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Sponsorship in Nigeria

CFCA began its work in Nigeria in 1994, and we are currently based in the former capital of Nigeria, Lagos. This populous, sprawling city has around 8 million inhabitants. A number of sponsored families in the Lagos project live in outlying areas of the city, which are often plagued by flooding during the four months of heavy rain each year.

One of the subprojects is located on a small island close to the coast where, despite its proximity to the city, few amenities are available. Another subproject serves many refugee families from the country of Benin.

Sponsored children in the Lagos project generally receive educational assistance to pay school fees, and purchase school uniforms and book bags. Some also receive food items for nutritional assistance. The Lagos project also has an aging program. Sponsored aging, as well as many of the sponsored children, receive benefits of medical care, nutritional assistance and home repairs.

About Nigeria

Nigeria, on the west coast of Africa, has more people than any other country in Africa. The country consists of a variety of land regions, including hot, rainy swamplands; dry, sandy areas; grassy plains; tropical forests; high plateaus and rocky mountains. The country has a dry season and a rainy season, but also experiences about a month of Harmattan, the season when the weather turns extremely dry, windy and cool.

Nigeria is rich in petroleum deposits, which has been a source of corruption and political tension since the 1960s. Petroleum products are the major exports, but palm oil, cacao, rubber and peanuts are also exported. Despite income generated from petroleum resources, an estimated 60 percent of Nigeria’s people live in poverty.

Nigeria has a rich and vibrant culture in the areas of literature and music. Several world renowned authors come from Nigeria, such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka. Musician and activist Fela Kuti was also Nigerian.

The people

More than 250 ethnic groups live in Nigeria, each with its own language, customs and traditions. More than half the population consists of Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups in the north, Yoruba in the southwest and Igbo in the southeast.

The majority of people live in rural areas, and make a living farming, fishing or herding. Farms usually average one-and-a-half acres and most farmers use old-fashioned tools and methods. The rural homes are made of grass, dried mud or wood, with roofs of asbestos cement sheets, corrugated metal or thatch. Family plays a major role in Nigerian culture. Villages have clusters of houses, and groups of related families often live in the same compound.

Each year, the Igbo people celebrate the “Iri Ji Ohuru,” or New Yam Festival. The leader of each community is given some of the roasted yam. He gives thanks to God for giving them a bountiful harvest, cuts the yam and eats it with red palm oil. Then, he offers the yams to the entire community. The ceremony is followed by songs and dancing that last throughout the entire day.

Education

Nigeria does not have enough schools or teachers to provide an education for all school-age children, although six years of schooling is compulsory. Tuition-free primary education was established in 1976, and the wealth from petroleum exports was intended to improve the system. However, because of endemic corruption, the vast majority of the country’s oil wealth has not trickled down to average citizens. The government did build new schools, establish teacher training institutes, and technical and vocational schools, but the numbers of schools and teachers and many of the facilities and standards are still lacking. Most children attend school from September to July.

In 1960, when Nigeria became independent, the country had one university. Today, there are more than 30.

As is the case in other parts of Africa, tuition-free primary education is a reality in law but not in practice. A host of fees for various programs and school-related needs (some of which are never met despite the fees) make it difficult or impossible for children from poor families to attend public schools.

Sources:

World Factbook