Activities Nigeria
Nigeria, by many known as the land of the black gold: oil. Nonetheless, Nigeria is not only rich in natural resources, it also has a tremendously rich culture to offer: a delicious cuisine, beautiful colorful clothing and an incredible hospitality towards strangers.
This rich culture is not often rewarded with financial means for development. Many children in Nigeria have never attended school or dropped out of school at an early age (see UNICEF’s website for the exact numbers). In the North of the country, terrorists regularly kidnap large groups of students from schools in order to use them as leverage to demand ransom.
In an outskirt of the capital Abuja, Dr Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke is managing the Dobbie School. The Dobbie School is a combined elementary, middle and high school. Despite being a professor at the University of Abuja, Dr Eke chooses to live on the school’s campus in solidarity with the young students and their parents. For him, their education is more important than his own comfort.
Tjeerd Harkema got to know Dr Eke in Nigeria during his studies in International Development. He was very impressed by the cheerful energy of the kids. Despite many deficiencies – a striking difference with Dutch schools which he was used to – the kids demonstrated a strong willingness to learn and develop. But, these kids lack the resources to fulfil their potential. Therefore, Tjeerd decided to contribute to raising funds for the kids at the Dobbie School, in cooperation with StandUp4Talent.
We are currently sponsoring 3 students at the Dobbie School: Precious, Excel and Emmanuela.
Excel (2013) attends Junior Secondary School and studies subjects such as Nigerian, English, Basic Sciences, Technology, and Mathematics. He also enjoys singing.
His results are very good.
His dream is to become a doctor so he can heal people.
Emmanuela (2015) attends primary school. Her favourite subjects are Basic Sciences, Technology, and Mathematics. She also has a talent for singing and drawing.
Her dream is to become a pilot, because she would like to see more of the world.
She would like to use her income to support education for girls.
Precious (2010) attends Senior Secondary School and studies subjects such as English, French, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Art and Culture. Her results are very good. She dreams of becoming a lawyer so that she can help people who need legal assistance.
At the request of her parents, we are not publishing pictures of Precious.
For the future, StandUp4Talent and Tjeerd hope to provide more funds and thus more opportunities for more kids at the Dobbie School. Will you help us?
