How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world?
- Anne Frank
Shiphrah Edem
Who I AM
My name is Eno-obong Shiphrah Edem. A Nigerian from Akwa Ibom State. Born and bred in Jos, Plateau State, I graduated with distinction from the University of Jos, Department of History and International Studies. I carried out my one year mandatory national service in Lafia, Nasarawa State as a history teacher in a Government Secondary School in 2019. I also have a Master's degree (in view) in History and International Studies from Federal University, Lafia.
Since 2019, I have carried out and led several social community development projects around the sustainable development goals, especially on quality education, good health and wellbeing and gender equality. After my service, I joined the Nasarawa State Sustainable Development Goals Office as a Volunteer where I lead a volunteer team to promote of the SDGs in the State. I also have a brand that educates young people on High Income Digital Skills and Soft skills in Business branding, communication and marketing.
My Projects and programs
Lafia history school library
At the school where I taught history in 2019, I noticed that the school did not have a school library. The students did not have the most of the needed text books neither did teachers have a resource center for teaching materials. Much worse was the noticeable gap in their knowledge of the country's history.
I was the first and most senior history teacher in the school as a serving corps member. Hence, I took the initiative to establish a history club where I taught the students Nigerian history.
LAFIA HISTORY SCHOOL LIBRARY
Shortly after, I established the first school library with over 150 books with about 70% being history books and materials for teaching. The library was commissioned by the Nasarawa State SDGs and the NYSC Lafia chapter in October.
I was supported by the Nasarawa SDGs office, UBA Lafia Branch, Jenta Reads Community Library, Tudun Wada Community Library and a host of well meaning Individuals.
The mobile library
During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were closed and learning activities were halted in the State. While the rest of the world moved towards e-learning and leveraged digital technology to continue studies, students in public schools in the North, were left out. The reports of rape, petty theft and street hawking were on the increase. Overall, the already fragile quality of education was getting weaker with each month students stayed at home.
It was on this premise that my team and I under the auspices of the Nasarawa State SDGs led by the Focal Person and SSA to the Governor on SDGs, Mal. Murtala Mohammed Abubakar, organised the Mobile Library Programme for secondary school students. The goal of the program was to reach students at home with books to keep them learning and academically active despite the lockdown.
The mobile library
When we started in May 2020, we reached over 150 students in Agudu, Doma and Lafia. We gave them books mostly African and foreign literature that were part of the school curriculum. We met with them once every week in small circles to collect their written reviews and discuss the books they have read.
It was during the program we discovered that most of the students at the local communities had difficulty in reading and writing. My team and I decided to take the students weekly tutorials in English language and monitored their progress through weekly assessment. By 2021, we recorded a tremendous improvement in their written and spoken English language. By 2021, 75% over over 260 who participated had read at least 10-14 books in 8-10 months. The students were trained to participate in essay contest and spelling bee competitions.
Channels TV ran a short documentary of our program in 2020.
awareness Campaigns
Working as a volunteer with the Nasarawa State SDGs, I have lead over 12 awareness campaigns in the State. These campaigns are focused on quality education, gender equality, youth development, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship and good health and wellbeing.
My initiatives under the auspices of the SDGs office has facilitated collaborations with Ministry of Education, Health, Youth and Sports, Women Affairs and the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) as well as media houses.
My workshops & trainings
International Youth Skills Day
In July 2022, I had the opportunity to speak as a guest to over 100 young persons from Sri Lanka, India, Australia, USA and Nigeria on the importance of High Income Skills to mitigate unemployment and poverty.
Also being highly skilled in digital marketing and business branding, I have held trainings and workshops for over 500 young people online who sought to acquire skills in content writing, copywriting, social media management and affiliate marketing among others.
I AM
A purpose-driven Nigerian youth, conscious and ready to work towards leading positive social, political and economic change in my community. I intend to carry more youths along in this journey of making Nigeria the pride of Africa.
My ambition is to ensure that no child misses out on gaining quality education and no youth stays unemployed through my initiatives and campaigns in partnership with Government Agencies, NGOs and visionary individuals.
contact ME
Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
+234 8166647641
eshiphrah@gmail.com
