By Omolabake Fasogbon
Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative (FCI) has joined force with the US Consulate to train 100 teachers in Oyo state.
The move is in continuation of FCI’s efforts to close teachers’ skills gap in Nigeria by offering relevant training and support. The benefitting teachers would undergo a twelve-month long programme with the American Corner. The programme termed “Ibadadun” will begin with an induction exercise to prepare selected mentors for the task ahead.
According to the sponsors, which also included 1 Million Teachers (1MT), the programme involved 50 primary school teachers and 50 secondary school teachers who will be supported with physical materials and resources.
Explaining further, Founder of FCI, Polly Alakija said, “Each teacher will receive 100 sets of eight ’My Story of Water’ Worksheet which will be distributed on a monthly basis. Hence, WhatsApp became primary communication channels for the teachers and their mentors, with many sharing positive feedback on the effectiveness and enjoyability of the activities and training available via the 1MT platform.
“These activities on the platform are keeping with our general goal which is to enhance the quality of Nigeria’s education through the arts. They have taken several forms, including exercises that foster creative thinking amongst teachers, educate them on art materials, enable them to cultivate a culture of recycling, as well as empower them to impact the children around them.”
Alakija noted that the programme goes beyond the effect on teachers, but also the output on Five Cowries’ legacy and the passing on of relevant tools for a broad-reaching and enhanced teaching experience.
She added, “We celebrate our educators. Often unsung, an empowered educator is key to unlocking the potential of the child. At FCI, we do this through bringing cultural based learning into the teaching experience by equipping all educators with creative tools which are culturally relevant. It is an honour and a joy to be able to work with 100 teachers in Oyo state.”
