOctober at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos. This occasion will offer the foundation an opportunity to raise funds needed to commence the construction of the Down Syndrome Foundation National Resource centre which will be located at Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The foundation is targeting raising N100 Million (One hundred Million) needed to start off immediate development of this facility which will be equipped to train people with the condition across the country and beyond. Also, at the Gala Night, partners, donors and advocates for people with Down Syndrome will be honoured with awards for their relentless support over the years. Leading the award list this year is the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babtunde Raji Fashola (SAN) who will be recognized for his unrestricted support to the foundation.
The grand finale of the Awareness Week slated for Sunday, 13th October at the Union Bank Sport Complex Bode Thomas, Lagos is a family oriented fun day with a charity 5-Aside competition between corporate/group teams as well as ample children activities. The football tournament will feature matches between male and female teams.
The foundation appealed to kindhearted Nigerians to come out and support these special persons and make society hear their voice.
“We are calling on everybody to make out time and be part of our week, people with Down Syndrome may not have a choice to be born with an extra chromosome, Nigerians should make a choice to help make their lives worthwhile by lending their support.”
