American University Of Nigeria Launches Radio Literacy Program For 22,000 Vulnerable Kids

The American University of Nigeria with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has officially launched the “Year of Literacy – Technology Enhanced Learning for All” (TELA).
The project was formally launched in Yola by AUN Founder, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Adamawa State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla at an occasion witnessed by members of the AUN community and other distinguished guests, including the Adamawa state commissioners of education and health, Professor Kaletpwa Farauta and Dr. Fatima Atiku and Mr. Linus T. Wajiati of the State Agency for Mass Education.
TELA is sponsored by the USAID, which has given AUN a grant to improve literacy and numeracy in Adamawa State.
A statement by the chief spokesman of the AUN, Daniel Okereke said that the programme is being targeted at an estimated 22,000 vulnerable children, at-risk youths, orphans, displaced children, and adolescent boys and girls.
Okereke quoted the President of AUN, Ensign as saying that the US government gave $801,000 to fund the project even as AUN is tasked to prove that this pilot scheme is scalable, adding that if it succeeds, it will be replicated across Nigeria.
The statement said that the AUN-API has identified 22,000 vulnerable children around the community which it said is 2,000 more than the grant to fund it as AUN will cover the costs of the additional children.  “Seven hundred and fifty facilitators (and 750 locations) have been identified throughout Yola and Jimeta to oversee the program.
“It is expected that TELA will reach more than 22,000 beneficiaries in Adamawa State since radio is a common medium of mass communication in the north. Radio and tablet computers will be used as part of the instructional teaching content in the program.”
The statement said that President Ensign later invited the Founder and the Governor to launch the “Lesson One” of the literacy program.
“They were also handed the literacy workbook to share among the children.  The Lesson One demo of the radio literacy workbook series went live for 15 minutes.
“The lead facilitator of the radio literacy program, Dr. Jacob U. Jacob, the Interim Associate Dean of Arts & Science, said, “Each location will have between 5-10 people and a facilitator to assist the children’s work. We have also provided radio sets; the numeracy program will broadcast on Mondays at 4:10 pm and the literacy program on Thursdays at 4:10pm. Repeat broadcasts will air on Tuesdays and Fridays.” He added that AUN is partnering with Radio Gotel to air this program.
“Another lead facilitator of the project, Dr. Grace Malgwi, explained the pedagogy of TELA. She stated that radio is only part of the literacy program; tablets loaded with apps written by AUN students will also provide learning material for 2000 of the children.” [myad]