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By Ngozi Nwoke
The Committee of Friends for Humanity, (COFFHA), has restated its commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families in Nigeria’s poorest communities, drawing on the diverse backgrounds and resources of its members.
Speaking at a press conference in preparation for its investiture ceremony slated to hold in Lagos on 14th of June, Co-founder and Board of Trustee Chairman, Carolyn Akum Ufere disclosed that COFFHA was founded in 1991 and formally incorporated in January 1993 as a non-governmental organisation driven by women who have distinguished themselves in various fields.
She noted that the association is made up of accomplished women recognised for their integrity and selfless contributions to their professions, communities, and the wider society.
According to her, COFFHA’s core mission is to serve the most vulnerable, using collective strength to create a lasting impact at the grassroots level.
The organisation received a major boost in 2021 when it was granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council on 21 July. Ufere said the recognition has strengthened COFFHA’s advocacy and expanded its reach in areas such as community support, widow empowerment, street feeding, and medical outreach.
She explained that COFFHA’s programmes are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with particular focus on eradicating poverty, promoting good health and well-being, advancing gender equality, and creating decent work and economic growth.
She disclosed that since inception, the association has executed a wide range of projects across Lagos, Anambra, Abuja, Asaba, and other parts of the country. These include the building and equipping of the COFFHA Emergency Centre at Isolo General Hospital, Lagos, the refurbishment and furnishing of a 16-bed female ward and provision of a 20kVA generating set at Apapa Health Centre, as well as the donation of a kidney dialysis machine to Gbagada General Hospital also in Lagos.
COFFHA has also donated wheelchairs to the Lagos State Management Board and renovated the Children’s Ward B at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
The organisation’s empowerment drive has reached widows in Anambra and Lagos, while its food and relief interventions have supported Mother Theresa’s Orphanage in Ketu, Little Saints Orphanage in Dopemu, Modupe Cole Memorial Home in Akoka, Lagos Cheshire Home in Agege, and Beth Torrey Home in Lagos.
COFFHA also provided relief to Kirikiri female prison and the Centre for Destitute Empowerment International in Idimu, alongside cash support to Majidu Destitute Home in Ikorodu, Lagos, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In healthcare, COFFHA funded the medical bills of a six-year-old cancer patient at LUTH until his passing, and regularly visits hospitals including LUTH, Gbagada General Hospital, Ifako General Hospital, LASUTH and General Hospital Lagos Island to offset bills for indigent women with critical illnesses. Medical outreach programmes were also held in Okun-Ajah in 2018 and 2019.
The association’s commitment to education and skills development is reflected in its partnership with Google to train about 100 women on digital skills, as well as its Girl Child Education and Health Empowerment Project in Abuja and Asaba. Fifteen market women and girls in Lagos have also benefited from its empowerment initiatives.
Ufere recalled that COFFHA’s contributions to public health were recognised in 2002 when the Lagos State Health Management Board presented the organisation with an award for its immense support to the sector.
She added that the organisation remains focused on expanding its interventions and deepening partnerships to reach more vulnerable Nigerians in line with its founding mandate.
Speaking ahead of her investiture as president-elect of the COFFHA, Mrs. Augustina Igbokwe outlined an ambitious plan to expand the organisation’s reach to more vulnerable women, children, and families across Nigeria.
She pledged to build on COFFHA’s 33-year legacy of service and position the association to deliver humanitarian interventions with greater dignity and speed. She stressed that the organisation would remain committed to serving the poorest communities while upholding the values of integrity and selflessness that have defined it since inception.
Outlining her priorities, the incoming president said her administration would focus on three key areas. The first is the completion and activation of the 300-capacity Skill Acquisition Centre in Okun-Ajah, Lekki.
According to her, economic empowerment remains the fastest route out of poverty, as the centre will equip widows, young women, and underserved youth with practical skills for decent work and self-reliance.
Her second priority is to strengthen COFFHA’s health and medical outreach. She explained that the association would scale up hospital visits, medical bill offsets, and community outreaches to ensure that no woman or child is denied care due to the inability to pay.
“Health is the foundation of any meaningful life,” she said.
The third focus, she noted, is deepening advocacy for gender equality and the protection of the girl child. Mrs. Igbokwe said COFFHA would align more deliberately with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 3, 5 and 8, and use its Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council to amplify the voices of the voiceless and push for policies that protect and uplift vulnerable groups.
On mobilisation, the president-elect said COFFHA’s growth had always been driven by the passion of its members and the goodwill of partners. She pledged to make the network broader, more structured, and more visible by introducing task teams in health, education, empowerment, and advocacy. This, she said, would allow members to contribute based on their expertise and time, thereby strengthening commitment and impact.
She added that her administration would build transparent, results-driven partnerships with corporate organisations, foundations, and government agencies, showcasing measurable impact from past projects such as hospital refurbishments, widow empowerment programmes, and digital skills training. She also disclosed plans to leverage digital platforms and the media to tell COFFHA’s stories more effectively, both at home and abroad.
“Our goal is not just to raise funds, but to raise a movement of people who believe that service to humanity is the highest calling. Together, we will take COFFHA beyond Lagos and Abuja to every state where women and children are waiting for hope.”
Igbokwe concluded that her vision is for a Nigeria where the less privileged can live in dignity, security, and hope, and where every COFFHA intervention leaves a community stronger than it was found.
Chairman of the Investiture ceremony, Mrs. Christy Ray-Okoye assured members and guests of a seamless and dignified event that will reflect the organisation’s legacy of service.
She said her priority is to ensure that every detail is carefully planned and executed to honour the association and its incoming leadership.
She explained that the planning team is working with a detailed programme and strict timeline covering venue preparation, programme flow, security arrangements, and guest management.
On coordination, the chairman said regular joint meetings have been scheduled with the logistics, publicity, welfare, finance, and protocol committees to ensure smooth collaboration.
She noted that each committee has clearly defined responsibilities, with team leads reporting to the central planning committee to avoid duplication of efforts.
Ray-Okoye stressed that with clear roles, open communication, and daily reviews as the date approaches, the ceremony would meet the high standard COFFHA is known for.
The Publicity Chairman for the COFFHA Investiture, Mrs. Uche Obi revealed plans to give the ceremony wide visibility and reinforce the organisation’s reputation as a leading force in humanitarian service.
Obi said her focus is to ensure that the investiture receives the attention it deserves and reflects the dignity of the organisation.
She noted that a structured awareness campaign would be rolled out across media platforms in the lead-up to the ceremony to highlight key COFFHA projects, tell the organisation’s story, and build public interest.
She disclosed that after the event, the team would sustain momentum through a photo gallery and highlight video capturing key moments and speeches.
Mrs. Obi added that appreciation messages would be shared with partners and attendees as part of efforts to strengthen relationships and acknowledge support.
She said the overall strategy is to be proactive, professional, and consistent, ensuring that the investiture does more than a trend for a day.
“Our goal is to reinforce COFFHA’s reputation as a credible force for humanitarian service across Nigeria,” she stated.
