Stephanie Linus Daily

Category: Features

  • I’ve Been Appointed National OPS-WASH Ambassador by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources

    Hello Amazonians and Warlords, I’ve recently been appointed as National OPS-WASH Ambassador by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources. Below is a press statement on the appointment from my media team:

    Stephanie Linus has been recognized for her role in inspiring improved personal and community hygiene with an appointment from the Federal Government as the National OPS-WASH Ambassador. She was appointed on Thursday, 24th September by the Honourable Minster of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu at a special decoration ceremony in Abuja. This appointment is the highest form of recognition given by OPS-WASH (Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) to any member of the private sector.

    In his address, Engr. Adamu charged Mrs Linus to inspire behavioral change among Nigerians for people to take responsibility for their environment in her role as OPS-WASH Ambassador. While applauding her efforts with the “Hygiene First campaign, he also implored her and her team to map out different activities that would encourage environmental sustainability across the nation.

    Also present at the ceremony was Dr Nicholas Igwe, the National coordinator for OPS-WASH. The premise of OPS-WASH is based on multi-stakeholder collaboration. He thus expressed excitement at the involvement of the entertainment industry in the WASH sector towards creating behavioral change. 

    As the OPS- WASH Ambassador, Mrs Linus promised that she will use her role to challenge Nigerians to make good hygiene a culture, as well as inspire citizen participation and responsibility. This appointment comes as a public sector recognition of the Hygiene First campaign which she launched in May 2020.

    OPS-WASH (Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is an umbrella body for private sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder innovation. It was inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with a goal to end open defecation in Nigeria by 2025 and alleviate other water-related challenges in Nigeria.

  • It’s not over yet!

    Every year typically has a few defining moments, but 2020 has been one for the history books.

    From the way the pandemic has exposed the failures of our social system, to the #BlackLivesMatter protests that shook the world, to the plans we’ve made and had to ditch, and much more – there have been so many challenges and obstacles that life has thrown at us.

    Life as we know it came to a full stop due to the coronavirus pandemic. But guess what? It’s not over yet!

    God has a way of bringing diamond out of the rough and He can turn any difficult situation into a miracle. As we step into a new month and the third part of 2020, I want to encourage you to stay positive and reach for your dreams with renewed zeal. Anything is possible and God still has lots of surprises for you this year.

    I wish you a great new month and the best of the rest of 2020.

  • Let’s Plant Trees For Life!

    There is a clear and pressing need to address air quality for human health, welfare and economic development. Poor indoor and outdoor air quality are responsible for more than 500,000 deaths in Africa each year, with an estimated cost of $500 billion. With over half of the projected 2015-2050 global population growth occurring in Africa and an increasingly urbanized population, this is set to rise further.

    There are about 12 million cars in Nigeria. In Lagos alone, with an estimated population of 22 million people, there are about 5 million cars and 250,000 commercial vehicles. An average light car emits about 182 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

    A typical hardwood tree can absorb as much as 22,000 grams of carbon dioxide a year, which is about 60g of carbon dioxide per day.

    Basically, planting trees and plants helps to eradicate carbon dioxide which in turn cleans the air and gives good health.

    So, what are you waiting for? Let’s plant trees for life!

    The Hygiene First campaign, an initiative of the Extended Hands Foundation is proud to partner with the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) & Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) to bring you this message.

  • Hygiene First Campaign Partners With LASPARK For Tree Planting Day 2020

    The Hygiene First campaign, an initiative of the Extended Hands Foundation is excited to announce a partnership with the Lagos State Government (Lagos State Parks & Gardens Agency – LASPARK) to celebrate the Tree Planting Day 2020.

    With the theme ‘Trees For Life‘, we are going to host a series of events to highlight the importance of trees in our environment.

    One activity that is already underway is the Draw, Paint, Write competition for children aged 4-12. Do you have kids in this age range or know someone who does? Encourage them to apply today!

    DETAILS

    The Theme for this year’s Tree Planting Day is “Trees for Life”; and we are planting in honour of Frontline SuperHeroes who are doing everything possible to reduce the spread of the virus.

    🌳 TASK

    Draw, Paint or Write about your interpretation of this Year’s Theme – Trees for Life.

    🌳 RULES

    (1) All entries must be sent to us via email with the subject LAGOS STATE TREES FOR LIFE.

    (2) Attach your Entry to your e-mail – include your Full Name and Age on your work.

    (3) Send your entries in by Sunday July 12th, 2020.

    (3) Participants must be between the ages of 4 and 12 and must live in Lagos.

    Good Luck Friends!

  • My Inspiration Behind The Hygiene First Campaign

    Ever since the launch of the “Hygiene First – My New Habit” Campaign, I have been inundated with a lot of questions about the inspiration behind it.

    First off, I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. It means a lot to me that the feedback from everyone has been very positive. I’m glad that we all recognize the importance of practicing good hygiene in our homes and communities.

    So, back to my inspiration. I was recently asked this question in an interview with ThisDay and I want to share that response with you today. Here it goes:

    I could name several habits we collectively practice that got me seriously thinking about this, but the most important thing that struck me is this: we’ve settled for less as a people. We don’t demand better because we don’t even know that we deserve better in our society. We’re not paying attention to certain actions, which eventually become our habits and have huge consequences on our lives. There’s something fundamentally wrong with our thought process that needs to be fixed.

    The whole essence of this campaign is to awaken our consciousness about our personal and community hygiene. We want people to pay better attention to the habits that affect our health and environment and make better choices. It starts with our behavior. We want everyone to know that the cleanliness of our environment is not someone else’s responsibility. It is our collective responsibility as Nigerians to put in the work and achieve clean and healthy communities that we’re all proud of.  

    Several years ago, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Calabar and I didn’t know while studying that I’ll end up running a national campaign on hygiene. The need for this is urgent and its benefits would be widespread.

    Read the full interview HERE

  • My Acting Career & Charity Projects Are Mutually Sustaining

    I recently sat down for an interesting conversation with Arise News on Channels TV where I spoke about my passion for the Hygiene First campaign among other topics.

    My personal goal with this campaign is for people to see proper hygiene as a priority, for us to hold each other accountable and have a conscious awakening about how we care for our environment.

    Asides from Hygiene First, the interview also focused on my advocacy work for the girl child, obstetric fistula, the amazing efforts of the Extended Hands Foundation, the Nigerian movie industry amongst others.

    Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one:

  • #HygieneFirst: 5 Menstrual Hygiene Tips Every Girl & Woman Should Know

    By now, you must have heard about the Hygiene First campaign, an initiative of the Extended Hands Foundation which was launched by myself and my team to enlighten people about the long-term positive impact of hygienic habits and encourage citizen responsibility in practicing such habits.

    Personal hygiene is a key component of this campaign, and so, to mark the Menstrual Hygiene Day 2020 which was observed on May 28, I’ll like to remind us as ladies about important ways to maintain proper hygiene on those special days.

    Poor personal hygiene during your period can often result in some future health issues like infections, irregular cycle, etc that can surely affect your lifestyle.

    Show yourself some extra care while on your period because your body deserves it.

    Here are 5 menstrual hygiene tips every girl and woman should know:

  • You Are Precious & Cherished! #HappyChildrensDay

    Some of my fondest memories are those from my childhood! No doubt, the innocence of this age is one that must be protected and cherished. Children are the joy of a family, the hope of the society and the future of the country.

    So on this special day, I’d like us to remind ourselves that we must give our best efforts towards making the world a better place for our children and generations to come.

    The day is a reminder that every child deserves an education, protection and nurturing. Let’s give them the best because they are the building blocks of our nations and the entire world.

    Wishing every child and every child at heart a joyful day!

  • Inspiring a National Culture of Personal & Community Hygiene

    I’m a firm believer that the resolve to have a healthier and cleaner environment is a collective responsibility we all share. Our actions, good or bad, affect us all and there is no better time than now to make that conscious decision to do things right.

    It is on this premise that I’m happy to introduce the “Hygiene First – My New Habit” campaign, an initiative of the Extended Hands Foundation which seeks to put hygiene at the center of our national culture.

    Our goal is to inspire a long-term and purposeful lifestyle change among Nigerians which would stimulate personal and community hygiene as a tool for preventing person-to-person transmittable diseases, and improve the sense of pride we feel about our nation.

    For more inquiries and to partner with us, please email info@hygienefirstng.com and follow @hygienefirstng and @myextendedhands for more updates.

    Let’s do this together!

    #HygieneFirst #ExtendedHandsFoundation

  • End gender inequality! End health inequities! End Fistula now!

    In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, today, we are marking the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.

    There’s a lot of uncertainty and increasing demand on our healthcare systems at this time. But we must remember that women and girls have to be protected from Obstetric Fistula, a vivid sign of gender and health inequality.

    This year’s theme has a clear message “End gender inequality! End health inequities! End Fistula now!” It is grave injustice that our most vulnerable women and girls suffer from this tragic childbirth injury. My message to all today is this: obstetric fistula is preventable and it must end! All mothers, regardless of social background, should have timely access to quality maternal health care services. Obstetric fistula is preventable, and it can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy, the cessation of harmful traditional practices, and timely access to obstetric care.

    It is our collective responsibility to protect the vulnerable amongst us. Let’s work together to End Fistula, now more than ever!