AUN Law Professor Jennifer Mike has suggested ways an academic institution can prepare students to drive social change by stimulating their service potential to contribute to their immediate and extended communities.

Using the AUN Community Service Learning model as a case study, Dr. Jennifer Mike, Assistant Professor of Law and Director, Centre for Governance, Human Rights and Development (CGHRD), urged universities to adopt “a communitarian approach to education to develop the common good in its activities and lessons that other universities can draw from AUN's development oriented activities and pedagogy”.

In her presentation on 'The Role of Universities in Transforming Society Through Direct Community Engagements and Education at the Sustainable Communities Conference at Albion College, Michigan, in the United States, Professor Jennifer outlined how AUN as an academic institution has equipped students to serve as instruments of national development, in addition, to stimulating their service potentials to contribute to their immediate and extended communities.

The conference, which took place from the 16th to the 19th of June 2022, drew academics and community service experts from different parts of the world to discuss how universities and higher education can play central roles in nurturing the development of society. Please use this link to access Professor Jennifer Mike's academic and research profile Dr. Jennifer H Mike - American University of Nigeria (aun.edu.ng)

One of the high points of every Convocation and Pledge ceremony at the American University of Nigeria is the quality of motivational speeches flowing from academic and student leaders. These speeches introduce incoming students to this learning community's high standards and expectations. Entering students also have the privilege of listening to inspiring testimonies from those living the AUN dream of self-discovery and transformation. Alums from around the globe send in words of appreciation and proudly recount how their AUN experience has prepared them for success and to make better life choices. At this year's Fall semester event, the Vice President of the Student Government Association, Ms. Safiya Auwal, delivered a flawless and delectable talk that underlines the trademark excellence and confidence of students who passed through these walls.

The VP of the SGA urged the new students to make optimal use of their time and the opportunities they get at AUN. She challenged them to set relevant priorities and watch AUN propel them to higher grounds.

"At AUN, you will be spoilt for choice of resources and things to do. There is a variety of exciting, informative and inspiring things available to you that can serve to enrich your learning experiences in many ways and help you hone your leadership and diplomatic skills, while also helping you develop compassion and a good sense of responsibility."

Ms. Safiya said it was after she enrolled at AUN that she "finally began to understand and enjoy studying law, with the number of resources and the amazing instructors and the challenging assignments that had me learning so much; I was given everything, all I had to do was learn."

Like the Interim President Professor Attahir Yusuf also told the new students, the SGA Vice President drew the students' attention to the array of available extracurricular activities on campus.

"We have the Campus Activities Board, different kinds of sporting activities, Community Service, unobtrusive religious activities. There are other mind-stimulating ones like the Honor Society and a Presidential Internship program which helps you gain outstanding work experience while studying.

"I know firsthand that you will not only learn to explore yourself as a leader but you also learn to look out for others, build resilience and make your voice heard. When I first joined the SGA, I discovered strength I didn't know I possessed and I have grown immensely."

Reported by Tina Bitrus

Community service is at the core of the education students receive from the American University of Nigeria. As a Development University, AUN promotes a learning experience that connects students to the challenges and prospects of their immediate community. By participating in the weekly community service activities, AUN students develop a lifelong commitment to serving humanity and a sense of civic engagement, which they take away to the larger society. As every journey begins with a first step, newly enrolled students in the Fall 2022 semester opened their community service account on Saturday, August 27. They were at the Police Children Primary School in Mopol Barrack, Mbamba, Yola, where they repainted a block of eight classrooms. It was their first involvement in what will ultimately become their weekly routine of fun, hard work, and service to the community.

Although many students had never been involved in such an activity, they approached their task with excitement and chatty fun. The inside classroom walls were repainted in green-yellow Crayola, while the outside was recoated in green-blue Crayola, giving the classroom blocks a refreshingly bright and adorable look and feel.

On the ground to guide and motivate the students was the Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Student Affairs, Byron Bullock, the man they will lean on most on the campus for guidance, motivation, and emotional support. Dean Byron, who could not hide his satisfaction with the efforts of his newest wards, spoke glowingly of how important it is for young people to appreciate that good deeds in the community empowers them to develop self-esteem, relevance, and a sense of mission in life.

"We are glad to be of service to our community and to teach our students that service is an important aspect of their education here at AUN," Dean Byron said.

The students also were delighted with their contribution. They took selfies and shared them on their social media pages. Being an outdoor event created an atmosphere for social interaction and bonding.

Accounting major, Dahiru Shehu, described his experience as full-filled, where he made new friends.

Mahmud Hammanjoda Rufai, an Economics major, was no less thrilled. "The painting was really interesting. It is my first time doing this and I enjoyed it. I will love to do it again in the future". He will get many more opportunities.

The Head Teacher of the school, Mr. Abubakar Ahmed Mallum, expressed gratitude to the students of AUN for painting his block of classrooms, describing their work as fantastic. "I have never seen this level of humanitarian gesture before, and it will serve as a legacy for AUN, my school, and the local community."

Report and Photograph by Chiedozie Joseph

September 8 is officially designated World Literacy Day. Since 1967, this event has been observed annually around the world. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the day is celebrated "to highlight the importance of literacy and how it can help individuals, communities, and societies."

This year, stakeholders, promoters, and guardians of education in Adamawa State celebrated World Literacy Day by organizing a reading competition for Primary School pupils in the Jimeta area under the auspices of the USAID-SENSE project. The Strengthening Education in Northeast Nigeria (SENSE) program is sponsored by USAID and led by AUN's Atiku Institute for Development (AID) with a focus on improving early learning in local languages and training teachers in Primary schools in Adamawa and Gombe states.

The reading competition of texts in Hausa was held at the Jimeta Central Primary School, Jimeta-Yola, and involved two and three pupils from the schools.

At the end of the keen contest, Aisha Umar emerged as the winner in the Primary two categories, with Adamu Sani and Mandamu Morris in the second and third positions. Ibrahim I. Ibrahim took the first position in the Primary three category while Mohammed Umar and Hafsat Yusuf came 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

At the end of the competition, prizes were presented to the winners and all the children.

Chief of Party of the USAID-SENSE project, Dr. Audu Liman, expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded by participants and confidence in the project's lasting impact.

"SENSE is in Adamawa forever; it has come to stay." He noted that literacy is not determined by a specific language but by the ability to read and write in any language. He said that is why SENSE had decided to train children in Adamawa to read and write in the Hausa language, as they will be able to do the same in other languages once the basics have been imbibed.

The Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Universal Education Board, ADSUBEB, Dr. Sani Atiku, said that “we celebrate literacy without knowing its value until we realize how dangerous illiteracy can be as a disease”.

He noted that the Governor of the State, Hon. Umaru Fintiri places so much value on education. He ended by appreciating SENSE, saying that they are proud of what the program has so far accomplished. To show his appreciation for the excellent performance of the pupils, the Executive Chairman awarded the participants a cash prize of a hundred thousand naira and urged them to continue improving on what they had learned.

The Education Secretary of Yola North LGA, Malam Rabiu Musa, said the day is also essential to celebrate the enormous impact SENSE has made in the education sector in the state as School-based Management Committee (SBMC) members in 24 schools across the LGA had received training and sensitization through the facilitation of SENSE.

Mr. Medugu Stephen, the State Team Lead, said that they had not performed any magic for these young children to read fluently as they did in Hausa, but just professional input from the SENSE team and the teachers of these children. He appreciated the SENSE Team and the education Secretaries for their efforts in the project.

Reported by Mary Andepam