1 September 2004

AFRUCA DIRECTOR WINS EXCELLENCE IN HUMANITARIAN WORK AWARD

AFRUCA founder and Executive Director, Modupe Debbie Ariyo has been awarded the Excellence in Humanitarian Work Award for her work with African children.

An initiative of the Nigerian Professionals International Network, NiPRO, the Excellence Awards are aimed at recognising and rewarding Nigerians across the globe who have excelled in their chosen fields. The Awards Ceremony will be held on 3 October in Miami, Florida, as part of the activities being held by the organisation to celebrate Nigeria's 44th Independent Anniversary.

Debbie Ariyo established AFRUCA in May 2001 to help raise awareness of the challenges facing African children in the UK. She later resigned her civil service career to serve as the organisation's Executive Director in an unpaid capacity.  Under her leadership, AFRUCA has made great strides in promoting the cause of protecting African children, pushing the rights of the African child up the political and social agenda in the UK.

As exemplified by a recent motion in the UK House of Commons signed by 49 MPs in support of AFRUCA's work, the organisation has become respected both in the policy and voluntary communities as an authentic and credible voice, advocating and facilitating increased protection and well being for African children in the UK and other parts of the world. The NiPRO award is a testimony to Debbie and AFRUCA’s hard work and commitment, and an affirmation that the work AFRUCA does is a critical one which is recognised in other parts of the world.

The Board of AFRUCA hereby congratulate Debbie and her team members for this laudable achievement and encourage others who recognise the importance of AFRUCA's work to give the organisation more support. 



AFRUCA –Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
September 2004