Dr Afiniki Akanet joined us at lunch on 2nd Sept to talk about her charity – Forte Charity for Inspiration which she founded in 2008. Niki was an UK international medical student in Coventry when she had to return home to re-submit for a visa to complete her studies. She set up the charity to help other young people get the education they deserved. Her mantra “If you can believe it, you can achieve it” is at the heart of a motivational approach, coupled with support for those in hardship.
Focussing in her home country of Nigeria and with Trustees in Africa and UK the charity raises about £5,000 a year which makes a huge difference in Africa. It helps children in schools and orphanages, giving motivational talks and financial support to students and schools in need.
Initially working in northern Nigeria, Forte has reached other African countries, including Ivory Coast, South Sudan, Ghana and Tanzania, supporting educational projects with tuition fee grants to students in higher education who would otherwise drop out due to financial constraints. The grants offered, thanks to generous donations, have helped to train doctors and other graduates.
Forte Charity has been recognised and supported by several UK Rotary Clubs, where Afiniki has given her motivational talks. UK fundraising events have included fashion shows, clothes sales, dinner parties, shoe box appeals and the annual Forte Charity Walk to School. This is a six-mile walk to and from a school in memory of little children in remote parts of Nigeria who have to walk so far daily just to get an education. There is information every year about this on our Justgiving and Facebook pages.
FORTE CHARITY HSBC Bank Account No: 402908 – 32887797
FORTE is registered charity number 553355 in Nigeria and UK charitable company no. XT21186.
FORTITUDE
F – Figure out what you want (know your forte)
O – Organise your life (Have a plan to succeed)
R – Read (get knowledge, learn new things)
T – Trust God (Have faith)
I – Intentional living (good time management)
T – Try hard (do your best; discipline)
U – U can do it! (believe you can succeed)
D – Diligence (don’t give up when things get tough)
E – Enjoy life (love people, have hobbies) – Dr A. Akanet
Dr Niki made herself known to the club in 2021when she was a GP in Woodloes, she is married to a pharmacist and they now live in Stratford with their two children, where she is a practice GP and mental health advisor. She has authored several books on wellbeing and holds monthly podcasts.
Rotarian Alan Bailey congratulated her on making Resilience an important message, and said our club liked to be sure that any donations we made went directly to helping people. President Rachel Hinton said that we would be donating £200 to Forte to Nicki’s delight. We wish her well.
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