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Nigeria

Relevant background information

Nigerian expertise was involved in the creation of the Child-to Child materials from the outset. Professor Sam Aleyideino, at that time director of the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, was among those who helped to draft the first materials in 1979 and it was indeed he who coined the memorable phrase, ‘a bag of ideas’ which has since been used so frequently to describe the life-saving health activities presented in the activity sheets.

Later, in the early 1990s, the Minister of Health, Professor Ransome Kuti, strongly supported the approach and a number of workshops were held at state level, e.g. in Rivers State. Copies of most of the Child-to-Child readers in Hausa are now held in the resource centre at Child-to-Child, London.

Mother’s Welfare Group – Child-to-Child Network

Since 1980, this programme has been working in nursery schools in Kaduna Town and more recently with schools, women's groups, and children's clubs that incorporate Child-to-Child approaches in the school curriculum and use Child-to-Child readers, activity sheets and materials. In fact, the children's clubs have developed a girl guide book based on Child-to-Child. The children involved range between 3-18 years of age and women aged 15-25 years and mothers of all ages are also involved. Much of the training work focuses on developing basic skills and competencies in children such as identifying cases of diarrhoea, making ORS, First Aid, social skills and reading skills.
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Note

Child-to-Child Health Development Agency

Agency to promote Child-to-Child approaches especially through schools

Through this agency Dr. Katherine Ghana, one of the prime organisers of Child-to-Child in Nigeria promotes Child-to-Child activities through partners such as UNICEF,

The British Council and the Bernard Van Leer foundation. Its aim is further to strengthen the Child-to-Child approach throughout Nigeria, particularly in schools, (there are pilot schools in Bida). Training is offered and it is suggested that the four- step approach to the methodology is used as teachers find it easier to deal with than the six-step approach. The approach is linked to the UNICEF child-friendly school initiative. The agency is especially concerned with promoting the education of girls and upon emphasising child rights.

Date: 2005
Source: Dr. Katherine Gana ( kate.gana@skannet.com)