By Ismaila Chafe
Hajiya Hadiza Buhari Bello, daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari has debunked allegations of franchise infringement by the Bring Back Our Girls group, led by former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.
Hadiza who is President of theThe Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative (AFRISEI) and Don Uche, the secretary said their organisation would never engage in illegal activities by stealing someone else’s franchise.
She explained that contrary to the allegation Dr. Ezekwesili, her organization did not need to lean on the BBOG to be of service to the Chibok Girls and therefore had no reason to steal anything from BBOG or use its name to achieve any advantage.
According to her, the Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative has its own defined objectives and that it didn’t need to steal anybody’s ideas to operate in line with its own objectives.
Hajiya Hadiza Buhari Bello and Uche also explained that their organization is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and issued certificate of incorporation on 14th July, 2016.
While praising the activities of the BBOG to raise and sustain awareness about the plight of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, the President’s daughter said that their organization had broader objectives beyond the Chibok girls.
They said though the Chibok girls are within the priority of their organization, its commitments to humanitarian causes does not end with Chibok schoolgirls.
“Given the size of the problem at hand, the more Organisations we have assisting Chibok and other devastated communities, the better for the country,” added the statement.
Hadiza Buhari and Uche added that as a charitable organization, AFRISEI is committed to empowering the youth and the less privileged in the area of job creation and skill acquisition.
It is also committed to supporting the education of the less privileged students, giving material support to the downtrodden and the internally displaced persons.
They also said AFRISEI is committed to educating the masses to discourage unhealthy practices such as child trafficking, child abuse, child labour and gender discrimination.
The AFRISEI President and secretary said there is no law that prevents their organization from assisting the Chibok schoolgirls.
As a charity organisation, the group can offer help to people in distress, including the Chibok girls and the Boko Haram victims, they wrote.
