Graduate establishes school, library, clinic in Nigeria
Originally published 01:26 p.m., March 13, 2008
Updated 01:26 p.m., March 13, 2008
Adamma Ibeawuchi, a graduate of Emporia State University and now a resident of Sebring, Fla., is devoting her time and her talents to establishing a much-needed school, library and medical clinic in Owerri, Nigeria.
Though schools are provided by the government of that country, they are often poorly staffed, do not serve food, have few books and other school supplies. Adamma’s school, Brighton Hall Academy, presently has an enrollment of only 17 students and meets in a converted apartment building but, thanks to her efforts to send a container of books, desks, glue, scissors and other teaching supplies, the children have a very attractive learning environment. The school provides uniforms and two meals a day to all students. It also contains a library of over 10,000 volumes of books as well as numerous audio-visual supplies and equipment.
Adamma’s mother, Dr. Shirle Ibeawuchi, spent six months in Nigeria in 2007 collecting the items from the container, organizing the library, staffing the school and the many other things needed to establish a new school. The school has children age 2 to 9 in its academic classes.
The children are taught using the Nigerian curriculum with the addition of hands-on computer instruction. Dr. Ibeawuchi said that the instructional method in Nigeria is very rote-orientated and the children and teachers are not used to learning any other way. One of the hard things to teach was the use of educational toys, such as blocks that were sent from the United States.
The teachers would ask, “What are these used for?”
Even the library is an extra hard problem to get cataloged and organized as none of the staff have even seen a well-equipped library. When it is fully functional, the library will be used by adults and children in the community as well as the school personnel. English is the official language of Nigeria so the school teaches all subjects in English and also teaches one Nigerian language and French. They hope to add other languages in the future.
Adamma is also building a medical clinic in a village in Nigeria that is the original home of her father, Asuzu Ibeawuchi, Sr. Adamma, though born in the U.S., first traveled to Nigeria when she was 5 years of age and lived there continually until she was in junior high school. At the start of the Biafran-Nigeria war, Adamma and her siblings relocated in the U.S. with their mother until the war ceased when they were reunited with her father.
The situation in Nigeria deteriorated tremendously after the war and has not as yet regained its former standing.
“I never forgot those days in Nigeria and always hoped to be able to provide children there with some of the things I could take for granted in the U.S.,” Adamma said.
Adamma, besides working on the Nigerian projects, is working a full-time job with an educational association in Florida. She feels that one of the great needs of the people in Nigeria is medical care. The hospitals and medical clinics are few and people must travel great distances for simple first aide. Many children and mothers die during childbirth because of these conditions. One of the things the clinic will strive to do is educate the people in first aide techniques, pre and post natal child care, and malaria and AIDS prevention. AIDS is not yet a great problem in Nigeria but care must be taken to prevent it from becoming so.
Another great need is in the area of mental health information and treatment.
The school, library and clinic must try to overcome the inconvenience caused by the general lack of sufficient pure water, the lack of reliable electricity, expensive transportation and other problems that exist, at present in much of the country. The atmosphere in Nigeria is not one of bleakness because of the uplifting attitude of the people.
Adamma believes that she will succeed, “in realizing my goals of a better future.”
create (anonymous) says...
This woman has the right idea. I can see how it will take individuals to help their countries, and not the governments. Governments quickly become ridden with graft as selfish politicians help themselves first. I hope this dream comes about for Ms. Ibeawuchi, and that others in Nigeria and other African countries see how individuals can be powerful.
March 14, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )