Procter and Gamble, a leading FMCG company in Nigeria, has partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a specialized agency of the United Nations to educate 50,000 Girls and Women on Information Communications Technology (ICTs) in Bauchi State.
The project tagged, School Meets the Learner Approach (SMLA) marks the beginning of the UNESCO new initiative to Education where ICT devices such as television, tablets and mobile phones are deployed to learners in their homes and workplaces to facilitate teaching and learning.
Speaking on the initiative, George Nassar, Managing Director, P&G Nigeria, said “as a responsible corporate citizen, we are delighted in giving back to the society in the second phase of our partnership with UNESCO through our Always brand, by supporting Nigerian girls and women to be self-sustaining economically.”
According to him, “the beneficiaries of the project are girls and young women between the ages of 9-45, who cannot read or write either because they did not attend school or dropped out of school early. By educating them, P&G has shown its dedication to investing in the lives of consumers and Nigerians at large.”
The collaborative project that commenced in 2014 has empowered girls and young women through education. During the first phase, over 60,000 girls have been trained in literacy and numeracy through traditional and technology-based teaching in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State for a two-year period.
The organization decided to extend the program to an additional 50,000 girls in Bauchi State, following the success of the first phase of the program. The second phase of the project is set to bring the school to the doorsteps of the learners using technology, where learners have difficulties in accessing education in a formal setting.
The project was launched at the Banquet Hall, Government House in Bauchi State under the distinguished Special Guest of Honour, Malam Adamu Adamu, Honourable Minister of Education. Other dignitaries include the Chief Host, Barr. M. A. Abubakar, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State and Her Excellency, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed A. Abubakar, the first lady of Bauchi State among others.
