Determined to create a better future for the children in the state, empowering them and mobilizing them to becoming positive agents of change in their communities, by fostering a sense of social responsibility, community engagement and leadership , wife of Enugu state Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, Wednesday , launched ” the Little Vanguard Initiative ( LVI) and the Little Vanguard Movement ( LVM) as platforms to achieving the goals.
Speaking during the launching organised by Custos Care Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady in Enugu, Mrs Mbah said the Little Vanguard Initiative is a dynamic youth empowerment program designed to inspire , educate and mobilize young individuals to become active agents of positive change in their communities.
She added that the Little Vanguard aims at equipping it’s members with the skills, knowledge and confidence to drive meaningful impact and create a brighter future for themselves and those around them..
Speaking on the Little Vanguard Movement ( LVM) Mrs Mbah said that it aims at developing young leaders, empowering young individuals to become effective leaders and change- makers. She added that it also aims at building a stronger communities , fostering a sense of community and social responsibility among members, driving positive change and inspiring members to take action on social and community issues.
According to her, the Little Vanguard Movement is in response to the growing concern of child abuse. The Vanguard she explained, will transform the children into becoming behavioural agents, peer advocate within the schools. “They will report bullying, molestation and any form of child abuse”, she said..
The Governor’s wife appealed for support , noting that the Vanguard was a thoughtful movement, which is for child protection.
To the children, she said, ” you are too young to make a difference”. She urged them to report any form of molestation and child abuse in their schools and communities.
Pix: Mrs Mbah and members of the Little Vanguard Movement.
Speaking on the Little Vanguard Movement, Mrs Mbah said it’s from the club she will pick three best children to travel abroad.
“What this means is that teachers should step up. It will be the best three students from the 17 Local Government Areas and you will not just be travelling alone, you will be travelling with me .So , you have to be reading your books.You should mentor others.
“We want our children to be able to compete with other children abroad . Huge change is already here . Our tomorrow is here. Make sure you look good, behave yourselves” ,Mrs Mbah urged the children.
In an insightful presentation on Artificial intelligence ( AI) the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Innovative education and Director of Experiential Learning, Enugu Smart school, Dr. Chinyere Onyisi, described a Smart school as a great change in education. According to her, Smart school moves away from rote learning to experiential learning. She said Enugu Smart school started on 7Th February,2024, with 1000 students in Owo campus.
Dr. Onyishi, said the state government was building 260 Smart schools across the 260 political wards in the state to create equal access to quality education to all children I’m the state so that they can compete with other children in the world .
She noted that technology has created a gap between the teachers and the children and Smart school was to inspire curiosity about innovation, coding , and robotics, to build foundational problem solving tools using technology .
” In Enugu Smart school, we integrated robotics, mechatronic , coding, a lot of things that will help us build 21 century.
” Innovation is the main thing.. What we are doing in Enugu ids disruptive innovation, which is a new method of teaching. We are not longer relying on our traditional way. Virtual Reality (VR) headset is used to teach students. We use the AR headset to take the children to aviation ,Drone technology “, Onyisi said.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Founder ,Women AIDs Collective,WACOL, Professor Joy Ezeilo(SAN), Commissioner for Children,Gender and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, wife of the Speaker of the Enugu state House of Assembly, Mrs Chinyere Ugwu, Mrs Olachi Chuks, Ukpai Jonathan, zonal direcor of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons( NAPTIP)
Earlier, the Managing Director of Custos Care Foundation, Mrs Egodi Igwe in her welcome address, highlighted some of the achievements of Custos Care Foundation which was established in 2024.
She said Little Vanguard Initiative was aimed at empowering the children with the knowledge of their Rights and the skills they needed to advance in the world.
She said 680 students were drawn from two schools in each of the 17 Local government Areas of the state, 40 students from each local government area.
The Managing Director added that the Little Vanguard Initiative has two schemes, one is for advocacy and the other is for skills acquisition, which will expose the children to different skills that will help them become self reliant.
Highlights of the event were quizz competition, parade by the Little Vanguard Movement members, cultural display, cutting of cake , health talk on care for the teeth demonstration on how to brush the teeth.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama