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Education

At AYGF, we are poised to contributing our quota to the development of individuals, communities, and societies. We believe that growth and positive change cannot be feasible without development to drive it. It is against this backdrop that we have crafted stellar projects to drive this agenda of the organization. AYGF seeks to participle in the Public Private Partnership under the World Bank Better Education Service for All (BESDA) in the select States of Nigeria. The objective of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) is to increase equitable access for Out-of-School Children especially the child and improve literacy level as well as to strengthen accountability for results in Basic Education in Nigeria.

BLOOM – Bridging Learning Opportunities for Out-Of-School Minors  

BLOOM which stands for Bridging Learning Opportunities for Out-of-School Minors is a project initiated by the Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) to directly address the core issues outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Ensuring Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all).

BACKGROUND

According to a 2024 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria accounts for a large portion of the world’s highest rate of out-of-school children, with girls disproportionately affected, making up 62% of the over 20 million children lacking access to education. This represents a significant rise of over 96% from the previous estimate of 10.5 million in 2021. This spike is driven by a complex interplay of factors, including poverty, insecurity from displacement due to natural disasters or violence, infrastructure decay, child labour, and harmful sociocultural norms that devalue formal education, particularly for girls. The increase in the number of out-of-school children is particularly acute in States such as Bauchi, Niger, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Gombe, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and Taraba, where high rates of illiteracy persist, as reported by UNICEF in 2019.

PROBLEM

  • Basic education in Nigeria is something many households are struggling to afford due to complex interplay of factors, including poverty, insecurity from displacement due to natural disasters or violence, infrastructure decay, child labour, and harmful sociocultural norms that devalue formal education, particularly for girls. A 2023 report from the World Bank states that the poverty rate in Nigeria has increased to 46%, representing 104 million poor Nigerians.
  • In various communities, many out-of-school children aged 5 to 10 have been forced to abandon their education to contribute financially to their families’ survival.
  • Without education, out-of-school children are more likely to be exploited, fall victim to radicalisation, and remain trapped in poverty, leaving Nigeria’s workforce compromised, hindering economic growth and perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage.

IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY EDUCATION

  • The Role of Education in any society, significantly impacts on the country’s economic growth and development. 
  • By equipping citizens with the skills and knowledge they need to compete in the global economy, Nigeria can attract foreign investment, create jobs, and ultimately, reduce poverty.
  • Facilitates the effective industrialization of the economy through the provision of competent human resources with adequate managerial, technical and professional skills.
  • Reduces the number of children that are exploited or radicalized. 

OBJECTIVE OF BLOOM 

The fight for quality education for all requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses security needs and underlying social issues. With the BLOOM project, AYGF is dedicated to:

  • Increasing the capacity of 100,000 teachers in effective teaching methodologies, curriculum development, and child-centered learning approaches within five years.
  •  Reducing financial barriers to education by benefiting 700,000 households through conditional cash transfers.
  •  Improving school attendance and cognitive ability of 2 million out-of-school children through a school feeding programme.
  • Increasing the number of classrooms and learning resources by 10% in out-of-school populated and underserved areas to accommodate a higher enrollment of out-of-school children within 5 years.

COMPONENTS OF THE BLOOM PROJECT

Leveraging existing Almajiri schools and their potential to accommodate a large number of out-of-school children offers a strategic solution to increase access to education in Nigeria, capacity building and addressing underlying social issues.  AYGF is committed to creating a sustainable and impactful model in line with the Almajiri model to improve access to quality education for out-of-school children aged 5-10 in targeted regions of Nigeria one state at a time using some of the following methodologies:

  1.     Access to School: Reintegrating Out-of-School Children via Community Engagement, awareness campaigns highlighting the benefits of education, particularly for girls and, Flexible Learning Options or bridge programs to ease children back into formal education.
  2.     Teacher Training: Equipping Educators through innovative and technology capacity-building workshops, Designing training programs focused on child-centred pedagogy, and classroom management skills, Partner with teacher training colleges in Abuja for professional development, Providing mentorship and support for Almajiri teachers integrating into the formal education system and, Emphasize inclusive teaching practices to cater to diverse learning needs.
  3.     Infrastructural Support: Creating Conducive Learning Environments with the rehabilitation and Upgrade of schools, Collaborate with government agencies and local communities to secure resources for infrastructure improvements, Advocate for long-term infrastructure maintenance plans, Organize school supply drives to ensure students access textbooks, notebooks, and learning aids and, explore options for locally-produced, low-cost teaching materials.
  4.   Technology for Remote Learning: Bridging the Gap in Insecure Areas using Technology-Enhanced Accelerated Learning that enables online and offline learning. Develop interactive online modules and mobile applications aligned with the national curriculum and Utilize solar panels to provide electricity in remote areas, ensuring reliable power for technology use in schools.

GOAL OF THE BLOOM PROJECT

Overall Goal of the BLOOM project is to get Two Million out-of-school children aged 5-10 back to the classroom by 2030 to reduce the number of out -of -school children in Nigeria.  Future Funding will be diversified through partnerships and fundraising while Local stakeholders, will be empowered to take ownership through collaboration and capacity building. Regular monitoring and adjustments will keep the plan adaptable and it is our hope, that this comprehensive approach ensures the BLOOM project’s positive influence on education in Nigeria and Africa.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE BLOOM BOOKLET

https://www.aygf.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Binder1-1.pdf

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ICT GIRLS

Empowering the Next Generation: International Day of Girls in ICT 2024

Globally, only 20% of tech jobs are held by women. This statistic highlights the significant gender disparity in the tech industry and underscores the urgent need for initiatives that encourage more girls to pursue careers in ICT (Information and Communication Technology). 

The 2024 International Day of Girls in ICT theme is “Leadership,” at AYGF, we embraced this theme by organizing an event to sensitize and inspire 20 young girls. The AYGF Program Officers Ifeoluwa Prince and Caroline Godwin, IT Manager Shedrach Obi, and Communications Officer Ikenna Madu with their combined expertise and enthusiasm provided a rich, engaging experience for the participants. During the event, our team shared valuable insights into the tech industry, discussed the various opportunities available, and emphasized the importance of leadership in shaping the future of ICT. The girls participated in interactive sessions designed to build their confidence and equip them with the skills to navigate and succeed in the tech world.

As we celebrate the 2024 International Day of Girls in ICT, we reaffirm our dedication to empowering girls through education and leadership development. By investing in these young minds today, we are paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable tech industry tomorrow. 

AYGF PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

The train of partnership meeting moved to the Australian High Commission. Led by the Executive Director, Dr. Arome Salifu, the meeting focused on building future collaboration and partnership to tackle issues around Education.

Warmly received by the Second secretary of AHC and Political and Economic Officer, Mr Calum Walker and Tosin Gbolasere, they applauded AYGF for the good work done so far in ensuring access to education for all.

We look forward to a great collaboration for a sustainable future.

AYGF AT NILE UNIVERSITY CAREER FAIR

AYGF was thrilled to be a part of the Nile University Career Fair yesterday.

Our team, led by the Executive Director Dr. Arome Salifu, alongside the Senior HR Officer Ese Moweo, and Head of Programs Nelson Egbunu, had the opportunity to connect with students and discuss the work we do at AYGF in driving impact and change in the society.

We were passionate about sharing information on the various thematic areas where students can get involved. It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm and commitment of the future generation.

Opportunities to get involved with AYGF, either through volunteering or internship programs, were also presented to the students.

We look forward to staying connected and supporting these young leaders as they embark on their careers

2015 -2017 ACADEMIC MARATHON

The Academic Marathon was a scholarship project put in place by AYGF in the year 2015 to help create educational development opportunities to exceptionally brilliant young Africans to study abroad in different fields. However, a special emphasis was attached to general sciences and technologies. The project was funded through a common basket fund put together by development partners, International NGOs, Governments, and Corporate Organizations across the globe who have passion to seeing Africa getting out of unnecessary human, material and development related quagmire. Through the project, AYGF was able to give several scholarships to 25 indigent Nigerian students across the 36 States of Nigeria.

2021 - BETTER EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY FOR ALL – BESDA

2021- AYGF building partnership to participate in the Public Private Partnership under the World Bank Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) in the 36 States of Nigeria. The objective of the BESDA Project is to increase equitable access for Out-of-School Children to improve literacy level as well as to strengthen accountability for results in Basic Education in Nigeria, the project seeks to provide technical assistance to identify, recruit, enroll out-of-school children back to school, monitor their progress performance, ensure the children are retained, and complete their studies within the lifespan of the project.
AYGF was visited by the State house of assembly to facilitate open communications with Gombe State on the BESDA Project.

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