by Thanks for visiting my page! This article outlines my activities during my 1 year National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) assignment in Nigeria. Please enjoy reading and do leave me a comment.
I’ll be updating with more pictures…
- Activities in Camp
- The Daily Parades
- The Man O’War Paramilitary Training
- Working in the Kitchen
- Engaging in Sanitation Activities
- Attending Lectures
- The Long Distance Trek
- Activities in Place of Primary Assignment
- Preparing my Class Notes
- Teaching Mathematics (In the Classroom)
- Working in the Computer Lab/Typesetting Documents/Preparing Roasters
- Activities in General CD
- HIV Awareness Lectures in Secondary Schools
- Health Sensitization in the Market
- In Clinics and Hospital/Health Centers
- Distribution of Handbills
- Activities in my Personal CD/strong>
- Research Using the Library and the Internet
- Preparing the Textbook: “Computer Studies for Secondary Schools”
- Preparing the Students’ Practical Workbook
- Giving out Study Materials to Students
- Training of Students in Use of Computer
- Conducting Awareness Programs on Importance of Information Technology.
- Recommendation
1.0 ACTIVITIES IN CAMP
I reported to camp on Tuesday 26th August 2008 at Nonwa Gbam in Tai Local Government in Rivers State. After about 2 days of registration and clearance, we moved into the hostels in the camp ready to commence our activities.
Some of the activities we engaged in while in camp are outlined below.
The Daily Parades
By 4:30 a.m every day we must wake up and start preparing for our activities for the day. By 5.a.m we are already at the parade ground and after about 30 minutes of morning devotion, we took part in the match past (parade) until later in the morning.
Later in the evening too, we also come out to the field to continue with the match past and other activities
The Man O’ War Paramilitary Training
In the second week of our stay in camp, we engaged in Man O’ War training which was a little bit of a strenuous exercise. I took the hassle to take part in all the various parts of the exercise as can be seen in the pictures below.
Working in the Kitchen
Since working in camp exposes you to various aspects of life I was delighted to engage in working in the kitchen for about two days of my stay in camp.
I spent close to the whole day for the two days helping in the preparation of the meals in the kitchen.
Engaging in Sanitation
Sanitation was a regular exercise in the camp and I personally was not left out. I made sure I engaged in the picking exercise and other activities aimed at keeping the camp environment clean.
Attending Lectures
In the course of my three weeks stay in camp, I was able to attend all the lectures organized by the camp management.
The various lectures I participated in includes: HIV/AIDS Awareness Lecture, Lecture on Safety by FRSC personnel, Nigerian Institute of Management etc. The picture below shows the Director, FRSC, Eastern region with me and other corps members after one of the lectures.
The Long Distance Trek (Endurance Trek)
On the last week of our stay in camp, we engage in another arduous aspect of the camp life: the endurance trek. Here we accompanied by the various platoon commandants made it through a number of villages to another local government on foot!
2.0 ACTIVITIES IN MY PLACE OF PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT
I was posted to a secondary school, Model Boys Secondary School, Omoku in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government area (ONELGA) in Rivers State.
In April 2009, due to insecurity in the school campus, I was posted to Government Community Secondary School, Obite in the same Local Government where I also continue teaching mathematics.
Preparing my Lecture Notes
Since teaching of mathematics is not an easy thing to do, spend most of my nights preparing my lecture notes to be used for my classes. Since the schools never provided textbooks, I have to personally acquire a two textbooks, New General Mathematics for SS2 and Senior Secondary Mathematics for SS1 to enable me prepare my notes.
Teaching Mathematics and Computer Studies
In my place of Primary Assignment, I was assigned to teach SS2 Mathematics. As the students were not very brilliant, I have to make effort to ensure that the students understand the topics by making thorough preparation and breaking down the titles into easy to understand concepts.
Both schools I was posted to however never had Computer Studies in their Curriculum but I have to make some efforts to introduce the students to the concepts of Computing and why they should appreciate Computer Studies as a subject.
Helping in typesetting Documents/ Preparing Roasters with the computer
Being a corps member with computer engineering background, the principal found me very useful in helping the school out in their typesetting and document preparation work using the computer in the school has.
So throughout my stay in the Model Boys Secondary School, I spend my free time typing the various roasters, memos and other documents for the school.
3.0 GENERAL CD ACTIVITIES
I was attached to the Health CD group which normally carries out CD activities every Wednesday. The objective of the group is to sensitize the general public in the need to maintain a healthy way of life with emphasis on prevention of HIV/AIDS and other communicable but preventable diseases.
HIV Awareness Lectures in Secondary Schools
We went to a number of secondary schools to enlighten them on the need to avoid premarital sex as this is the main cause of HIV/AIDS.
One of the schools visited was Community Secondary School, Ebogoro.
Health Sensitization in the Market
The group also visited the market place to sensitize women especially on ways to maintain good healthcare both for themselves and that of the children.
Some of the highlights of the enlightenment programs include:
HIV/AIDs Prevention and Control: We were able to explain the causes of the epidemic and how the virus spreads. Then we advised every one on the need for abstinence and faithfulness as the best protection against the disease.
Environment: Here, we highlighted the need to maintain a cool and healthy environment as it relates to good health.
Good Dieting: Many of the local people were happy to know that good dieting does not necessarily depend on spending so much money on food. We encouraged using vegetables and fruits as compliments to the normal everyday meal.
Childcare: Mothers also were told the need to maintain proper heigene both for themselves and their baby
In the Clinics and Hospital/Health Centers
Relevant to maintaining a good standard of living is the environment on lives in. If the environment and surroundings are not healthy, then health problems can easily surface. In the light of this, we made efforts to reach a number of health centers including the General Hospital in Omoku, ONELGA, Rivers State. Not only that we carried out enlightenment talks, but we also came down to do physical cleaning of the environment/surrounding of the hospital.
Distribution of Handbills
To help reach as many persons as possible, we have to prepare handbills we distributed to the public.
4.0 ACTIVITIES IN MY PERSONAL CD PROJECT
My Personal CD has to do with enlightenment on the need for computer studies in secondary schools. This includes gathering information to be used to prepare materials to be distributed to students to enable them understand and appreciate the importance of Information Technology.
Below is outlined the strategies was used in actualizing the project.
- Obtaining the syllabus for Computer Studies for secondary schools
- Engaging in intensive research in Libraries and the Internet to obtain the relevant information needed for the textbook and study material.
- Actual organizing and producing the manuscript for the publication to be used for the training program as enclosed with the proposal preceding this report
- Involving IT professionals including lecturers in proof-reading and accessing the produced manuscript. I was able to reach a well known IT firm in my place of primary assignment such as Akins IT Professional to enlighten them on the need to contribute to development by subsidizing internet use for students
- Actual publishing of the textbook. Although this aspect has not been fully completed, part of the textbook was arranged into a comprehensive study material of which copies were of it printed.
- Reaching out to schools and the public at large and organizing computer awareness lectures in schools
- Conducting training programs for students on computer operation.
- Giving out of free copies of the books to as many schools as possible as well as members of the public who are youths.
Research using the Library and the Internet
Since I need to use books and handouts to explain the concepts in computer studies, I spent much time in the Library and Internet Centers, gathering necessary information. I also made effort to obtain the government-approved syllabus for Computer Studies in Secondary schools.
Preparing of Textbook: “Computer Studies for Secondary Schools”
I also made effort to organize a 226-page comprehensive textbook entitled: “Computer Studies for Secondary School” which exhaustively covers the government approved syllabus. The preparation of this textbook as well as the accompanying workbook took a period of 8 months. Although this book has not been published, a part of it was printed and used for the training programs in secondary schools, at homes, in computer centers, in extramural classes I organized.
The Cover page and the back cover (which outlines the key features) of the textbook are shown in the figure below while a draft copy of the textbook was attached to the proposal preceding this report.
Figure 3.2a: Cover Page of textbook Figure 3.2b: Back cover of textbook
Preparing the Student’s Practical Workbook
I also took the time to organize the workbook I used for the training program. This is an 85-page workbook containing well-designed lessons made to help a student become computer literate in just two months. Just like the textbook, part of the workbook was printed out and used for the training.
The cover page and back cover of the workbook is shown in the picture below.
Figure 3.3a: Cover Page of workbook Figure 3.3b: Back cover of workbook
Giving out of Study Materials to Students
As mentioned earlier, the textbook and the workbook were not published due to time constraints but part of the books were organized into a comprehensive study material and issued out some students in selected school.
The picture below shows a student in Omoku City Secondary School, in Omoku, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State (ONELGA) by name Onyebuchi Enyadike, receiving a computer training material during the course of the awareness program.
Figure 3.4: A student receiving a computer training handout as well as receiving computer training on a one-on-one basis
Registering Email Address for Students
Emails are used to easily send and receive mails through the internet and it is one of the most important dividends of Information Technology. If put to good use, emails can serve as an excellent medium for exchanging information betweens students and teachers/lecturers.
In the course of the project, I was able to register an email address for a number of students in schools. The schools that were affected includes:
- Model Boys Secondary School, Omoku
- Government Community Secondary School, Obite
- Omoku City Secondary School, Omoku among others.
Figure 3.5: Training a student in use of computer ONELGA. He was also taught how to send and receive mails using the Internet. The picture by the right shows a student receiving a study material, which was used for the training.
Training of Students on the Use of Computers
Although the project focused on development of study materials and awareness programs efforts were made however to given a considerable training to some students on the use of computers.
I made extensive use of my personal computer to teach a few students the basics in computer operation and use. The students that received the training were also given study materials and were told to make effort to continue acquiring relevant knowledge in the area of Information Technology.
I also used an Internet Center in the Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku to conduct some of the training with the permission of the management.
Figure 6: Training a Student on the use of Computer
Conducting Awareness Programs on Importance of Information Technology in Schools
I also made efforts to reach as many as possible, especially students, teachers and parents to enlighten them on the importance of Information Technology in our modern society. As mentioned before, some of the schools that benefited include Model Boys Secondary School, Omoku; Omoku City Secondary School, Omoku among others.
Figure 3.7a: Some students participating Figure 3.7b: Students were happy to receive
in an awareness lecture some materials study materials
5.0 RECOMMENDATION
I am very sure that with this project made a considerable impact on the outlook of student, teachers and the public at large. Granted, this no doubt marks a step in the right direction but it would not be necessary to stop at this as other related projects needs to be carried out as a follow up to the concept being developed
But a lot is yet to be done to attain a considerable level in the area of Information Technology in Nigeria and this height can be attained provided the Government and other stakeholders involved play their role.
I will like to outline my recommendations based on the following points:
- Each secondary school should ensure the integration of Computer Studies into the school curriculum and have well qualified teachers to handle such.
- Government should see to it that computer labs or even just computers are provided in as secondary schools as possible.
- The Ministry of Education should also be ensured that teachers in secondary schools are computer literate as a requirement for employment as a teacher.
- Government should see to it that teachers receive regular training, seminars and workshops on the recent developments in the field of Information technology
- To see to it that information is made readily available to students, efforts should be made to subsidize Internet use for students in Secondary and Tertiary institutions.
- Parents of students should be encouraged to acquire a personal computer as an aid to the student for home works and other learning needs.
- To hold computer training programs and workshops in the rural communities
Many countries that achieved a high level of Industrialization never achieve it in one day and so we also believe that with the necessary support given to projects like this, we would no doubt find a place among the leading nations in technology.
