Programmes

NEF has engaged in numerous activities that we believe has and will continue to enhance the wholesome growth and development of the youth.

We started with the Spelling Bee competition in Lagos State public schools, in both primary and secondary school categories. The first three winners in the secondary school are given cash prizes and also participate in an exchange programme to Finland(which has been our official host country) and the first position winner acts as a One Day Governor of Lagos State.  A special edition of our Spelling Bee Kit, celebrating the 10^th anniversary of Spelling Bee was launched at the 2010 State Spelling Bee Competition. It is our Spelling Bee Dictionary for both primary and secondary schools.

NEF Junior Chef contest was a cooking competition we partnered with Nestle Nig. Plc for two years. It was a very successful programme, the idea was to promote a healthy eating habit among the youth and eventually produce a cookery book for our youth with out local crops. The competition is open to any interested sponsor(s) as we look forward to restructuring and rebranding contest because we will still run the competition, because it is one that we loved the outcome.

NEF HIV/AIDS AVOCACY: New Era Foundation has been involved in the periodic organising of HIV/AIDS advocacy campaign in partnership with the Lagos State HIV/AIDS Control Agency (LSACA). It has successfully organised workshops and seminars for the following categories: Teachers and Students from public secondary schools, artists and artisans, wives of Local Government Areas/Local Council Development Areas’ Chairmen in Lagos State and wives of members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

NEF Environmental Advocacy Projects: In a bid to educate the youth on the importance of the environment, NEF has proposed and introduced two significant programmes to the Lagos State Minstry of Environment. First was the 30 Hours Compulsory Community Service for students in Senior Secondary Schools. The “Green hands Club” in all secondary schools and finally the School Beautification Projects, which is still on-going in schools. We have also organised workshops in partnership with the Ministry of Environment on environmental issues, on which the resultant outcomes were published into a book titled, This Earth, Our Earth.

NEF Essay Writing: In order to probe into the minds of our youth, we compiled the thoughts of youth from age 6-17 years on their spirituality with a book titled Who is God?  The response was amazing and the then Minister of State for Education, Hajia Binta Musa was our special guest of honour for the book launch.

The annual New Era National Wheel-Chair Tennis Championship is a programme that has become very popular. We concluded hosting the Third Edition on 21st February 2010. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN and the then Minister for Sports Engr Sanni Ndanusa and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly R. Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji were all there to support the physically challenged and to give encouragement to the players.

NEYOCA: The New Era Youth Camp (NEYOCA) held its pioneer camp, 11-16 September 2011, with the theme, Are you the next Leader? The camp had 175 kids aged 7-17, accompanied by Teachers, Heads of Education departments (HODs) drawn from 21 LGAs/LCDAs in Lagos State. Students from public schools in the LGAs/LCDAs were given the privilege to pioneer the camp due to their robust relationship with the Foundation. the camp fees were heavily discounted to ensure large-scale participation. Camp curriculum included Mad Science, Maths Explorers, leadership & citizenship, ICT, Home science, Music and Dance classes, Bead Making and Treat Her Like a Lady.

The objectives of the camp were:

• Educate the campers about their leadership potentials.
• Enable them identify and develop their talents and abilities.
• Equip them with new, exciting and practical skills.
• Provide a conducive environment for bonding and making new friends.

The camp also had in attendance, 32 volunteers who gave their time and expertise in support of the Foundation’s service to humanity.

Other: We proposed and initiated other ideas to the Lagos State Ministry of Education. First was the Alternative High School for Girls in Ojo Local Government Council. This special school caters for girls who dropped out of school to give them a second chance in life. The school has produced her first graduate now admitted to Imo State University. The second was a workshop organised with the support of the Ford Foundation on dispute resolution in Nigeria. This also culminated in a publication titled, The Grassroots and Political Change in Nigeria.