PRESS RELEASE
The Ike Odoeme Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger and more resilient communities across Nigeria through the unveiling of its Annual Calendar of World Observances and Development-Focused Activities.
With a core mission to empower underserved Nigerian communities especially women, girls, and rural families, the Foundation continues to focus on sustainable health, education, clean-water, economic empowerment, and community development projects that promote resilience and lasting opportunity.
According to the management of the Foundation, the new calendar will serve as a strategic guide for year-round interventions, helping to align the organisation’s work with global observances that highlight the needs of vulnerable populations.
Speaking on the initiative, the Foundation emphasised that the calendar will ensure that programmes and advocacy efforts are effectively coordinated, measurable, and impactful. Each observance in the calendar is linked to a specific development goal and supported with suggested activities tailored to the realities of Nigerian communities.
The Ike Odoeme Foundation also announced that it will work in collaboration with the Imo State Ministry of Health and other relevant state agencies to enhance the reach and sustainability of its yearly programmes, ensuring that interventions are implemented in alignment with government development priorities.
The calendar opens with the International Day of Education on January 24, focusing on school repairs, scholarships, and reading drives to promote learning. February 27 marks World NGO Day, which will be celebrated through donor appreciation events, volunteer recruitment, and open days to strengthen partnerships.
In March, the Foundation will commemorate International Women’s Day by hosting women’s skills fairs, business grants showcases, and health panels to promote women’s empowerment. Later in the month, on March 22, World Water Day will highlight clean-water initiatives such as borehole handovers, hygiene awareness, and community water testing.
April will be dedicated to health promotion with World Health Day on April 7, featuring free health checkups, and World Malaria Day on April 25, marked by sensitisation campaigns, school health talks, and the distribution of treated mosquito nets.
In May, the Foundation will observe Menstrual Hygiene Day, providing free menstrual kits and holding health workshops in schools to break stigma around menstruation.
June activities will include World Environment Day tree planting, riverbank clean-ups, and climate education, followed by World Refugee Day on June 20, which will be used to support displaced and vulnerable families through donation drives and health outreach.
The Foundation will also mark World Breastfeeding Week in August by promoting maternal and child health through breastfeeding education and nutrition sessions. On August 12, International Youth Day will highlight youth empowerment through vocational training and entrepreneurship showcases.
International Literacy Day in September will promote adult literacy classes and book drives, while World Cleanup Day (the third Saturday in September) will mobilise communities for environmental sanitation.
October will feature multiple impactful observances, including World Mental Health Day (October 10), International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), World Food Day (October 16), and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17). Activities for these dates will include mental health awareness campaigns, scholarship announcements for girls, nutrition education, and training for small-scale entrepreneurs.
In November, the Foundation will turn attention to sanitation and children’s welfare with World Toilet Day (November 19) and Universal Children’s Day (November 20). These will feature school sanitation upgrades, health education, and family support initiatives.
December will round off the year with a strong focus on inclusion and human rights. World AIDS Day (December 1) will promote HIV testing and destigmatisation; International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) will promote accessibility and inclusion; International Volunteer Day (December 5) will honour the Foundation’s volunteers; and Human Rights Day (December 10) will feature community rights education and advocacy programmes.
The Foundation further advised that organisations and partners working on related causes can select between six and eight key observances each year that align best with their budgets and areas of focus. It also encouraged partners to adopt a three-tier plan for each event, focusing on awareness, service delivery, and partnership mobilisation.
By strategically aligning its work with international observances and in collaboration with the Imo State Ministry of Health and other governmental stakeholders, the Ike Odoeme Foundation aims to make each intervention more visible, data-driven, and impactful, ensuring that no community is left behind in the journey toward sustainable development.
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