By Abdullahi D Muhammad
NO nation thrives in isolationism. Urbanization, cooperation, and globalization almost eliminate human and non-human boundaries between countries. As cooperation deepens, so does the need for integration, potentially boosting sociocultural, economic, and political ties for mutual benefits.
The United States of America is among the nearly 150 countries Nigeria has ties with. The relationship between Nigeria and the US has gone beyond mere diplomatic and bilateral agreements; it has assumed a profound and ebullient dimension.
Through American Spaces, the US Department of State seeks to bridge deficits in Nigeria, especially in education, culture, democracy, and civic engagement. For emphasis, American Spaces in Nigeria are among the over 140 such spaces globally.
They are proudly funded by the US Department of State, whose interest is to foster a dignified relationship with host countries. Simply put, American Spaces are cultural and information spaces with modern and state-of-the-art gadgets that help access information about the United States. This information includes education, student exchange programs, scholarships, grants, and access to over 4000 tertiary institutions in the US.
A paradigm shift to technical education in an ever-changing world is essential. Also, skills development, especially in this part of the world, would do the country a lot of good, considering the humongous existential challenges.
Thus, there is a desire for the adoption of science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics— STEM approach to education is one critical area the American Spaces hinged its objectives on. Another core and critical area is girl-child education and out-of-school children, which remains a central theme in northern Nigeria’s development and cultural discourse.
Currently, there are 25 such spaces across Nigeria, 12 located in the northern part of the country. They include Kano, Borno, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Niger, Benue, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Sokoto and Abuja. Except for Abuja, Kano, and Bauchi, all spaces are located and domiciled at the campus libraries of universities in the states, providing both the Universities and off-campus host communities equal access to the facility.
American Spaces are pristine and equipped with modern learning gadgets. It offers various programs that can potentially create the next generation of thought leaders, change-makers, and innovative tech gurus.
With a team of dedicated staff, American Spaces provides unfettered access, physical or virtual, to a wide range of innovative and skillful ideas, like Artificial Intelligence, AI, debates, and sociocultural footprint on freedom, democracy, and civic engagement. Others include engineering, computing, and literary insights.
To enhance accessibility, the spaces are primed on account of their productivity. Kano, Borno, Bauchi, and Sokoto have been in the American Space for over a decade and are accorded the status of the entire “American Space.” While Nasarawa, Jigawa Niger, Benue, and Gombe states are accorded the status of “Window on America.”
Regardless, all spaces provide the same services, opportunities, and a unique platform for civic engagement, e-learning, elibraryUSA, and other learning mediums. It is essential to highlight that these spaces are all free. Nobody is required to pay a dime to access any of the American Spaces.
According to a 2022 UNESCO survey, Nigeria had about 20 million children out of school, making it the largest in the world. This included both primary and secondary. Although the Nigerian Universal Basic Education Board, UBEC, repudiated the report, facts on the ground seem to validate it.
However, an independent education think tank, Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE), reported in December 2023 that around 10.5 million children aged 5 to 14 years are out of school in Nigeria. This is a fair comparison to the UNESCO report, without unique and comprehensive data from the Nigerian authorities. This obtrusive decrease from the UNESCO report signaled a marked effort from authorities.
The menace of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria is worrisome. Statistics from some State’s Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, put the figure at an alarming 60 percent, mainly primary education.
Nigeria’s Minister of Education (State) lamented the growing number of North’s out-of-school children last December. He said, “The rising figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of Nigeria, is unacceptable and disheartening. There must be concerted efforts to address and reverse the trend of this time-bomb phenomenon,” he concluded.
This concerted and collaborative effort is where the American Spaces come in handy. As a matter of practicality, the North must speedily take advantage of these negligible and crucial opportunities.
At the moment, the sub-regional spread of Spaces could be an alternative to forestall the decline of school enrolment in the region. Take, for instance, the Northwest. American Space Sokoto, located close to the city campus of Usmanu Danfodio University, is strategic in many ways.
The serene atmosphere offers a conducive learning environment and an ambiance that reflects reading culture. Community-based organizations, CBO, and community leaders could take advantage by organizing and partnering with the space for private class sessions for primary and secondary students.
In Kano, the Murtala Muhammed Library, on Ahmadu Bello Way, housed the American Space.
With a robust alum, the space boasts a unique research, learning, and skill acquisition platform. Window on America Dutse, at the Federal University Dutse in Jigawa State, offers an opportunity for capacity building for both primary and secondary school teachers to enhance productivity and increase school enrolment.
In the Northeast, 2.8 million children face challenges accessing schools or are forced to stay out of school. This is a result of conflicts spanning over a decade. The American Space Maiduguri and Window on America Gombe, located at the University of Maiduguri and Gombe State University, respectively, are the needed platforms to increase school enrolment through collaborations.
Both state governments and education stakeholders should not ignore the significance of synergy with the Spaces. These Spaces exist for the benefit of the community. Since unsafe locations have made migration necessary, those involved in education should engage the spaces for areas of mutual benefit, which are countless.
The North Central states of Nasarawa, Benue, Jos, and Niger, have the presence of Window on America. In Nasarawa, the Window on America Keffi is located at the State’s university in Keffi.
With 24-hour internet connectivity and open to all, the space is a medium for exchanging ideas, information, and tech skills. It posed a link between the interiors of Nasarawa and the bustling communities at the fringes of the Federal Capital, Abuja. The space for Window on America Makurdi is located at the library of the Benue State University, Makurdi. It offers many exciting programs central to children’s formative years.
While the number of out-of-school children in North Central is relatively low compared to other regions in the north, economic challenges hamper school enrolment. Window on America Minna, located at the Federal University of Technology Minna, seeks to turn the tide through inspiring, innovative, and technology-driven programs.
Whether or not we agree on the actual figure, the exact number of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria should not form the basis for our discourse. It is not debatable. Once a region has myriad challenges—insecurity, economic deprivation, and insensitive leadership- the size and number of in-school children would stretch for apparent reasons.
The government can no longer bear the brunt alone, so bilateral agreements and partnerships are part of governance. The American Spaces in Nigeria exist explicitly to fill in this void. What remains is for thought leaders and community-based organizations in northern Nigeria to take center stage in securing an enduring partnership with the various spaces across the region to curb education and school enrolment challenges. A very crucial yet neglected aspect is the Alma Jiri system.
We must either integrate the system into the mainstream education curriculum or have a stand-alone system that absorbs some elements of formal education, especially Mathematics, English, and technical education, alongside Qur’anic education at the various Tsangayas.
One central area of interest that American Spaces focuses on is girl-child education. This should ignite a hunger in us. UBEC statistics have shown that the north has fewer School-age girls enrolled in schools. It is pathetic.
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja provides small grants and scholarships for deserving girls with stellar performances in WAEC/NECO. These interventions and opportunities are out there, waiting to be explored. Yearly, thousands of girls in Southern Nigeria access and benefit immeasurably from such opportunities.
The spaces offer exciting and life-changing opportunities, including Skill Building, Tech Girls, EducationUSA, YALI, Bridge USA, Ambassador’s Small Grant, Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program, FLTA, Resources for Kids, and Exchange Program Alumni Opportunity. Stakeholders in education and parents should do well to take full advantage.
These opportunities and interventions at the American Spaces in northern Nigeria await exploration. Waiting on a government whose priorities sharply contrast with our survival is a death sentence.
Muhammad can be reached on abdullahkidnyce@gmail.com.