Muhammad Idris

First Bank of Nigeria’s SPARK project (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness)exemplifies the bank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility by positively impacting society, particularly the less privileged. On August 24, 2024, I, along with my colleagues, participated in this year’s SPARK initiative, coordinating the distribution of food and essential supplies to underserved communities in Kaduna State.

We visited Mercy Home in Romi, Kaduna South, where we supported around 70 orphaned children, providing them with food and motivational talks, encouraging them to dream big despite their challenging beginnings.

Our next stop was Al-Ihsan Foundation in Nasarawa, located along the Kaduna bypass. This foundation, which was established by an elderly woman dedicated to giving back to society, continues to fulfill her legacy even after her passing, with her children taking on the responsibility of running the home. Here, we reached out to about 150 individuals, predominantly young girls, offering them food supplies and support. We assured them that as a bank, we stand with them, reinforcing that their struggles are shared, and they are not alone.

Being involved in the SPARK project aligns with my broader commitment to community development. Before joining First Bank, I was an active volunteer in organizations supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across Nigeria. At First Bank, I continue to contribute to initiatives that reflect my dedication to uplifting marginalized communities, demonstrating that a commitment to humanity can thrive in any setting.
Muhammad Idris.
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On 7th of August, 2018,

we visited Medupe memorial school of mentally challenged and diaables at Yaba, Lagos as part of our (First Bank Graduate Trainee) corporate social responsibility (CSR). In addition to the succor we provided, each and every one of us learnt a lesson of life, a gift we should all be grateful for. We saw children that couldn’t walk or talk, children that wish they had a better life but instead they were confined into a particular space with little or no knowledge of what is going on across the fence.

To buttress that some of them could be fun and wish to live a fun life, we met a little lad called SHOLA who made us dance round a basketball court, who made us stretch our muscles perhaps to appreciate what God has given us in his own way.

With his sharp instinct, he was able to pick and pair some of the shy ‘couples’ amongst us and made them dance while we all laughed.

Indeed it was beyond the CSR, It was full of life lessons.
Each and every one of them prayed for every one of us including those absent.
We should continue to touch lives in this way no matter where we find ourselves, no matter how little it may seem.
A wise blind man once told me, that whenever you sow a seed in a disable person, it takes you far away from incidence that will make you disabled.
The lady in charge rounded up by telling us some of what caused of the problem where she laid emphasis on the women.

Saying they should be careful what they take especially when they are pregnant.
She said some of the children were affected as their mothers were taking drugs during pregnancy and she warned women to avoid similar act. She added by saying disability can come even after birth where she made an example of the 66 years old man who was 5 years old before he fell down and became paralyzed. Now he can’t hear, he can’t see, he can’t talk. Take a minute to imagine how he lived in this condition throughout his 61 years of pain.

We Thank God (Alhamdulilah).

Muhammad Idris

Lagos, 2018

Below us the documentary i put together after the project.

Theme song credit: Rihana (diamond)

On the 6th of June, 2019,

I was among the team that led a CSR mission to United Methods Church of Nigeria (UMCN) Orphanage home and Internally Displaced Person Camp at Jalingo Taraba State.

At the branch before the departure for the outreach

At the UMCN Orphanage home at Mile 6, Jalingo

At the IDP Camp distributing some relieve materials/food.

AFFECTING LIVES FROM BEHIND THE SCREEN.
In October, 2017 I was contacted by a friend @PAUL (live bridge foundation) that he needed a community in any part of Nigeria with poor educational facility. I then decided to share it with my Facebook contacts and an ‘unknown’ friend Mamman Alhaji Umar (CODE) which i never met till today contacted me and shared his community school pictures.

Fast forward to today, courtesy of Live bridge foundation, swiss embassy grant and CODE, the zugurma community in Niger State now have a new structured school facility with clean water for the children.

Guess what i have never visited the community and when i was invited for the commissioning, was absent (unintentional).

Kuchidna is a community located after Guruku, before Kabusu, Karu Local government of Nasarawa State.

In February, 2017 I received a call from a friend Austin Chinonye Ekwujuru (founder of basicrightswatch.org) that he needs a community in Nasarawa state that lack clean water, primary health care and education.
I went for the quest in search of these communities and I first saw a community called GURUKU. It is a small town but live in luxury compare to their surrounding communities. When I met their king at his very mighty and luxurious mansion, at first, he kept me waiting while he gist and dine with his cronies. When he finally had time for me, he asked me few questions which are;
What is your name?
Which state are you from?
Why are you here?
When I responded my reason which includes bringing clean water to his people, he said, “show me your ID CARD, go back to the Local government Head quarters and write to them before coming to me”.

I was shocked but not surprise simply because the only police station in the town was the one that shares boundary with him and guards him always, the only pump water I saw in the town was the one in his palace. And the palace was not even at the center of the town but a little away from the people at the top of the hill.
He categorically told me to go and come back the next day without even putting into consideration the distance from where I came from or considering the difficult terrain or even giving me water to drink, but of course he would not understand because he rides in PRADO JEEP with good springs that will save him from the scourge.
When I left there with disappointment, I told the bike man that took me there to take me any where even if it is a community at the top of the mountain. We began to head towards KABUSU, with a tiny and tedious road, after going for like 3 kilo meters; I saw a very poor village with shabby looking and malnourished women and children. Along their tiny road was these two young men on bikes, I approached and greeted them and when I asked of their king, they happily took me to him in his palace.

Immediately, we were given drinks and warm welcome including the bike man that didn’t even know what the project was all about; in fact he slept off due to the warm comfort he received.
When I finished discussing with them, they were so excited that they took me round the village and showed me their only source of water, the entire community drinks from muddy water, contaminated with cow dunks and bacteria which have affected their people especially the pregnant women and children.
In addition, they also showed me their shabby primary health care and school where the pupils seat on the ground.
When I left, I made a commitment to bring solutions to their problems. I reported back to basic rights watch and we went for the mapping and need assessment.

When we visited their unequipped health clinic with very few drugs

After our findings, Basic Rights Watch submitted the proposals to livebridge foundation for pertnership. Livebridge foundation then sent Mr Paul to go and confirm it.

Then the water project began

Here comes the day of the commissioning where I led the team of EU staff, livebridge staff and volunteers to the one time unknown community of kuchidna located at the top of the mountain.

yeah it came but a fun consequences but we were fine with it

When we got to the community

Certificate of perticipation

When the work was published on one of the national dailies

for more information, kindly visit
https://basicrightswatch.org/

https://livebridgefoundation.net/

On the (Saturday) 20th of May, 2016

I was called by a foundation (live-bridge foundation) to follow them to a Community that still kills twins and triplets children in FCT.

I thought it was a joke, until we got there.

The communities name is KIYI along Kuje-Gwagwalada road Abuja. When we reached there, we saw hose children that where saved from this cultural carnage.

If the child grows upper teeth before the lower teeth, he/she will be smashed on a tree trunk as sacrificed to the Oracle.

And if a breastfeeding mother dies, the child will be buried alive.

Also, they kill albinos children. Livebridge is working tirelessly to stop this cultural carnage. In addition to that, we did several medical examinations to treat those children, and took some to national hospital for emergency treatments and surgeries.

Vin Heritage homes where the children are saved is founded by a missionary pastor, who usually goes to the ‘evil’ forest to pick some of them that are still alive. Sometimes, some of the mothers that give birth to twins/3plets had to run discretely to the orphanage to donate one and present one to the community.

I wrote a story about it and it made front page on nairaland (https://www.nairaland.com/3814456/kiyi-community-fct-still-kills) where garnered 30,000 views thereby exposing the evil acts and attracting potential philanthropists.

Below is a short documentary on some of my humanitarian aid and assistance to eradicate hunger and poverty in Nigeria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKNWZ1H2k9Y

On Saturday 6th of May, 2016 

I went to volunteer for ADAOHA FOUNDATION to deliver medical and food to the IDPs at New Kuchingoro camp 

My encounter with a 4yr old boy at an IDP camp that nearly put me on my heels.

I went to Volunteer, as we were been briefed our duty, a 4yr old boy walk towards me and dragged my coca-cola, i resisted a little bit because his courage got me startled. When he realized the little resistant, he used his both hands to dragged the plastic bottle of Coca-Cola from me, he opened it in my front, drank it and walk away. Everyone pulsed as they look at the little lad walk away. When i went to ask about the boy, i realized he was deaf and dump. Maybe if he could speak, he would have asked politely, or maybe it is the “terror” which he has experienced over time that hardened his heart. Whatever the reason, i was still shocked, because at his age i was still on my mothers arm. Sorry buddy, we will work hard to ‘redefined’ ur porpose of life for you and others too.

Below is a short documentary on some of my humanitarian aid and assistance to eradicate hunger and poverty in Nigeria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKNWZ1H2k9Y