Winners have emerged for the JohnPaul Usman Award for Civic Leadership issued to the YALI Network in April 2017. The Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN) disclosed this on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, in a statement sent to Diplomatic Watch.
The statement read: “The winners emerged from a careful review of over 300 applications by the U.S. Embassy Nigeria in collaboration with MWFAAN. And the winners are: One, Organization: Dialogue Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) Centre, Jos. Project Title: Countering violence extremism and hate ideology through social media in Jos. Summary: This project seeks to counter violent extremism and hates ideology on social media through the formation of Nonviolence Narratives Network and organizing step down sensitization training among young people in Jos. Award: N1,493,200
“Two, Organization: Leadership Initiative for Youth Empowerment (LIFE), Lagos Project Title: Youth Leadership for Peace Building. Summary: This project is focused on strengthening youth participation in peace-building by cascading the United Stated Institute for Peace (USIP) Generation Change training program among young people in 6 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State. Award: N1,438,000
“Three, Organization: A Woman’s Heart Foundation, Abuja Project Topic: Inter-school tour and debate competition on children’s rights and peace building. Summary: The project aims to promote children’s rights by organizing interactive sessions and debate competitions among students of 6 public secondary schools in the FCT. Award: N1,315,000
“Four, Organization: African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPACAN), Enugu Project Topic: Strengthening and improving information about the rights of the child in Enugu State. Summary: This project seeks to establish child rights clubs in 6 secondary schools in Enugu and improve access to child abuse support services in the state through social media. Award: N1,490,500
“The awardees were unveiled at a ceremony in Lagos on September 18, 2017. The purpose of the award is to memorialize the late John Paul Usman, 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, by funding projects submitted by YALI Network members from Nigeria focused on child rights and peace building. The award is funded by the Department of State and will be managed by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN),” the statement added.
