Joey Shekwonuzhibo Abuja, September 9, 2024 – Quality Education Development Associates (QEDA) organized a roundtable discussion marking International Literacy Day, focusing on “Youths as Vanguard for Multilingual Education to Achieve Peace and Mutual Understanding.” The event brought together experts in education, media, policy, and youth advocacy to explore multilingual education’s role in fostering peace.
Why it matters:
Multilingual education is seen as a tool for promoting unity in Nigeria’s diverse society. By involving youths, educators hope to drive sustainable change and increase access to quality education across languages.
What they’re saying:
QEDA Founder Nurrudeen Lawal stressed the organization’s commitment to equitable education.
Prof. Talatu Musa Garba, an expert in teacher education and gender issues, highlighted the importance of multilingual learning for fostering peace and understanding.
Guest speaker Lydia Onuoha, Chair of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, emphasized the significance of early-grade reading resources in Nigerian languages.
The discussion:
The event focused on:
Defining multilingual education.
Assessing the current state of multilingual education in Nigeria.
Exploring the roles of youth and media in promoting multilingual education for peace.
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Key recommendations:
Organize national conferences to implement Nigeria’s language policy.
Focus on teacher education to enhance multilingual pedagogy.
Standardize indigenous languages and develop multilingual educational resources.
Use technology, like language apps, to support learning.
Promote multilingualism through community interventions and national campaigns.
Youth and media roles:
Youths were called to act as cultural ambassadors and social media advocates.
The media was encouraged to promote peace narratives and showcase how multilingualism enhances societal harmony.
What’s next:
QEDA’s initiative aims to drive collaboration among stakeholders to advance multilingual education and foster unity in Nigeria.
