A non-governmental organization, Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi), has successfully trained over 6,000 children from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Nigeria on foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. The initiative was carried out across 13 IDP camps in various states, bringing much-needed educational opportunities to displaced children.
During the launch of AREAi’s 2023 Annual Report in Abuja, themed “Transforming Education for Lifelong Learning,” Executive Director Gideon Olanrewaju highlighted the organization’s work. He revealed that AREAi has provided digital literacy skills to over 400 girls through its Digital Skills Accelerator Programme, aiming to bridge educational gaps for disadvantaged children.
Olanrewaju described AREAi as a non-profit organization founded in 2015 that focuses on providing accelerated alternative learning programs. These programs leverage digital technologies to enhance learning in four key areas: digital learning, digital equity, girls’ education, and teachers’ professional development. He emphasized that the organization’s work spans 18 states in Nigeria, improving access to quality education in rural and underserved communities.
Reflecting on the successes of 2023, Olanrewaju expressed pride in the impact AREAi has made. He noted that despite the challenges of the year, the organization provided access to literacy and numeracy instruction for thousands of disadvantaged children. The partnerships with entities like the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the Malala Fund helped accelerate access to education through community-based learning.
Additionally, Olanrewaju announced that AREAi had expanded its operations to the United Kingdom and the United States and would begin new leadership roles in these countries by January 2025. He also shared that the organization had won the 2023 UNLEASH Rwanda Dragons’ Den Pitch for the Mastercard Foundation Social Impact Award, recognizing its efforts to make a social difference.
AREAi’s Director of Programs, Edidiong Anthony Simeon, added that the organization has implemented its programs in eight IDP camps, including those in Abuja, Nasarawa, Borno, and Benue States. The partnership with government agencies has enabled the group to widen its scope, equipping children with essential skills across four areas: literacy, numeracy, 21st-century life skills, and digital skills. These educational programs are integrated with globally recognized teaching methods and include learning in children’s mother tongues for better understanding.
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