Lagos Based NGO, Project Alert Clocks 16, Celebrates 16 Survivors, The Foundation Gave A Lifeline( Photos)

On Saturday, December 5, 2015, Project Alert, a non-governmental women's rights organization set up in 1999 to promote and protect the rights of women and young girl celebrated  16 years of advocacy and intervention in the lives of Nigerian women

The  event which took place in Ikeja Lagos  was a colorful one  and significant for the NGO. in attendance were Nollywood Icon, Kate Kenshaw and popular Comedian Koffi

The high point of the event was recognition to individuals who have been supportive of the NGO all through these years

The Award was called " GBV Heroes Award. The award is in recognition of their courageous fight against gender based violence in general  and domestic / sexual abuse in particular . Also recognized  were 16  survivors. Women that the NGO gave a life line and a voice when they were faced with challenges of sexual abuse and violence from their  loved ones. Happy to announce that they made it despite  the odds

In the words of Josephine Effah-Chukwuma,the founder of Project Alert who delivered the opening address during the occasion

 "16 Years ago, in 1999, I founded Project Alert along with five other women from various professions. Together we form the Board of Trustees of this organization. Set up to promote and protect the rights of women and young girls in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general, Project Alert envisages a world and specifically a Nigeria where there is zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women/girls. Our mission is to provide information on all forms of violence against women, and render practical support services to victims/their families and survivors. Violence against women and girls in Nigeria, knows no boundaries and women are more at risk of it from people they know, love and trust than strangers. We started the first shelter for abused women in Nigeria in May 2001. We have rendered legal aid to 1100 women and families; and sheltered over 500 women and children.

Of this huge number of women and families we have assisted over the years, we are here to celebrate 16 of them. We celebrate 16 outstanding women and families who refused to be silenced by fear and stigma; battered into submission by religion and culture; and threatened by their families, communities and various state agencies. Exceptional women, girls and families of courage they are. Women who ordinarily would have been bent by their families; broken by culture and tradition; defeated and killed by impunity and in some cases by poverty and ignorance.

The journey though long and tedious, since 1999, has been a rewarding experience. We are proud of the successes we have recorded and impact we have made. All these however would not have been possible without our passionate and committed staff, interns and lawyers. Worthy of particular mention are Barr. Ben Odeh of Ben Odeh & Co. and Barr Samuel Akpologun two of our lawyers who have never lost a Project Alert case in court. Also worthy of commendation is our Shelter Administrator and Counsellor, Mrs. Nsini Udonta. Others are Gabriel Akinremi (ICT), Samuel Osifuye, Tunde Aluko, and our young interns – Bimbo, Wura and Chidinma. Also others who worked with us and at some point had to move in search of greener pastures.

Our gratitude also goes to all our funders and donors – organizational and individual these sixteen years. We are grateful for their belief and trust in us.

See photos from the event below