PASSION IS WHAT DRIVES MY LIFE … Barr. Ndidiamaka Akpaumontia

Mrs. Ndidiamaka Akpaumontia is a Nigerian Lawyer and a Mediator. She is also the founder of SANGDID Foundation, an NGO specifically for the total well-being of the family particularly, reaching out to the Widows in her community. In this interview with INEMESIT EBU, she spoke on her NGO, the girl-child and the theme of the International Women’s Day. Excerpts…

You recently hosted the Widows and the needy in your community. What prompted your outreach to them?

When I got married to my husband who is a Military Officer, he was always transferred from one station to another. I had witnessed God’s protection upon his life, either narrowly escaping accidents or one unpleasant incident during bush exercise. When I heard of these incidences, I entered into a covenant with God never to be a widow. I started looking out for widows in my community to impact on. I had a reasonable number of the widows around me whom I could reach out to. I then informed my husband about my passion to start an NGO to be called SANGDID Foundation, to assist the widows in our community. My husband gave me his blessings. I told God that I needed to sow a seed in the lives of these widows because I didn’t want to be suddenly widowed, so I had to take care of those who are already in that unfortunate situation.

How many times in a year do you reach out to the widows?

For now it is once a year. I reach out to the widows, the needy and even the children. SANGDID Foundation is for the total well-being of the family which caters for the mother, father and the child. At the last outreach in December 16, 2023, through SANGDID Foundation I offered free medical services, free eye treatments/glasses and Christmas gifts to these women, men and children. Their lives were touched and God used my foundation to put smiles on their faces during the festive period.

Beneficiaries were grateful to God for using you to solve some of their problems. How do you feel helping the needy in the society?

I feel fulfilled. It is my passion to assist the needy, especially the widows. That drives me. God blessed us to bless others. There is a level you reach in life and you are supposed to be a blessing to others. This is my time. Wherever you find yourself, make sure you reach out to others who don’t have. It gladdens my heart seeing those I assist being happy especially during the festive season when I choose to host my outreach. I can’t stop giving.

How will you encourage those who are privileged to give but don’t know how to start?

I will encourage them not to keep their wealth to themselves but should be able to reach out. There is a saying that when you keep filling your pot with clean water and you are not pouring out or changing the water, when you keep the water in the pot for some time, the water becomes stale, no more fresh. But if you keep changing the water, you find out that you have clean water all the time. I believe I have passed a message here to someone. I have to use the clean water analysis because my foundation is centered around clean water. I told God I have to be a clean water because it is only clean water that people come to drink. Even when my clothes are dirty, I need clean water to wash them, not dirty water; I also bath with clean water not dirty water. There’s an adage my husband told me sometime ago. He said if you come to a mango tree, it is only the ripe one that 20 people would want to pluck and eat because it’s ripe and looks clean. On the same mango tree, you’ll see mangos eaten by birds, nobody will go for that one because it is wounded. Let us use clean water always.Let us help the wounded in our communities.

When was your NGO, SANGDID FOUNDATION launched?

It was launched in the year 2018 in Lagos. This is the 7th year we are continuously reaching out to the wounded. Then, I did not plan to start an NGO, but just wanted to do my givings on a small scale not something big. I didn’t need publicity or even partnership. People actually proposed for partnership when we started but I told them I didn’t have the vision for partnership; it was as led by the Holy Spirit. At some point, my attention was focused on children, called, “stepping up”. This was about the wounded children, those with effect of hard drugs. I partnered with NAFDAC. I also also partnered with Lagos State government on skills acquisition for the girls and women. So these activities/programs gave me the encouragement to float an NGO called SANGDID FOUNDATION, which is a total package for the family. I’m intending to expand this outreach to a bigger community. I’m concentrating here in the Ikeja Cantonment because I live here.
You have to take care of those widows and needy around you at all times. It’s my passion. I love doing it.

You were inducted into the ICMC as a Fellow. Can you expatiate on the event?

I was inducted as a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, ICMC in Abuja. It was a great event. ICMC found me worthy to induct me as a Fellow and I give all glory to God for the privilege. It is a big honour with a big pack. It is big because I see it from the view of being a woman. I remember when I was being interviewed shortly after induction and I was asked by the reporter how I felt that day. I told him ‘I had been mediating for over 20 years privately with my husband but now I’m a full mediator recognized by the practitioners and the general public’. I’m really grateful to God, my husband and the organizers of this event for this honour.

Akpaumontia (3rd from right) with other participants during ICMC induction

How can you advise the younger women in marriage to keep their homes in peace?

I give kudos to every woman who has stayed in marriage from 10 years and above; they are champions. They have been in the war front everyday and still come out strong. Even when wounded, they still fight on to keep their homes. I will advice the younger ones in marriages to see themselves as ‘First Ladies’, act like one. Hold your mouth, avoid talking too much, do not indulge in gossip, endure at all times, be flexible and above all pray without ceasing. If your husband is angry, you don’t need to talk back while he is talking. Remember to support him when necessary. Remember, marriage is work and work and work. Do not allow your life as a young wife to be centered on the Internet. It will ruin you and your family. I can remember when my children were much younger and I was working at Igbosere Court as a Lawyer. I’ll pick them up from school, give them their lunch and leave them inside the car. When I’m through with my work, we all go home. I’ll still cook for them, bath them and we do the homework together. This was the routine everyday. Young women in marriages nowadays want the easy way of doing thing. Where the man cannot provide, it becomes an issue in the family. I implore every young lady in marriage to do all she can to build a sweet and conducive home for her family.

Can you comment on the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day?

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration is “Inspire, Inclusion. In life, we need to have someone we look up to as a model. As one grows up, the model changes automatically because you have changed from one level to another. If we as women inspire one another, we will live in a better world. There are things you see in other women that inspire you. Im glad women are now coming together to assist others and bonding as a force. Remember, when we Inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion in government or other organizations, we forge a better world. When women themselves are inspired to be included, there is a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. Let is come together as women to build a better world for ourselves by inspiring one another.