Local initiative in Nigeria shows promise for sustainable literacy growth

Literacy development in Nigeria is starkly uneven, with northern states lagging far behind the rest of the country. According to the 2010 Nigeria Education Data Survey, only about 14 percent of children in the northwest region can read a complete sentence, while that number jumps to almost 63 percent in the southwest. Similar regional gaps exist in school attendance, perceived teacher effectiveness, exposure to print media and parental involvement.

(more…)

ONE RIGHT MOVE IS ALL IT TAKES – The Akwa Ibom Experience

BACKGROUND


The provision of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) in Akwa Ibom is mainly offered in secondary facilities with physicians providing ART management to clients. However, the paucity of physicians as well as skewed distribution of healthcare workers toward urban areas resulted in rural areas being undeserved. (more…)

A Timely Blessing: Economic Strengthening for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Akwa Ibom State

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has taken a great toll on the lives of Nigerians. With 174,253 AIDS- related deaths recorded in 2014[i] alone, Nigeria’s estimated 17.5 million[ii] orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as a result of HIV/AIDS are among the largest in the world. Often lacking parental support due to the loss of one or both parents to AIDS, OVC are susceptible to abuse, discrimination and violence. This susceptibility in turn increases their overall social and economic vulnerability. (more…)

The Rays of RANA Reaches Uncharted Territories: The Story of Attahiru Kyanbarawa

For Kyanbarawa community in Zamfara state, educating their children still remains a daunting task. Their main occupation is trading as the community is only a few kilometers from the popular Kasuwar-Daji market, a major market visited by local and international traders. Though, the community boast of a public primary school in the community, for the purpose of providing the much needed basic education for their children. But, worrisome is the quality of learning at the school. The pupils enrolled showed a consistent inability to read grade appropriate texts, even in the higher primary classes. (more…)