When in 2004 MultiChoice Nigeria; the nation’s leading pay TV subscription management company, commenced the MultiChoice Resource Centre project as its major Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), some CSR pundits were skeptical about the success of the project in Nigeria.
The apprehension and doubts surrounding the MRC project by these pundits was not uncommon. Their argument was that untold number of well-thought-out CSR projects by some corporate bodies have come and gone without having a positive impact on their host community and with this development, the question on their lips was; “What is the credibility of the MultiChoice Nigeria MRC project?”
But the apprehension with which some CSR experts greeted the MRC project in Nigeria did not deter the management of MultiChoice Nigeria from embarking on the project. MultiChoice Nigeria, in conjunction with SchoolNet Nigeria; a non-governmental organisation in the nation’s educational sector committed to the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for enhancing teaching, learning and management processes in Nigerian education system, launched the first phase of the project in two major cities in Nigeria; namely Lagos and Abuja.
But the apprehension with which some CSR experts greeted the MRC project in Nigeria did not deter the management of MultiChoice Nigeria from embarking on the project. MultiChoice Nigeria, in conjunction with SchoolNet Nigeria; a non-governmental organisation in the nation’s educational sector committed to the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for enhancing teaching, learning and management processes in Nigerian education system, launched the first phase of the project in two major cities in Nigeria; namely Lagos and Abuja.
But contrary to the expectations of critics, authorities in the nation’s educational sector embraced the project which is aimed at introducing audio-visual learning technologies via digital satellite television and other equipment such as video recorders and DSTV decoders.
The MRC project is designed for beneficiary schools to have access to MultiChoice Education Bouquet with a view of integrating the programmes into their curriculum in order to enhance the teaching and learning processes in their schools.
Presently, the MRC project has been successfully implemented in 201 schools in 21 States in the country and in each center, MultiChoice provides the following learning aid items to each of the beneficiary schools; one DStv decoder, one television, one DVD player, burglary proof for the equipment, education bouquet others include; one small generator, one whiteboard, 50 blank Video Cassettes, one stabilizer, one metal filing cabinet to mention but a few.
Presently, the MRC project has been successfully implemented in 201 schools in 21 States in the country and in each center, MultiChoice provides the following learning aid items to each of the beneficiary schools; one DStv decoder, one television, one DVD player, burglary proof for the equipment, education bouquet others include; one small generator, one whiteboard, 50 blank Video Cassettes, one stabilizer, one metal filing cabinet to mention but a few.
It is pertinent to note that the MRC project does not end with the installation of the facility in the schools; MultiChoice takes the project a step further by training teachers who man the facility. In September last year, MultiChoice Nigeria in collaboration with SchoolNet Nigeria organized a- three day training workshop for over 25 teachers from Nigeria and a Sierra Leonean teacher, Mr. Albert Kamara on the use of the MultiChoice Resource Center in class room teaching/ learning at Ansar-ud-een Girls College, Iteri, Surulere, Lagos State.
Speaking at the training programme, Head; Corporate Communications MultiChoice Nigeria, Segun Fayose while encouraging the teachers to embrace digital learning techniques in impacting knowledge in their students, maintained that MultiChoice through its Corporate Social Responsibility will continue to add value to families across the continent.
While addressing the teachers, Deputy National Coordinator of SchoolNet Mrs. Aderonke Ronke; who facilitated the programme urged the teachers to make adequate use the resource center equipment in their classes. “Practical learning exercises on how to use the DStv decoder in classroom teaching will be applied throughout the workshop thus it is necessary that we all give it our best” she commented.
Mr. Albert Kamara; a Sierra Leonean teacher in attendance at the workshop said that the workshop took participants on a rigorous process of understanding the MRC and how it can be used to teach students class. “I am very happy to be a part of the training programme and I will certainly make use of the MRC in teaching not just my students but my fellow teachers” he remarked.
Mr. Albert Kamara; a Sierra Leonean teacher in attendance at the workshop said that the workshop took participants on a rigorous process of understanding the MRC and how it can be used to teach students class. “I am very happy to be a part of the training programme and I will certainly make use of the MRC in teaching not just my students but my fellow teachers” he remarked.
Prior to the training programme in Lagos, MultiChoice in partnership with SchoolNet organized the second edition of the MultiChoice Creative Teachers Awards on Thursday 26 May, 2011 at 3Js Hotel, FCT Abuja. The awards is designed to reward teachers involved in the use of the over 200 MultiChoice Resource Center Audio-visual learning aid across the country to teach students in their classes and in this second edition of the award, Mr. Olalekan Adeeko, a Secondary School Teacher with Baptist High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State emerged winner.
While giving insight on the criteria for selecting the winner of the awards which commenced in 2009, Deputy National Coordinator of SchoolNet Nigeria, Mrs. Ronke Bello, said that Mr. Adeeko came out tops in a keenly contested competition because his presentation on natural disaster with emphasis on flood, proved to be a very compelling presentation because of its local and global relevance.
However, Mrs. Hadiza Audu, a teacher with Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School, Minna, Niger State who focused her presentation on volcanic eruption emerged second at the Awards and Mrs. Onwumere Godgift Ezinwanne, a Social Studies teacher with Girls Secondary Junior School, Olokoro, Umuahia, Abia State emerged third as she used the audio-visual learning aid to focus on marriage and the types of marriages in Nigeria.
However, Mrs. Hadiza Audu, a teacher with Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School, Minna, Niger State who focused her presentation on volcanic eruption emerged second at the Awards and Mrs. Onwumere Godgift Ezinwanne, a Social Studies teacher with Girls Secondary Junior School, Olokoro, Umuahia, Abia State emerged third as she used the audio-visual learning aid to focus on marriage and the types of marriages in Nigeria.
Even the School Principals were not left out in the awards as Lady Florence .M. Udok of West African Peoples Institute (WAPI) Calabar Cross River State emerged winner in the Principals challenge segment of the ward.
Since inception of the MRC project in Nigeria, MultiChoice Nigeria has spent over N100 million in training of teachers alone. Yet, the management of the company is still determined in ensuring that more students and teachers benefit from the initiative and recently, the company have started to see the benefit of their commitment when Master Chukwuka Ekweani of Zamani College, Kaduna; a beneficiary school of the MRC emerged the winner in the essay category of the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards in Nigeria while Miss Precious Ezea of Government Technical College, Enugu; another beneficiary of the MRC emerged runner up in the essay category in the same competition.
Speaking about the MultiChoice Resource Center project, Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director MultiChoice Choice Nigeria said beneficiary schools of the resource center project have access to the special MultiChoice Education Bouquet. “We have instructional channels such as Discovery, National Geographic, BBC Knowledge, BBC World, History Channel, Animal Planet and Mindset Learn at no cost to the schools”
Mr. Ugbe said that MultiChoice, in addition to its decoders, provides each school with a DVD recorder, a TV set, a power generating set, tables and chairs and other instructional materials.
“The Resource Center project is part of a broad based community development strategy designed to raise the standard of education in public schools on the African continent by leveraging on the assets and expertise of our digital satellite television for development and growth of African communities” he remarked.
MultiChoice helmsman stated that besides rolling out more Resource Centers this year, MultiChoice will also embark on an intensive unannounced on-the-spot assessment of the centers in the six geo-political zones.
Mr. Ugbe said that MultiChoice, in addition to its decoders, provides each school with a DVD recorder, a TV set, a power generating set, tables and chairs and other instructional materials.
“The Resource Center project is part of a broad based community development strategy designed to raise the standard of education in public schools on the African continent by leveraging on the assets and expertise of our digital satellite television for development and growth of African communities” he remarked.
MultiChoice helmsman stated that besides rolling out more Resource Centers this year, MultiChoice will also embark on an intensive unannounced on-the-spot assessment of the centers in the six geo-political zones.
**Timothy Okwu is a staff of Multichoice Nigeria
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