The Nigerian Youth task team consisting of 24 vibrant change makers is calling on the government to revamp public Primary and Secondary Schools with sound ICT infrastructure, this will close the ICT Skill deficiency which has been a part of the Nigerian Universal Basic Education System, thereby significantly raising ICT Skill competence.
Evidence from the Nigerian ministerial strategic plan 2018-2022 revealed, while Nigerian schools lacked the technological infrastructure for 21st Century Learning, only 4000 out of 9000 Secondary Schools are mapped for equipping with digital infrastructure. How effective has this been? And what is the fate of the remaining over 5000 schools?
It is for these among many other reasons that the Nigerian Youth Task Team is demanding the Federal Government of Nigeria to equip 75% of public Primary and Secondary Schools with digital infrastructure for 21st Century Learning.
“Reaching 75% of Nigerian public Primary and Secondary Schools with 21st Century ICT infrastructure for learning is a huge win for the future of the Nigerian Child,” Said Baliquees Salaudeen the Nigerian youth task team lead.
The Nigerian Youth Task Team is birthed from of the Africa Youth Partnership, an initiative of Restless Development and Youth Opportunity And Transformation in Africa (YOTA), funded by the Ford foundation.
The task team is charged with equitable recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We must leverage good use of Technology in Learning especially in primary and secondary schools, as recovery efforts are made from the effects of the pandemic,” said Fwangshak Ishaku a Member of the task team.
Another Member of the task team Sharon Amadi while highlighting the mandate of the task team to Hauwa Haliru, Chief of Staff and Head of the Gender Desk Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) said “We are recommending the use of mobile ICT centers, especially in schools located in rural areas where having physical ICT buildings could be difficult.”
The Nigeria Youth Task Team is simultaneously carrying out an Advocacy campaign on Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in an attempt to understand the rationale behind low vaccine uptake.
The project which started on 1st June will be concluded by December 31, 2022.
