Our E-news hits the web tabloids with a bang as we are right back in the editorial suite.

The need to re-plan and re-brand our e-news letter, to bring you the very best, kept us off line all this while. We took precious time consulting our various partners to bring you this resource filled edition and we hope the products justify the length of time taken into its preparation.

Our current subscription base is over 100 recipients, in over 30 countries ranging from individuals, the development organisations, corporate institutions, donor agencies and so on. The list is seemingly endless.

Thank you sincerely for your well intended and motivating comments when we were not around. It stimulated us into immediate action and we promise it would reach you on line more frequently this time on.

A patient at VVF Hospital, Kofan Gayan Zaria

There’s a lot happening in the desks of MPL, what with the successful quarterly management meeting and Staff Capacity Building workshop with the theme; “Improving Management System,” held recently. The CEO commended it as the best one so far.

Mentioned still, is the dynamic entrant of our very determined new staff members who promise to keep the lamp of MPL burning with brighter flames.

A radio serial drama program “Gugar Goge” performed in Hausa language, is a highly successful radio serial drama done in collaboration with PMC ( Population Media Center) and Rotarian Action Group on Population and Development to Inform, Educate, change behaviours and Harmful Traditional Practices of which years and years of adherence had tagged the norm. It helped to encourage behavioral change and unleash courage to actualize this change in its numerous northern Nigeria listeners.

Get to know how Gugar Goge changed lives, sought medical attention, reunited a husband and wife and brought out renewed hope in a rigid tradition in the life of Halima and others like her, read on.

Having run it’s 70 episodes serial, “Gugar Goge” gives way to “Ruwan Dare” its sequel (not yet on air at the time of this editorial) slated for Kaduna ,Kano, Katsina and Sokoto states respectively.

Ruwan Dare was designed on the Sabido methodology primarily, with the intent to attract a wider listening audience, shape attitudes, increase awareness of reproductive health so as to increase the number of people who use reproductive health services, with a long term outcome of demand for family planning in northern Nigeria. Unlike “Gugar Goge”, it has 234 episodes, intended to run till 2010.

The ancient city of Kano bubbles to life as big wigs in the communication world, grace her land bringing to bare their massive wealth of knowledge for the betterment of the suffering masses. Find out who these are and their mission in Kano state.

Learn a little about events in development world and what President Bush’s recent proposal of 30 billion dollars support for AIDS Program in developing countries is set to achieve.

Workers strike in any nation is seen as extreme measure taken against a defaulting government of that nation. Could things be done better? How about the principles of dialogue? You may ask the NLC/ government.
Nigeria’s work force has put their foot down on what they call unnecessary hardship meted on its masses through the unwarranted increases of fuel price in the nation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. An ultimatum was given to the new government of president Yar'adua to put right this wrong or face the consequence of national strike.

Post Election Nigeria: the need to bury the hatchet by all aggrieved, in other to move the nation forward, is what Nigeria needs to do having successfully moved from one democratic government to another, a history made. It behooves stakeholders to show maturity and responsibility on this issue to ensure peace.

We are currently renovating our website where diverse issues and topics regarding  development work, research and interventions ,workshops, news and many more would be discussed .We stand on being one of the very best you can possibly log unto for real information. http//www.multisec.org.ng

We would be glad to have comments on our newly refurbished e-news. Send mails to
enews@multisec.org.ng

Happy Reading.

New Staff Joins MPL

MPL is happy to announce the entrance of new staff members to the organization. The new members are:

Dr Anita Omoboya is currently the Senior Manager Development and Partnership. A graduate of Fine and Applied Arts from the University of London with MSc and PhD in Sociology from the Portland University, Oregon USA, Mrs Omoboya has 6 years experience working in Managerial Positions in various companies and organizations in Nigeria among which are; Woman Editor for the Monitor Newspapers, in which she handled Health, Science, Social and Gender/children related issues, was General Manager for D’Rovans Hotel Ibadan, giving her experience in the hospitality industry. She has worked in various child related NGOs and is the founder and Chief Executive of General Children Trust (GCT) an NGO that handles OVC and pregnant teenage girls related issues. She is a senior member and Public Relations Officer to National Association for Child Right Advocates of Nigeria. (NACRAN) Oyo State Chapter. With her over 6 years experience in executive positions in various organisations, Dr Omoboya brings in a lot of experience to strengthen donor collaboration with Multi Sector Projects. She is of Nigerian/American descent.

Mr Odukogbe Olawale Awolowo is the new Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer on Programs. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from the University of Ibadan and has just completed his Master's in the same field with specialisation in Classical Rhetoric. Mr Awolowo coordinates the interface between the Chief Executive office and the program teams. Mr Awolowo will also help to coordinate program implementation, budgeting and field expenditure analysis. He is also involved in programs development and donor relationship management.

Mr Innocent Kamga joined MPL as Program Assistant and IT Manager. Mr Kamga has over 15 years experience using computer to support corporate operations. He formerly served as IT Manager to PROLEG S A, a subdivision of Group Fotso Victor, a large conglomerate in Cameroon, France, Senegal and Mali. He founded DigiSoft, an IT service delivery organisation in Cameroon.
His current engagement in MPL is to provide a foundation for DigiSoft and MPL to jointly provide specialized services in the country.
Mr Kamga is a Cameroonian living in Nigeria.

Capacity Building Workshop

MPL first quarterly capacity building workshop for the year came up on the 26th of May 2007. The workshop was attended by all key personnel and management staff.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer said he was very happy that the quarterly meeting was being held to help strengthen and produce an efficient organisation where everyone will be awake to his/her responsibilities, while matching objectives with result in taking MPL to the next level.

He also welcomed, officially to the organisation the new staff members who attended the meeting for the first time.

The workshop which took place at MPL conference room has the theme: "Improving Management System". Papers presented at the workshop include, 'Workplace Behaviour" by Executive Director of Finance and Operation, Mrs. E T Asangaeneng, "Administrative Procedures" by Senior Manager Development and Partnership, Dr Anita Omoboya, “Building your Capacity as Staff” by Manager
Programs, Mr Bello M Adetokunbo,	Quarterly Management Meeting	Capacity Building Workshop

“Information Technology” by the IT Manager, Mr Innocent Kamga while the Theme Presentation was by the Chief Executive Officer Mr Tony Asangaeneng.

The staff members expressed their happiness for the outcomes as they recounted their gains from the workshop.

 A communiqué was issued at the end of the workshop with all staff members speaking in unison to take MPL to the next level.

MPL is glad to announce the incoming of it’s renovated corporate website, full of new features and more information including its new column “what’s news”, to keep in touch with its up-coming events. MPL’s IT Manager, Innocent Kamga, uses his magic fingers to broaden the new attractive design which provides an easy access to information.

The home page recapitulates the MPL methodology in development research and interventions with links to detailed pages for sound information.

The photo gallery page provides pictures on programs, staff workshop etc.

The U S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has brought critically needed services to millions of people in the developing world. President Bush recently proposed $30 billion U S investment into AIDS programs in developing countries.

Extending PEPFAR for five more years and doubling its initial $15 billion is a dramatic step toward improving the health and well being of some of the world’s most vulnerable population.

PEPFAR program has benefited the world enormously by averting new HIV infections, bringing life-saving antiretroviral treatment to those who are HIV-positive, caring for these persons and their families, and preventing opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis and malaria.

The PEPFAR program has given succor to millions of HIV positive patients, with anti-retroviral treatment and delivered innovative services for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Nigeria is one of the PEPFAR's 15 focus countries which is said to represent approximately 50 percent HIV infections world wide.
It is estimated that the new phase of the project will support treatment for 2.5 million people of more than 12 million new infections, and provide care for more than 12 million infected and affected people, including 5 million orphaned and vulnerable children.

According to the National Coordinator HIV/AIDS at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Annette Akinsete, "with the support of PEPFAR, 50 percent of those infected would have access to quality treatment".