Oando Foundation, said it has partnered with the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to advance Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program in 10 schools across the state.
This strategic intervention addresses critical gaps in early childhood education through infrastructure upgrade, provision of grade-appropriate instructional aids, and teacher capacity strengthening.
Early childhood development is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4.2.1, which aims to ensure that by 2030, all children have equitable access to quality early childhood development and learning opportunities.
In Nigeria, ECCD faces significant challenges including inadequate funding, teacher capacity gaps, and poor implementation of national policies on integrated early childhood development.
According to the National Population Commission of Nigeria, only 10 per cent of children aged three to five have access to pre-primary education, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced support and investment in ECCD.
Programmes manager, Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh said that Oando Foundation’s intervention is designed to fill these gaps by creating a solid foundation for young learners.
“We aim to support young learners with the right learning environment and necessary learning tools to thrive,” she said.
According to her, this is essential as the first five years of a child’s life are vital for cognitive development and their experiences through these early years form the foundation for lifelong learning.
“As a Foundation, we believe that Nigeria’s ability to capitalise on the prosperity embedded in its people requires focused investments in human capital, starting at the early years as a critical foundation.”
She added that “leveraging strategic partnership with Plateau SUBEB, the Foundation has expanded the reach of its ECCD intervention to 10 schools across the state, including Obasanjo Model Schools A – C, Army Children School, Pilot Science Primary school, Our lady of Fatima Primary School, Jos Kufam Primary School, among others.
“The schools have been upgraded with fully functional ECCD classes, including interactive literacy and numeracy corners, gross motor skills sections, instructional materials, among others. Through an immersive training experience, educators were equipped with the tools, strategies, and pedagogical approaches needed to foster quality early childhood learning.”
To date, Oando Foundation has upgraded 21 early childcare centres, benefiting over 4,851 children. This initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader LEARNOVATE strategy that prioritises innovation and investments in foundational learning, creating better life opportunities for children and youth through equitable, quality, and climate-sensitive education.
