ESSAY, QUIZ AND SPELLING BEE THEME:

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 4: ENSURINGINCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION.DATE: OCTOBER 18TH 2017

The Babcock International Model United Nations (BIMUN), in its bid to redefine the concept of MUN around the globe, embarked on post conference activity to indeed touch lives. BIMUN believes that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ideally practiced, could indeed be an instrument for adequately meeting the needs of the people, stem strife, promote peace and prosperity, address illiteracy, banish ignorance, increase literacy and generally advance human worth and bring much happiness to a vast number of citizens while having 2030 in mind. Obtaining quality education is the foundation to ensuring a full and productive life to all individuals and to the realization of sustainable development. Despite considerable progress in school enrolment, millions of children remain out of school, especially where educational systems struggle to keep up with population growth. Even when more children are enrolled, many do not acquire basic skills. Quality education is hampered by the lack of trained teachers and adequate school facilities.

Babcock International Model United Nations (BIMUN) hosted a capacity building Essay Competition alongside a Quiz and Spelling Bee across Secondary Schools in Barikin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Objectives include:

• To improve student’s ability to research a topic and organize their thoughts into an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
• To inculcate the virtue of independence and inquiry in students.
• To identify students who are interested in the ideas of mental freedom and peace.
• To identify teachers and student’s areas of weakness and proffer solution to necessary lapses.
• Enhance interactions between and among students of various secondary schools.
• To create a method and level of education where all channels of influence are explored, strengthened and engaged in an educational process geared towards achieving accelerated solutions to meet global needs and aspirations. It is a means where all citizens, affected by issues, are engaged, involved and benefit from the outcomes of collective efforts and jointly-arrived solutions.

 All these best practices were featured in the competition from different students. These features are essential parts of BIMUN mission statement. The concept of BIMUN’s post conference activity, permeates all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): No poverty, Zero Hunger, Good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality etc. To prepare the future we want for quality and universal participation geared towards attainment of the SDGs, BIMUN is committed to achieving dramatic improvement in the education sector by carrying out this project involving 23 secondary schools in Nigeria.

 Achievements:

• We were able to gather students from twenty-three (23) secondary schools to display their vigorous strength in academics. By so doing, nine (9) students from three (3) different schools received scholarships, awards and prizes.
• We partnered with European Union (EU) which guaranteed many other students awards and scholarships.
• We partnered with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a national initiative that have deeper touch with students in the community.

In conclusion, we came to the realization that even when more children are enrolled into schools, the quality of education is hampered by lack of teachers and adequate school facilities. We succeeded in equipping the school library with over four hundred and seventy-three (473) textbooks including Mathematics and English Language. Babcock International Model United Nations (BIMUN), as simple as the phrase is and as noble and natural as the concept is, have proven effectiveness through creativity. Only very few Model United Nations would be brave enough to adopt it though, let alone, championing same the way BIMUN is currently operating.

The practice of a post conference activity can be very laborious, physically demanding and mentally tasking. It requires that you give primacy to, and pursue without relenting. It requires correct attitude of humanity, transparency and accountability. It is a process of constant consultations and engagement of people affected by issues throughout the lives of the programmes designed as solution(s) to address the issues; Agenda 2030.

We carried out (along with the people involved), analytical research and assessment of needs and problems, designed appropriate programmes (solutions), formed network of suitable technical partners and allies who enriched the values of the process and outcome. We monitored each step in the implementation process, reviewed, corrected and reinforced measures, disseminated efforts and documented best practices, so that legacies achieved will be enduring and sustainable.

Written by: Mbonu Fortunate Chinaza