THE
CALL
CENTRE FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF LITERACY & LEADERSHIP (CALL)
No 35 Marcus Garvey Street,
New Haven, Enugwu. Email:call6thmay@gmail.com Tel: 08053636627
Motto:
“Enhancing Readership,
Advancing Leadership”
The
Centre for the Advancement of Literacy & Leadership (CALL) is a civil
society organization that has a two pronged manifesto of promoting literacy and
leadership among Nigerians, especially the younger generation.
CALL is geared towards elevating the standard of Nigerian education by
enhancing the scope, the content and the quality of her literacy &
literature. Education is the bedrock of the success of any country, in all
ramifications. As such, the quality of manpower available in a country depends
on the quality of education available in that country. Education includes the inculcation
of those ethics and ethos that facilitate good governance and societal
advancement. Consequently, education is meant, not just to make people literate
but also to make them better citizens by inculcating leadership skills and
sound values in them. With proper leadership training, corruption and bad governance
will become history in Nigeria. CALL believes the time has come for Nigeria to
experience an ideological renaissance which will render the present unpatriotic
perception of public office as a means to self aggrandizement, rather than a
call to service obsolete.
CALL is therefore saddled with the dual responsibility of enhancing
the literacy level and as well providing germane leadership training to
Nigerians, especially those under the age of 50. Our motto; Enhancing
Readership, Advancing Leadership eloquently attests to the fact that well read
(educated) people are better equipped to provide leadership, at any level. To
earn the respect of those you lead, you must either be intellectually ahead of
them or at least intellectually at par with the best brains among them. For
students and young people, acquiring readership/ writership skills prepare them
for leadership. That is the essence of W. Fusselman’s popular saying; “A reader
today, a leader tomorrow”. Indeed, the CALL Agenda is a 3 Point Agenda;
*Literacy/
Literature *Leadership/Civic Education *Societal
Advocacy/Good Governance
1, LITERACY/LITERATURE:
Whereas Literacy
is merely the ability to read and write, Literature entails creative writing
i.e. writings that are valued as works of art. They are complementary. Only a
literate person can embark on creative writing and literacy can only be
sustained by works of literature. Therefore, CALL is interested in mass
literacy so as to enhance the literacy level of Nigerians since only a literate
society can appreciate literature. On the other hand, CALL is also interested
in nurturing literary skills among Nigerians especially the younger generation
since literature is a potent means of transmitting societal norms and values
from one generation to the other.
2, LEADERSHIP/ CIVIC
EDUCATION:
“The youths are leaders of tomorrow” is the old saying. CALL however
preaches that “the youths are leaders of
tomorrow, starting from today”. As such, the youths are also today’s
leaders. Merely seeing themselves as tomorrow’s leaders breeds complacency
among today’s youths. Believing that they have no leadership role to play today
may result in anti social vices and peer pressure. To avoid this, CALL strives
to make the youths to be responsible and to regard themselves as leaders,
starting from today. Every responsible citizen is a leader since being a good
leader implies being a good (responsible) follower. Nevertheless, there are
different levels of responsibility and leadership depending on our age and
status. For instance, a secondary school student is expected to show leadership
by being a responsible student and not by being a Governor or a Senator. By so
doing, he facilitates the work of the Government.
Man is born with different traits
and leadership potentials. However, leadership is enhanced through grooming and responsible followership. Indeed,
leadership is an inborn consciousness to impart positive values to others and
to impact on the society or community positively. The community may be your
family, your neighborhood, your school, your church/ mosque, your office, your
town, etc. Nnamdi Azikiwe, for instance had always been a leader right from his
days as a student/ youth. That was why
at a relatively young age, he conceptualized the vision of a renascent Africa.
This made him the torch that lit up the face of Africa with the splendor of
nationalism and the fervor for independence. A youth that sees himself as a
leader will realize that his actions/ inactions invariably affects the societal
ecosystem either positively or negatively. As such, he becomes compelled to act
with a greater sense of responsibility. Such a responsible (re-branded) youth
will not want to engage in cultism, political thuggery, internet scam,
prostitution, etc. Realizing that others are looking up to him/her, he/she will
prefer to work hard and protect his/her integrity and the image of his/her
country-Nigeria. Re-branding as is being
preached by the Government today is what CALL is imparting to the youths
through Leadership/Civic Education.
3, SOCIETAL ADVOCACY/GOOD GOVERNANCE:
Being committed
to societal advancement and good governance, CALL shall also be engaged in
societal advocacy by partnering with Government agencies in the implementation
of people oriented Government policies. The essence of providing literacy and
leadership training is to ensure good governance and societal advancement. “A democracy is truly participatory when
ordinary citizens can make inputs into the process of governance”. As such,
CALL intends working with relevant Government agencies towards ensuring that Government
policies, at all levels are structured in such a way to have optimal positive
impact on the citizenry and ensure societal advancement. Also, CALL shall
through constructive dialogue make known its views on Government policies
perceived not to be in the best interest of the masses by offering detailed
analysis on the social impact of such policies. This advocacy shall also focus
on family values (family oriented governance), environmental rights, rights of
disadvantaged persons, social re-engineering, anti corruption, etc.
2013 PROGRAM OUTLINE
1. STUDENTS’ MENTORSHIP
PROJECT
Preamble: One of the basic
challenges of Nigerian youths and students today is the lack of mentorship by
people of the older generation that they can regard as role models. If properly
mentored, the youths will be less liable to fall prey to peer pressure, thereby
resulting in a prevalence of vices among them. The youths/students are being
enjoined, not only to dream but also to take concrete steps towards living
their dreams. “A life with dreams is a
life without vision and a life without vision is a life without hope”
Most great men
are those who dreamt dreams as youths and had mentors who enabled them to gear
their youth energy in optimal productivity.
Nowadays, most students gain admission into tertiary institutions and even
graduate without being sure of their career. The common thing today is for
students to go to the university
just to become graduates. After all, as they say, “The course you study does
not matter in getting a job; all that matters is who you know”. There is need
to change that psyche. Evidently, this mindset has resulted in a decline in national
productivity since people work just to earn salaries rather than to add value
to the organization or company employing them. This psyche needs to be
reversed, if Nigeria must get back to productive ways.
Goals & Objectives:
1.
To make them to choose a career
early enough, at least, before graduation from secondary school
2.
To make the students to have
mentors to look up to in their quest to pursue a career
3.
To change the attitude to work
of Nigerians by making them to become career oriented
4.
To make them to become responsible
students/ youths
5.
To inculcate in them worthwhile ideals of
honesty, diligence and patriotism.
Target
audience: Senior Secondary School Students and
undergraduates
2. SAVE THE BEGGARS CAMPAIGN
Preamble: Street begging unnecessarily exposes the
beggars themselves, especially the women and children among them to dangers
such as sexual abuse, child abuse and a high risk of contacting various
diseases owing to their living under poor sanitary conditions, oftentimes with
little or no shelter from the sun and the rain. Moreover, street begging is
unnecessary in Enugu since the State Government has a rehabilitation centre
where the basic needs of the beggars are met while they are being rehabilitated
for re-integration into the society. In line with her commitment to social
justice, CALL is keen on ensuring that the rehabilitees are re-integrated into
the society without stigmatization.
Goals &
Objectives:
1.
To take the beggars off the
streets, to the Enugu Rehabilitation Centre where they will be duly
rehabilitated for re-integration into the society.
- To encourage people to support the upkeep of the Enugu Rehabilitation Centre as a way of transforming the lives of the physically challenged, by donating to the centre, the alms they would have given to the beggars thereby enabling people to be charitable without promoting street begging.
- To get the Enugu State Government to enact a law proscribing street begging.
- To educate people on the need to be supportive of physically challenged persons, without seeing them as disabled and liabilities.
Target audience: Street
beggars.
3. PUBLIC
PARTICIPATORY PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION BILL
Preamble: The Public
Participatory Project Implementation (PPPI) bill aims at enacting a law which
makes it mandatory for Government at all levels to engage civil society
organizations in monitoring the process of award and execution of contracts for
infrastructural projects in order to ensure transparency and accountability
since Nigerians have greater faith in civil society organizations than they
have in the politicians who run the Government.
In Nigeria, corruption has been the main cause of
under development. In spite of being one of the richest countries in Africa,
Nigeria has a very low level of industrialization and infrastructure.
Oftentimes, projects are budgeted for, contracts awarded and funds released
without having such projects duly executed. Unlike other attempts at fighting
corruption in Nigeria, PPPI focuses on preventing corruption rather than curing
it by punishing corrupt Government officials. Nigeria’s inefficient judicial
system and the immunity clause for some Government officials such as Presidents
and Governors have made the Anti Corruption crusade an uphill task. Moreover,
time is an irretrievable commodity. As such, even if all the stolen money is
recovered; the adverse effects on the society including loss of lives
occasioned by lack of health facilities and good roads cannot be reversed.
Goals & Objectives:
1.
To ensure transparent execution
of infrastructural projects in Nigeria.
2.
To curb corruption by ensuring
that due process is observed in the award/execution of Government projects.
3.
To fast track Nigeria’s
development so as to usher Nigeria into the comity of nations where democracy,
transparency and the rule of law are truly observed.
4.
To ensure that those aspiring
for political office do so out of a genuine desire to serve rather than the
present scenario where most Nigerians see political office as a means of corrupt
enrichment.
BRIEF PROFILE OF MEMBERS OF THE CALL BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
1.
Prof Ben Obumselu is the Chairman, CALL
Board of Trustees. He is a Professor emeritus of Modern Classics and a former
Deputy President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo. He was the founder of the National
Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), the precursor of present day National
Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). During his days as a lecturer, he
lectured in different Nigerian universities including University of Ibadan (his
alma mater), Imo State University, Owerri, etc. He also lectured overseas in
the University of Harare, Zimbabwe. He is presently a visiting professor at
Paul University, Awka. Prof Obumselu has a great passion for mentoring youths.
Accordingly, he has continually devoted much of his time to counseling and
motivating youth leaders owing to his unshaken belief that the youth should be
entrusted with leadership, if Nigeria is to move forward.
2.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin is the National
Coordinator Campaign for Democracy as well as the Executive President, Women
Arise - an NGO committed to women empowerment. She
traversed courageously where men feared to tread. She cut her teeth in activism
as the Secretary of Women in Nigeria (WIN), Kwara State from 1988 – 1991 and
the Coordinator of Women in Nigeria (WIN), Kwara State branch 1991 – 1996;
Chairperson, Rethink Nigeria (1987 – 1992) and Chairperson, Committee for the
Defence of Human Rights, Kwara State branch (1990 – 1996).Her foray into human
rights activism was at a period when the Babangida dictatorship was baring its
fangs and locking up critical voices. She became one of the targets of the
administration as she was arrested and detained for not less than seventeen
times at different locations: Police Headquarters Ilorin; SSS Headquarters
Ilorin; SSS HQ Maitama Abuja; Panti Police Station Lagos; Kirikiri Prisons in
Lagos. In March, 2011, the United Nations Nigeria gave her an award as the
“Hero of Democracy and Good Governance”.
3.
Dr. Mrs. Uju Agomoh is the Executive
Director of PRAWA (Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Association), an
international organization with continental initiatives in several African
countries. She is a member of the following organizations: The African Security
Sector Network, Association for Security Sector Education She served as a
member of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and was the Commission’s
Special Rapporteur on Police, Prisons and Centers of Detention (2001 - 2008)
and member, Presidential committee on Prerogative of mercy Committee of Nigeria
(2006 - Oct 2009). Her academic qualifications include B.Sc. Psychology, M.Sc.
Clinical Psychology, M.Sc. Sociology: Deviant Behaviour, M.Phil. Criminology,
PhD Criminology/Prison Studies, LLB Law and BL from the University of
Cambridge, University of London (Queenmary and Westfield) UK and three Nigerian
Universities.
4.
Denja Abdullahi is presently the
National Vice president, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He is also the
Deputy Director, Festivals & Performing Arts, National Council for Arts
& Culture, Abuja. He is a prolific writer and poet with many published
works to his credit. Denja Abdullahi is a poet, literary essayist and culture
administrator. He has been writing poetry for over 20 years, since his days as
a student of English and literature in the University of Jos Nigeria. His poems
and other literary pieces have appeared in anthologies and in several other
newspapers, journals and magazines. His first published poetic
volume Mairogo: A buffoon’s poetic journey around Northern
Nigeria (2001) received honorable mention for the prestigious ANA/Cadbury 2001
Poetry Prize.
5.
Comrade Emma Onwubiko is the National
Coordinator Human Right Writers Association (HURIWA). He was educated at Abia
State University, Uturu, Claretian Seminary, Owerri and Nigerian Institute of
Journalism, Lagos. He is a foremost human rights crusader who has been at the
forefront of so many struggles against Anti people Government policies such as
the recent Anti Fuel Subsidy protests. HURIWA
partners with the following organizations in pursuit of its goals; National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Consumer
Protection Council (CPC), Ministry of Justice, etc.
6.
Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji (B.Eng.) is
the Executive Director of CALL. Mazi is an Electrical/ Electronics Engineer by
education, a poet/ writer by birth and a political activist by vocation. He was
member,1st World Igbo Day Organizing Committee (2000),Co-Founder/Founding
National Secretary, National Union of Enugu State Students (NUESS) (1998-2000),
Founder/ National Coordinator, Confederation of Igbo Students (CIS) (2000-2002),
Acting National chairman, Ohaneze Youth Wing (2006-2008), House of Assembly
candidate (LP) for Aninri Constituency in the 2007 House of Assembly Election,
Acting Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Enugu State Branch
(February-July,2011) He started his career in activism in 1994 during his
student days at the Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT)
where he was the Director of Socials & Welfare of the Students’ Union Government
from 1997-1998 and a university athlete representing ESUT at various
competitions such as BUK 1997 NUGA Games.
Mazi Ikechukwu
Bismarck Oji (B.Eng.)
Executive
Director
No comments:
Post a Comment