Bringing Joy to Nigerian Children

Last week, Milhouse International further bonded with the people of Nsukka in Nigeria. Earlier this year, Milhouse Generation Services, a subsidiary, signed a formal agreement to provide reliable electric power starting in 2016. On November 5, Generation Services delivered 88 pairs of soccer shoes as well as sport uniforms for youth of the community!

Milhouse Charities, an arm of Milhouse Engineering & Construction, in September held a soccer shoe drive in Chicago. The idea was borne out of President and CEO Wilbur Milhouse’s multiple trips to the rural areas of Nigeria for business research. There Wilbur saw many children playing the world’s most popular sport on dirt-covered soccer fields in bare feet.  Wilbur’s heart went out to those underserved kids and he decided to help.

In Nigeria, millions of Africans go without lights and power because of a limited supply from the grid, as well as dilapidated transmission lines and vandalized gas infrastructure.  Nigerians commonly rely on diesel generators to supplement the power supply needs to light their homes, cook meals, and refrigerate food.

In May, Milhouse Generation announced a partnership with the University of Nigeria at Nsukka to advance its vision to deliver reliable power to the nation of Nigeria. Milhouse Generation signed a Memorandum of Understanding and land lease agreement as part of its commitment to provide up to 6 MW of electricity to the University of Nigeria at Nsukka.  Part of that pact involved many social responsibility elements.

This project to “light up” Nigeria is in full alignment with the company’s desire to impact communities around the world through innovative engineering.

Milhouse Charities in Chicago shipped the soccer shoes for the kids in Africa.  The Milhouse team also added orange and blue Milhouse jerseys and shorts they purchased locally and worked with a Nigerian designer to add the Milhouse logo to the uniforms.

The young people would wear their new shoes and uniforms to a soccer “friendly,” or noncompetitive game, to be played by 2 of the 4 local teams that represent the Nru area of Nsukka.