Aids for Women, Adolescents and Children International Organization (AWACIO)
Aids for Women, Adolescents, and Children International Organization (AWACIO) is a non-governmental organization (NGO), non-profit organization founded in 2008 and located in Abuja, Nigeria. AWACIO was officially launched in 2011 after registration with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). History. AWACIO came into existence because of the need to alleviate the poverty situation in Nigeria. AWACIO works to augment activities that will enhance the well-being of women, adolescents, and children, and to ensure their survival in Nigerian society, and internationally.With the high level of bribery and corruption  in Nigeria, funds, as well as aid, necessary to reach this population are cut short. The result is a huge social gap in which these indigenes suffer and are impoverished due to lack of care and near-total neglect. In 2011, AWACIO began a poverty eradication program to improve the well-being of indigenes within communities by engaging in empowerment and skill acquisition programs. In 2014, Total E & P Nigeria Limited in partnership with AWACIO empowered youths in the Kwali Community of FCT. Fifty (50) women from the Goza community in Abuja receive skill acquisition training by AWACIO in collaboration  with Total E & P Nigeria Limited in 2017. Total E &P also partnered with AWACIO to carry out a state project empowerment of 44 youths in Niger state. AWACIO partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to empower 47 widows in Gombe State. Several women and youth also got trained in different skills through AWACIO’s Empowerment Scheme.In 2019, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy partnered with AWACIO to build boreholes for two L.E.A primary schools in Abuja to provide clean water supply to the schools. Poverty eradication is one of AWACIO's major objectives, and is in line  with the Sustainable Development Goals. Efforts to achieve this goal were propagated through different empowerment and training programs and with the help of some AWACIO’s Partners (TotalEnergies, United Arab Emirates Embassy in Nigeria and Central Bank of Nigeria). Furthermore, other activities of AWACIO included working with AWACIO’s Partners to assist orphanages and hospitals. AWACIO renovated classrooms for children in various orphanage homes. AWACIO initiated monitoring and evaluation activities for orphanages to evaluate the living standards of the orphans. AWACIO has partnered with hospitals to pay the medical bills of some indigenes who could not afford to pay and  would not be discharged until they have paid.AWACIO worked with some Federal Ministries on Education and Drug Awareness Trainings, and Sanitation Health Awareness Programs.  the health awareness program with the Federal Ministries of Transport and Power created an opportunity for AWACIO to educate the staff on health issues. AWACIO further worked with both Ministries of Power and Transport to perform screenings for HIV. The employees, who tested positive, were confidentially counseled and followed up before being referred to HIV/AIDs health centers for treatment. AWACIO orchestrated workshop with the Ministries on cervical and prostate cancer workshops.  Cervical and Prostrate  Cancers are among the number one killer cancers in Nigeria affecting women and men respectively. AWACIO has promoted interest in Family Planning and Child Protection Programs. Funding and Partnership. AWACIO generates its funds through private donations and partnership with various donors. AWACIO is continually applying for grants with organizations such as USAID, Bill Gates Foundation, USPHS grants, and others. AWACIO Partners are Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Central Bank of Nigeria, Gede Foundation, Federal Ministry of Transport, United Arab Emirates Embassy in Nigeria, and among others. Board of Trustees. 1.    Engr. Emeka Okeke – Chairman, Renacas Engineering Nigeria Limited (RENL) 2 .    Claudia Okeke Ph.D., R.Ph, Secretary/ CEO AWACIO 3.    Larry Callaham Ph.D, FDA USA. 4.    Loyd Allen Ph.D., CEO of the Midwest Institute of Research and Technology and Professor Emeritus, University of Oklahoma USA. 5.    Rita Momah, Certified Health Education Specialist DrPH, MPH, CHES, FACMPE. 6.    Pete Duncan, Former President of Kiwanis Carolina District Foundation.