FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION AND YOUTH RESTIVENESS IN THE NIGER DELTA
Introduction
This Foundation kickoff the
Year 2006(which happens to be her maiden year of operation) with a very huge
and ambitious target that will strengthen and extend its existence by the end
of its maiden operational year (2006).
In consonance with this
target, the Foundation swung into action, by drawing up a budget and a calendar
of activities for the year that will facilitate the Implementation of her
Action Plan, in the Long run. Upon this, the following, were outlined as
projects billed for execution in 2006 -
EXTERNALLY(Community
Development);
· To create a more effective Public Awareness
aimed at encouraging the pursuit of an Ideal Education through out the Niger
Delta (This particular project, is in affinity with the IDEAL EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN PROJECT of our ACTION PLAN) Target Date; Before 1st November
2006
· To award Academic Support Grant scholarship to
brilliant and willing but indigent students of Niger Delta Origin (This
particular project, is in affinity with the ACADEMIC
SUPPORT PROJECT of our ACTION PLAN) Target Date;
Before 1st October 2006
INTERNALLY
(Capacity Building);
· To publish the maiden edition of an annual
Magazine for the Organization to be called ‘NDAF News Letter’ by December 2006.
(This, is intended to have a fact and figure data base of the Organization’s
Action Plan Implementation and Special Moments)
· To expand the Organization’s communication Network,
before June 30th 2006.
(This is intended to create a vast relationship with similar, Bigger Organizations and Coalitions, coordinating efforts of NGO’s and Civil
Societies such as ours in the area of resource mobilization and programme
implementation).
The Foundation outlined
several laid-down procedures to enable it meet the target date for the
execution of the aforementioned projects. As a result, all hands were on deck
to ensure this.
Based on the aforementioned
Target dates, there has been a lot of progress in the area of implementation
and execution of projects, although, not without challenges.
CAPACITY
BUILDING
Chronologically, in the area of expanding the Foundation’s
communication network, NDAF Directorate, made a lot of contacts indicating the
Foundationss interest to join Bigger Associations, Networks and Coalitions that
shares similar interest with the NDAF.
Today, as a result of the various contacts made
hitherto, The Niger Delta Academic
Foundation, is a proud Member
Organization of the Following;
·GLOBAL ALLIANCE
FOR THE EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
(WASHINGTON)
·CHILD RIGHTS
INFORMATION NETWORK (LONDON)
·WORLD WOMEN
SUMMIT FOUNDATION (CHILDREN
SECTION)
and now
·CIVIL SOCIETY
COALITION ON EDUCATION FOR ALL (ABUJA)
Being members of the aforementioned has helped the NDAF as
anticipated, especially in the area of exchange of ideas and information in
affinity with the NDAF’s area of interest.
Hence the target set for June 30th 2006, can be
said to have been met. Although not without obstacles and difficulties. NDAF
Directorate hopes to contact more Coalitions, as time goes on.
In order to meet up with current trend and to cushion the
cost effect on the Foundation’s secretarial duties, the Organization, has been
provided with a Pentium 3 computer set.
AWARDING ACADEMIC SUPPORT GRANT SCHOLARSHIP TO
BRILLIANT BUT INDIGENT CHILDREN/YOUTHS AND STUDENTS ALIKE
Presently, the Foundation is working on its October 1st
2006 target. In the light of this, about 100 brilliant and willing but indigent
Niger Delta students in tertiary institutions, have applied to us, seeking to
be beneficiaries of the proposed Academic Support Grant for such students. The
Pre-Scholarship Test for qualified Students who applied shall be held on
Saturday 29th July 2006. We hope to help students who shall come out
excellent in the Pre-Scholarship test on Use Of English, Mathematics, and
Current Affairs. Following this, the NDAF Directorate, has sent and is still
sending appeals and requests to Multi-National Organizations to come to the aid
of the NDAF, in order to Award the Academic Support Grant.
Due to what is obtainable and the
cost effect for training a student in Tertiary Institution, we have proposed an
Academic Support Grant of Three Hundred and Fifty Dollars $350USD for each
indigent student
(an equivalent of Fifty Thousand
Naira N50, 000). Meeting this target shall bring about an encouragement, for
every Niger Deltan to go to school and be educated up to the level of having a
tertiary education.
We have also initiated other
scholarship proposals such as the Rural Academic Support Project for
rural and slump dwellers and the Street to School Scholarship Project for
street/displaced children and youths to be enrolled back in school.The
Foundation needs adequate funding to effectively execute the 1st Phases of
these Proposals. Most of these projects are only awaiting funding, in order for
the Foundation to effectively implement it and beat the Target Date.
To know how best to go about the Academic Support Project,
the Foundation recently carried out a survey on the Problems of Niger Delta and
its Possible solution. The survey was carried out on Niger Delta Youths and
students alike in tertiary institutions across the Region.
CREATING A MORE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC
AWARENESS ON
IDEAL EDUCATION
In affinity with the
IDEAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, the Foundation has been able to visit two local radio
stations (Rhythm 93.7fm and Radio Rivers2 99.128fm) appealing for
support in the fight against illiteracy and the re-orientation on the need for
Ideal Education in the Niger Delta, encouraging such stations to broadcast jingles and slogans that will enable
society see Literacy as the order of the Day in the Region (Niger Delta). In fact, the NDAF has been
able to propose and forward a list of educational slogans to be used during
news bulletins on radio, to one of the radio stations.
Recently, The Foundation was live on Radio Rivers2 99.128fm as a guest in a programme “Tuesday
Morning Live”(a talk show/interview)presented by a renowned Broadcaster
and Presenter in the Niger Delta;
Florence Ekiye. During the Programme,
the NDAF Director/CEO said, “that in the region, every other sector except the
political sector is dormant as a result of the level of Illiteracy and
disregard for Ideal Education and this, is one of the major cause of
Abject Poverty in the Region, Hence
the NDAF was initiated to Fight
against Illiteracy, so as to conquer poverty through the implementation of an
Action Plan”. In that programme, there was a call on all to enjoin the NDAF in
its cause. The Foundation is currently working out modalities in order to meet
up the Target Date for the Ideal Education
Campaign, although most modalities will need
adequate funding for such modalities to be
implemented. However, the organization is on course with the
Ideal Education Campaign
(NDAF – IEC).
CHALLENGES
Since its inception in October 2005 till
date, it has not been very easy for the Foundation to keep the flag flying;
hence it has been faced with a lot of Challenges. Over the period of its
existence, the major challenges have been in the area of Funding, Mobility and
Office Space/Accommodation.
With regard to funding, the organization has since its
founding, relied on Self Supporting. Although it has applied and registered for
various funding schemes which are yet to yield the anticipated results, it has
also sent proposals to multi-national aid organizations
seeking for funding, also awaiting anticipated
response. Above all, the Foundation believes that when the
going gets tough, the tough gets going, hence while it keeps the NDAF flag
flying it anticipates funding and invites you to bee a part of it.
Mobility has been one major set back for the Foundation, as
the inability of the Foundation to move freely and effectively from one place
to another has
inhibited operations of programmes and projects in the
Region. It costs the Foundation, a lot of expenses to move across the region in
order to carry out its operations.
Presently, the Foundation’s Secretariat is at #12 Oju Daniel
Kalio Avenue, (New Road) Borikiri, Port Harcourt. The location of the
Foundation’s Secretariat presently, is as a result of the inability to
acquire a more suitable Office space that will accommodate
the entire Foundation. This particular shortfall is as a result of Inadequate
Funding
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