UK-Based NGO Recognises Down Syndrome’s Crusader

Down’s Syndrome awareness crusader, Sandra Nwugo, has been hard at it for some time now and, recently, her efforts to get sufferers the support and welfare they need, was finally recognised by a United Kingdom-based non-profit body, PaceworkingInternational.

The event, which held in the evening of July 11, 2015 at the Kensington Close Hotel London, United Kingdom, saw the Nwugo, who is also the chief executive officer of FEMAZ Micro-finance Bank, honoured alongside United Nations’ ambassador John Fashanu and television presenter Rachel Bakam.

The entrepreneur and humanitarian’s award was part of events to mark the NGO’s 10th year anniversary.

Also, the NGO decided to provide the needs of Methodist High School, Lagos and contribute to the welfare of Down’s syndrome sufferers.

Nwugo was awarded for her Excellence In Business & Support Of Community Project, while Fashanu was made a Down Syndrome Charity Ambassador and Bakam was awarded for Excellence in Media & Innovation.

Nwugo has become quite popular for her humanitarian projects, among which are the establishment of Esther Zion Orphanage in Abuja, engineering human capital development through her Femaz Microfinance Bank, leading media campaigns for support to vulnerable children (as seen in her movie Revelation), among a number of other worthy projects.

Good enough, she is proud of all the trouble she goes to get all these done.

“I am short of words, but one thing I can say is that I am grateful to Paceworking for this award. It can only spur me to do more. Supporting children with down syndrome is my own way of fulfilling my passion of providing for the needy. I have been supporting them for the past one year, but I didn’t look over my shoulder to see if anyone noticed. I never thought I would be recognised this way. I run an orphanage and these are the kind of things I love to do. I have worked with my team to support to the caregivers of the children and avail them basic necessities like medicines, but that is just us doing what we can.

“Sadly, I do not think that they are getting as much support as they should and it is unfortunate. I have been to some orphanages and I see the children are poorly kept and unhealthy; it is such an eye-sore. This motivated me to set up my own orphanage, so that I can show others how to take care of these children,” Nwugo said.

Nwugo revealed that she depends on her husband and father, as well as proceeds from her other businesses to run her charity projects.

That, however, does not mean that she has a huge purse t finance her cause.

“I also appeal to my customers and people around me to help with the projects. My challenge is that people think I am foolish taking care of children who are not biologically mine, but God in heaven who rewards also replenishes.

While presenting the award to Nwugo, Fashanu said: “The issue of Down Syndrome is something that must be brought up and put on the agenda for the new government, especially because it is still considered a taboo in Nigeria. We need to understand that it isn’t something for witches or wizards but is a challenge any child could be exposed to.”

Fashanu said recognition of efforts like Nwugo’s provided the right opportunity and platform to educate the public about the challenge and urged all present to develop a positive attitude towards the society’s vulnerable and sufferers of Down’s Syndrome.

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