Raising Our Voices for the 57 million out-of- school- children on #AfricanChildDay.

The ‘Zero Exclusion’ campaign for the Day of the African Child commenced in Kaduna satate Nigeria on the 11^th of June 2014 visiting schools along the Abuja express way Kaduna south Nigeria. I had a seminar with the press club members of Rowlet Schools Kaduna. The press club members were chosen as a medium to scale up the campaign to the rest of the school and sensitize their peers in their various communities. I gave a short lecture on why June 16 was set aside as the International Day of the African Child. The students contributed by voicing out their suggestions and opinions on the way forward.

Citing some of the suggestions made by the students, and their names we have:

• “Student should have a regular public campaign since they tend to move the government.” – Ruth

• “Literates in the society can pass their knowledge to the unlearned through personal mentoring and coaching.” – Farida

• “Parents should be sensitized on the importance of educating not just for their children but also for themselves.”- Silas

• “Government should make adequate provisions for a quality education for her citizens.” Chinaza

The students also volunteered in creating banners and placards for the Zero Exclusion campaign for the Day of the African Child which held at Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger state Nigeria. Some other highlights of the event were the students practicing and rehearsing their public speeches and news cast for corrections and perfecting. 

16th June #AfricanChildDay

The Zero Exclusion Campaign on 16th June was successful despite the hectic activities and schedules of the Students of the Federal University of Technology Minna in preparation for their forth coming semester exams and ongoing academic assessments and tests. Some of the students and lecturers were still able to squeeze out time from their very tight schedules to give their support to the Zero Exclusion campaign in different ways: Using the banner/placards campaign and airing their contributions on the way forward to the educational challenges in Nigeria by signing their support for the campaign with solutions on the classroom boards.

The Zero Exclusion Campaign and over 130 advocacy events held globally  on the Day of the African Child has given us the opportunity to  move a step closer to giving those 57 million out-of-school children and 250 million unlearning school children  the true right to education that they deserve and creating a new bright future for them.

With these I am glad to say that we are making a huge progress on our #EductaionCountDown @aworldatschool. 

Special Appreciation:

My special and sincere thanks goes to Mr Ebenezer Avazi for his immense contributions In making the entire event a success, Tarfa Benson and David John for your unwavering support in every way possible. To my partners Future Generex Organisation F.U.T minna and her entire crew, Aspire Magazine, Kaanem and StreetsofNaija, the students of Federal University of Technology Minna who came out to show their support, and to the entire staff and students of Rowlet Schools Kaduna Nigeria, a very hearty thanks to everyone of you. I sincerely appreciate your support, God bless you all.