Mission

"The government and people of Nigeria have resolved to address issues that militate against the development of the country. To this end and in the context of education as the base of all developments, the government launched its Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in the bid to provide access to education to all school age children and the illiterate adult population. The hope is that access, coupled with the quality of instruction and appropriate curriculum, will enable the education in the country to respond decisively to the current challenges facing the nation and contribute to a healthy, democratic and cohesive society that is needed at the dawn of the new century."

"But as we all know, in spite of the greatest will in the world, individual national efforts, often based on crushing sacrifices, is not always enough. This is where international cooperation should come in and come in ungrudgingly and unstintingly."

Mr. Abraham Babalola Borishade
Former Minister of Education
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country with over 130 million people.  However, more than 7 million children of primary school age - more than any other country in the world - remain outside the school system, and the majority of those children are girls.  Unfortunately most Americans are not aware of the magnitude of this crisis and its impact on our lives.

PCNAF's mission is to help reduce poverty, promote economic growth, and enhance the quality of life in Nigeria through programs designed to improve equity and access to quality education.  Based upon the belief that educating girls is a key to economic development in Nigeria, addressing the disparities in girls' education is a top priority.  PCNAF is dedicated to serving as a catalyst to enhance public awareness about the critical need to improve equity and access to education for all children - especially girls - in Nigeria.  In addition to providing financial support to needy female students, PCNAF also assists teachers here in the U.S. in developing curriculum to help their students understand how events in Nigeria (e.g. the millions of girls denied access to education) affect our lives here in America and instill in them a sense of global responsibility.       

Education played an important role in the Peace Corps' mission in Nigeria right from the very start, and the majority of Peace Corps Volunteers worked as teachers. That's because Peace Corps and the Nigerian government understood that education is a key to economic development.

The entire country benefits when its citizens can read, write and fully participate in social and economic life. Economic growth is driven by people with knowledge. Educated and skilled individuals are able to earn higher incomes.  That helps to create a larger tax base - providing funds that can be used to build better roads, schools and hospitals.

Background Information    Mission    Officers