By ZEENAT MAGAJI

When more than 190 member-states of the United Nations met in September, 2015, the idea was to review the gains of the Millennium Developments Goals and seek the way forward. The theme of the meeting was: “Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” which became popularly known as “Project Everyone”.

Since the end of the Second World War in 1945, there has been a growing belief among economists and policy makers around the world that human capital is critical to economic growth and development. But human capital, on its own, will not bring about economic development unless deliberate collaborative steps are taken. Mr. Phillip Moses, President of Zumunta Association, USA, Inc., a US-based non-profit organization, underscored the importance of cooperation and collaboration at his inauguration.

According to him: “We must come together, united, to promote dialogue, understanding, and cooperation for our social, economic, and political development, that will further our well-being; support, and facilitate the creation of our sense of community; commitment to peace, social justice, sustainable development and art of non-violent conflict resolution through public enlightenment, research, publication, discussion and community participation.”

Nigeria and other developing economies will not get it right if groups and individuals do not rise to complement effort of governments to utilize human capital and promote cooperation and fellowship in and among communities. Thirty years ago, Zumunta Association USA, Inc., rose to the challenge. When it was formed in 1991, the primary focus of the association was, among others, to “promote discussion and action on challenges that can be addressed through collaboration that is deep, coherent, and coordinated with every sense of objectivity.”

Ultimately, the association emerged to bring Nigerians of Northern descent together to promote fellowship and activities amongst members in the United States and beyond.

Aside promoting dialogue, understanding and cooperation for social, economic and political development to further the well-being of its members, Nigeria and its host communities, Zumunta Association Inc. concerns itself with encouraging, supporting, and facilitating the creation of a sense of community among individuals and organizations as well as the promotion and advancement of education, the art of non-violent conflict resolution and community participation.

In furtherance of its effort to boost human capital development, Zumunta Association began to operate and offer students in Nigerian universities scholarships annually on a needs basis in 1998. The scholarships fund is exclusively maintained and funded by Zumunta Association from donations and from contribution from members. So far, the association has disbursed more than N100 million in scholarships to students and as intervention to educational institutions.

The first set of Zumunta Scholarship awardees graduated in 2015.

Zumunta Association works in tandem with local Non-Governmental Organizations to ease and enhance its activities in Nigeria to deliver humanitarian support to internally displaced people. Among the local NGO’s are Care International, Maiduguri, Nigerian Red Cross, Sokoto State Branch, Kunak Foundation, Kaduna State, Support for Ebira Women and Girl Child Initiative, Kogi State, Center for Women Youth and Community Empowerment, Nasarawa State.

Others are Sabaye Multipurpose Coop Society, Kano State, Dialogue Reconciliation and Peace Center, Plateau State. The association is supported by Medshare, Trustfund, The Western Union.

Over the past several years, Zumunta Association has delivered more than 10,000 kilograms worth of food supply to excluded members of society. As part of its 30th anniversary, President of the association, Mr. Phillip Moses was in the country last August to present cheques worth N3.5 Million to seven non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) from seven states in the North to alleviate hardship among Nigerians.

The presentation ceremony at the Jos Business School was hosted by Chief Ezekiel Gomos, a former Secretary to the Government of Plateau State who takes time off his tight schedule to coordinate the noble activities of Zumunta Association in Nigeria.

Outside Nigeria, Zumunta Association regularly provides succour to the needy in the United States of America and supports effort to ease the hardship of victims of disasters.

The association also partners the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide intervention for victims of natural and man-made disasters across the world. For instance, Zumunta Association USA was among the early organizations to respond to United Nations’ appeal for support for victims of the 2010 earthquake disaster in Haiti and the 2018 flood disaster in The Philippines, among others.

Indeed, past and present members of Zumunta Association have cause to roll out the drums. While they celebrate three decades of improving lives, members of the association are aware that the world is in a state of flux and the years ahead will present greater challenges. But the association has come a long way, and looking at the giant strides over the past three decades, Zumunta Association USA looks set to scale whatever hurdles a changing global dynamics may place in its way.

•Zeenat Magaji (zeenatmagaji2002@gmail.com) is a student of the Department of Cyber Security Science, Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Update news