WHY BANITO WAS RIGHT ABOUT NGO - PART ONE

I have met a lot of people who have enough knowledge, ideas and desire to set up an NGO (Non-Government Organization) or have already set up an NGO, but lack the attributes to successfully sustain the very life of the NGO they have strong passion to establish or have already established. In Nigeria there are enough lists of registered NGOs and more are still coming up, yet the majority of the lives of Nigerian populace are not affected positively.

It takes beyond ideas and knowledge about what an NGO is all about, to start up an NGO; this is because NGOs are not-for-profit oriented. So many people started NGOs with the wrong motives of making money and have defrauded the very first people they have the opportunity to empower.

It takes the mind of someone who is self-giving, without getting or expecting something in return to startup and manages an NGO, unfortunately majority of the NGOs are out to make profit, and that is why they cannot be regarded as Incorporated Trustees.

THE ACRONYM NGO

For the sake of those who have the natural born ability (NBA) to establish and run NGOs, but have no idea and knowledge about what an NGO entails, an NGO is an acronym for Non-Government Organization, usually a non-profit, operating independently of a government and is organized on a  local, national, regional, or international level. In Nigeria, it is a body or association of persons registered as “Incorporated Trustees” under section 590 of the companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 Laws of the Federation 2010 for the advancement of any religious, educational, literacy, scientific, social/cultural development, sporting and charitable causes. It is deemed a not-for-profit organization.

Now who is actually considered ‘Trustees’ for an NGO? A Trustee in this context refers to someone like a director or group of individuals who are not interested in making profit and is concerned about maintaining the aims and objectives of the NGO. They have passion for what they do and have the notion that the true path to purpose is finding it in the service of others. They are sometimes categorized as Philanthropists. Invariably, there is no how you can engage yourself passionately in servicing others selflessly without making a living out of it; after all the bible says that a labourer deserves his or her wages.

For emphasis, Incorporate Trustees is used for not-for profit-oriented ventures like charity, churches, mosques, community based organizations, places of worship, professional groups, social clubs, trade unions, advocate groups etc. In becoming a Trustee, certain traits or human attributes are required. While no single person may have all the required attributes to be a Trustee, is definitely worth developing among the core team members:

Passion: You must have that strong drive to believe that you will succeed in your purpose of establishing an NGO.

A Self-Starter: You must be a go-getter and someone who can be self-motivating. No one starts anything for anyone.

Committed to Hard Work: You must be ready to persevere. Managing a nonprofit takes a lot of long hours, hard work and commitment to persevere through challenging times.

Innovative Thinker: This is one of the most important attributes as non-profit ventures depend on innovative ideas to help solve their social problem more effectively and efficiently.

A Motivator: To get others to wholeheartedly support your cause you should be capable of attracting and inspiring stakeholders to not only believe but to take action.

Team Player: Building an NGO takes a team of people. While one person may have established the vision or mission, it is the team (volunteers, donors, staff members) who make it a reality.

Good Listener: Being a team player requires you to be a good listener, capable of receiving feedback and criticism while respecting the viewpoints of others.

Flexible: Being open to feedback means that you must be flexible to deliberate and adjust your plans and strategies for the benefit of the NGO.

Financially Knowledgeable and Responsible: Sustaining an NGO requires financial acumen. You must know or have a solid idea as it relates to fundraising, budgeting, taxes, and financial accountability and transparency.

Always Willing to Learn: You must be ready to learn from others; this empowers you to lead with confidence, speak on and about the NGO’s social problem with authority and to be actively involved in almost every aspect of the functioning of your NGO.

 Do share with me your ideas and opinions via the comment box below so that others may learn from you.  

Subscribe to MR. KEN'S WORLD by Email for free to get updates on our subsequent posts. Enjoy the rest of our old posts you skipped, and do not forget to leave us with your so cherished comments. Keep surfing…  

WHY BANITO WAS RIGHT ABOUT NGO - PART TWO

WHY BANITO WAS RIGHT ABOUT NGO - PART THREE