Youthhubafrica Stands #withMalala in Nigeria

Background

The Stand #withMalala program in Nigeria provided 613 female students and teachers in Lagos, Ibadan, Kano and Calabar with a packaged field trip experience to see the ‘He Named me Malala’ documentary in theaters during school hours. The program sensitized female students and Nigerians as a whole on the importance of girl education and the need for a 12years free education for girl child. Among other things, the program package included full theater buy-out to host the screening event in a local theater in each of the four locations, giving out one free ticket of the film per student and teacher with all expenses to and from the theatre for the teachers and students paid.

The Events

Calabar

In partnership with The After School Center for career Development, we commenced the ‘He Named me Malala’ screening in Nigeria with Calabar on 10 December, 2015. The event kicked off at about 10am with the arrival of students and other guests. The Movie “He Named Me Malala” came live on the screen at exactly 10:35am. The movie ended 88 minutes later and was followed by a 1 hour discussion.

The panel discussion featured a discussion between the panelists and the students on the documentary, lessons learned from Malala’s story and the importance of Girl education in Nigeria

The panelists are:

Evang. Dr. Mrs Gloria Nya (JP)        -       Ministry of Education (schools Department)

Esther Eshiet                                  -       Executive Director, After School Center for career Development

Mrs. InyangUmoren                          -      Education and International Development Expert

MrsNdodeyeObongha                       -       Executive Director. Mother Against Child Abandonment, Calabar

The discussions were animated as the students wanted more time to express their opinion on how the movie and Malala’s story provided an inspiration for them. There were comments and parallels drawn between the situation in Pakistan and Northern Nigeria where as a result of conflict, many girls are unable to attend school.

The session ended with a photo campaign and a group photograph at the venue

 Attendance

In all, there were 92 persons at the Calabar program including 70 students from 8 Secondary Schools in Calabar and environ;the students were accompanied by their teachers.

Represented schools are:

1. Federal Government Girls College Calabar
2. Duke Town Secondary School
3. Government Secondary School Atu
4. Government Girls Secondary School B.Q.T.C
5. Government Secondary School Uwanse
6. Government Girls Secondary School Calabar
7. Pinn Margaret Secondary Commercial School
8. Government Girls Secondary School Big Qua

 Ibadan

In partnership with One life Initiative for Human Development, the ‘He Named me Malala’ screening event took place in the ancient City Ibadan on 15 December, 2015. The event kicked off at about 9:30am with the arrival of students and other quests. The Movie “He Named Me Malala” came live on the screen at exactly 10:30am with social media conversations also at the same time. The movie came to an end 88 minutes later and the discussion commenced. The discussion which had two students and two adults on the panel featured contributions from the panelists and questions and contributions from the students. Photo campaign on stand with Malala took place at the venue and that added color and glamour to the already classy event.

The panel discussion featured a discussion between the panelist and the student on the documentary, lessons learned from Malala’s story and the importance of girl education in Nigeria was discussed.

The panelists are:

Mrs. R. Folusho Sali                      -     Representing Her Excellency wife of the Governor of Oyo State

Mrs. Olubunmi Joseph                   -      Educationist

Ariyo Esther                                  -      Student, Zummuratul Hujaj Community Grammer School, Ibadan

Job Mayowa                                  -      Student, The Gift High School

The discussions were animated as the students wanted more time to express their opinion on how the movie and Malala’s story provided an inspiration for them. Further comments and parallels were drawn between the situation in Pakistan and Northern Nigeria where as a result of conflicts, many girls are unable to attend schools. The highpoint of the session ended with a photo campaign and a group photograph at the venue.

Attendance

The total attendance for the event was 121 including 93 students from 11 Secondary Schools in Ibadan, Ogbomosho and Oyo town, the volunteers, the panelist which includes the representative of Her Excellency, the wife of the State Governor, and the implementing partner organization representatives.

Represented schools are:

1. Zummuratul Hujaj Community Grammer School, Ibadan
2. Community secondary school Olomi, Ibadan
3. Distinct jubilee International College Ibadan
4. Baptist Comprehensive College , Ogbomosho
5. St Louis Grammar School Mokola Ibadan
6. All Souls’ High Schools Bodija, Ibadan
7. The Gift Height School Apete Ibadan
8. Community High School, Ladigbolu, Oyo
9. Posit college, Ibadan
10. Baptist private Comprehensive college, Gambari Ogbomosho
11. St Annes School Molette Ibadan

Lagos 1

In partnership with ‘African Resourceful Leaders Foundation the Stand with Malala in Lagos (Lagos 1) took place on 16 December, 2015. The event kicked off at about 9:30am with the arrival of students and other quests. The Movie “He Named Me Malala” came live on the screen at exactly 10:45am with social media conversations also at the same time. The movie came to an end 88 minutes later and the discussion commenced. The discussion which had two students and two adults on the panel featured contributions from the panelists and questions and contributions from the students. 

The panelists are:

Olagoke Mutiat                   -              Kiddies Digest

Mattew Femi-Adedoyin        -              Abstinence Icon

Ibrahim Maryam                  -              Student, Al-Hikmat College

Zainab Rufia                        -             Student, Earnest Schools

Photo campaign on stand with Malala took place at the venue and that added color and glamour to the already classy event.

Attendance

The total attendance for the event was 81 including 64 students from 3 Secondary Schools in Lagos, the volunteers, the panelist, and the implementing partner organization representatives.

Represented schools are:

1. Earnest Schools, Ipaja Lagos
2. Al-Hikmat College Lagos
3. Sound Planet College lagos

Kano

In partnership with African Focus for Youth Development, the Kano Stand with Malala event held on 17 December, 2015. Starting with the arrival of students and other quest, the event started at 11am. The Movie “He Named Me Malala” came live on the screen at exactly 11:25am. And while the student paid rapt attention to the movie, social media tweets were going on from the movie venue across the social media. The movie ended and was followed with a panel discussion.

Panelists at the Panel discussion included the following:

Joy Kugbiyi                                                   -                        ECWA Aro Restoration schools

Elizabeth Paschal                                          -                        Rochas Foundation college

Aisha Yusuf                                                  -                         Educationist

Dr Esther Okechukwu                                    -                         Medical Practitioner

 In Kano, the participants compared the violence and insecurity in Northern Nigeria to the Swath Valley in Pakistan and mentioned that the insecurity has had adverse effect on girls education. One of the students also mentioned that after the kidnap of Chibok Girls, her parents considered if it was wise for her to continue attending schools for fear of being kidnapped. According to them, they will rather have her alive and uneducated than educated and taken away from them by terrorist. At the end, they allowed her to continue schooling.

 Attendance

The total attendance for the event was 173 including 143 students from 8 Secondary Schools in Kano and environs, the volunteers, the panelist and the implementing partner organization representatives.

Represented schools are:

1. Assurance Academy Kano
2. Rochas Foundation College Kano
3. Fortunate Memorial School, Kano
4. GGM College Kano
5. Nalado Memorial College Kano
6. ECWA Aro restoration Schools Kano
7. Abbas maje Nasarawa Secondary School, No-man’s-land, Kano
8. Liberty Foundation School, Hotoro, Kano

Lagos 2

In partnership with the TESS Foundation, the Second Lagos event on 18^th December 2015, kicked off at about 9:30am with the arrival of students and other guests. The Movie “He Named Me Malala” came live on the screen at exactly 10:30am. The movie came to an end 88 minutes later and the discussion commenced. The discussion which had two students and two adults on the panel featured contributions from the panelists and questions and contributions from the students. 

The panelists are:

Omotunde Olabisi                                    -                   Living Spring High School

Etima Joy                                               -                   Sonmori Comprehensive High School

Mrs. Adewale A.O                                   -                   Girls Rights Campaigner

Adeyemi A. A.                                         -                   Counsellor and Speaker

The Photo campaign session, stand with Malala took place at the venue which further added color and glamour to the already classy event.

 Attendance

The total attendance for the event was 146 including 120 students from 8Secondary Schools in Lagos, the volunteers, the panelist, and the implementing partner organization representatives.

Represented schools are:

1. Living Spring School, Lagos
2. Sonmori Comprehensive schools, Lagos
3. Bolade Senior Grammar School, Lagos
4. Adeola Comprehensive School Lagos
5. Early Beginners School, Lagos
6. Barachel Model School , Lagos
7. Deeper Life High School, Lagos
8. Glory Height School, Lagos

Challenges

• The change of location from Abuja to Lagos as a result of security concerns initially disrupted plans as we had contacted schools and sought permission from the Schools Board. We however worked swiftly with local partners in Lagos to ensure that we were able to set up and run in good time. The Lagos venue however didn’t have the same capacity as the Abuja venue, this meant that the movie was screened on two different days and we worked with 2 different partners to mobilise school girls
• Low turnout in most locations. We witnessed less than expected number of participants in most locations. Schools that had earlier confirmed failed to show up and gave different excuses. This is also occasioned that it was the end of the year and end of term and several other activities were taken place in schools. This was unexpected and although we had made payments and booked for the cinema, we were unable to recover expenses incurred.
• The movie showed was not subtitled in English, in two of the locations, Ibadan and Kano, some of the students had difficulties in following some parts of the conversation. However, overall, they understood the movie

Recommendation

• Several schools were disappointed when we cancelled in Abuja and they have expressed willingness to work with us to screen the movie to their students at a future date. We are most willing to make this happen
• For future purposes, the movie should be subtitled in English especially for the Nigerian audience so they can follow both the conversation and the words.

Links:

• The Youthhubafrica Stand With Malala In Nigeria Report (Pdf)
• Video- stand #withMalala
• Pictures of the Youthhubafrica stand with Malala in Nigeria

• Reporting Expenses (Financial Report) (XLS)