BY: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Recently, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized a One-day critical Zonal Media Dialogue on Uptake for Nigeria Learning Passport-NLP in Enugu.
At the end of the meeting, participants drawn from Enugu, Benue and Cross River states agreed to collaborate with the organisers/stakeholders to create the needed awareness to champion Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) in the states especially down to the rural schools where it has become impossible to access quality education.
In her presentation, “Entitled “Objectives/Expected Outcome” Dr. ONUOHA-OGWE, Ijeoma, Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu, said UNICEF stands for UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND.
Furthermore, “UNICEF is the leading advocate for children’s rights, active in more than 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence”.
It is the World’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries too.
UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.
UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
You can access UNICEF on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram or unicef.org/nigeria
Onuoha-Ogwe said that the objectives of the One- day meeting was to identify media networks in Benue, Cross River and Enugu, acquaint them on Nigeria Learning Passport-NLP’s operational mode and its potential for educational advancement among young learners in affected three states.
It is also to cause journalists prioritize and set agenda for accelerated (NLP) uptake an online, mobile, and offline digital learning platform powered by Microsoft in targeted (3 )States, unify with government and persons in positions to take favourable actions for children’s development as well as holding them accountable.
The objective is to get the media to action and commitments garnered for increased reportage of progress being made on NLP projects in the states.
The media accepted to pitching the NLP prospects and agenda, using available veritable media channels to increase demand for NLP, an online, mobile, and offline digital learning platform powered by Microsoft to bridge the digital learning divide occasioned by most rural settings in Nigeria.
In her presentation, Dr. Agatha Nzeribe, Education Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, said “NLP is a new solution designed to close learning gaps”.
She said Nigeria education overview, everything is planned for life. Three out of four in Nigeria cannot read. There are challenges in accessing quality education and training pathways.
“There are limited quality education, lack of quality curriculum, lack of quality learning resources and tools, hence there is an alternative way to education”.
Nzeribe described this great opportunity of NLP as once in a generation opportunity to transform education in Nigeria for our children.
It is for “Remediation, digital/remote learning/partnerships private/public, community and parental engagement, integrated safe school services(education, health WASH)”.
Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) has come to stay in Nigeria. It targets children, parents and everybody giving them opportunity to learn. Learning Passport is there to get you started. It is in all fields. Youths and adolescent skills.
“NLP provides continuous access to education for all children, youth and teachers, he added”.
Among others, the media are to chunk out articles on NLP, produceTv program,Jingles, Blog, Op-Eds,Tv/ Radio interview, social,media posts,Paid campaign and WhatsApp messaging.
UNICEF, she disclosed had made huge investments on NLP therefore the children must register.
