The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) presented 50 boys and 50 girls from the American University of Nigeria's Feed and Learn program for out-of-school children with dozens of educational supplies on Friday, October 21, 2022. These supplies included school bags, notebooks, pens, crayons, pencils, and slates.
A new group of out-of-school and vulnerable kids were chosen earlier this year from the Yola community and enrolled into the AUN Feed and Read Program, which is sponsored by UNICEF with assistance from the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and under the new Global Center for Out-of-School Children (GCOSC) at AUN.
The program imparts basic literacy and numeracy skills, as well as moral values and good hygiene, to the kids. UNICEF renamed the program Feed and Learn while expanding its focus.
AUN Feed and Learn Coordinator Mr. Raymond Obindu received the educational materials officially at the North Campus Waziri Hall from UNICEF Consultant Mr. Joel Jotum in the presence of the representative of the Executive Chairman, Adamawa State SUBEB Mrs. Pwakuleino Maxwell, and UNICEF Focal Personnel in SUBEB Mrs. Zainab Saleh Michika.
"We must collectively work together to ensure that every child receives basic education and in time achieve the arching goal of this program which is to provide the children with a solid core in literacy and numeracy, Mr. Joel Jotum said."
While appreciating UNICEF for the donations, Mr. Obindu stated that it is the first time the new intakes have books and bags of their own and believes that the items will give them a sense of belonging as well as serve as a motivator and driving force to learn.
Mrs. Pwakuleino Maxwell commended the partnership between UNICEF and AUN, noting that the educational intervention will significantly increase prospects for the children
"I applaud the partnership between AUN and UNICEF and their dedication towards advancing education by deploying all efforts and resources towards ensuring that every child in Adamawa State receives an education."
Reported by Tina Bitrus