The organization needs legitimate allies in the process and building such networks are essential to the development of goals. Some of those networks can possibly be better served with a more centralized location in New York City.
Nigeria has an incredibly diverse and rich culture, that is unfortunately fragmented by historical and cultural strife. Making people more aware of the cultural situation within Nigeria, including but not limited to the cultural secondary status of women in culture and education is essential to a broader global understanding of Nigeria's needs and current state. People who have emigrated from Nigeria to places such as New York, where there is an overall greater population of peoples from all over Africa frequently do so because of lack of opportunity and in many cases, lack of opportunity for women and girls. If Nigerian New Yorkers are made more aware of the particular needs of Nigerian education, specifically for women and that there is an organization specifically created to help with this cause they might feel more compelled to assist the cause. Additionally, a greater overall awareness of needs in Nigeria to the whole of the New York population will also help bolster the goals of the organization, improving the pool of ambassador candidates in the future and the funds that event raise for the causes.
One of the first steps in expanding the MNIA is to expand their web presence, through the development of a page that more clearly identifies the goals of the organization and is easier to find on search engines. One of the ways that this can be done is by reducing the visible emphasis on the pageant and the pageant winners and by emphasizing the connection...
Clearly detailing the monies that have been earned through the events but more importantly the work it has or will soon be able to do in Nigeria. Simple explanations and photographs of girls and women in Nigeria who have been helped by the organization is essential. If those goals have yet to be met the website must clearly state very specific regional goals that will be met by funds raised from future events, including the building of schools, the distribution of educational materials, including uniforms for girls as well as basic
school supplies, all of which are relatively inexpensive in the scope of change but are essential to the development of education for girls in Nigeria.
Lastly to help create greater networks within the expanded region of New York for the MNIA, there is a need to involve youth, so as they will be more aware of educational diversity and needs in the
global environment. I will help to create a program for exchange, where classrooms in New York (and possibly other U.S. locations) will partner with a class of like minded children in Nigeria. The goal and
curriculum of the program will include Nigerian cultural lessons, including visits from local Nigerian immigrants as well as visits from myself. The two classrooms will exchange letter and pictures and potentially the program will be gender specific in areas where the idea of female empowerment is an accepted goal of the school. With the development of these goals I will further my own experience, as a Nigerian American, as well as help develop education in Nigeria and Awareness in my home city.
Works Cited
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen, Sam E.O. "Assessment of the Provision of Educational Services under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme in Southern Nigeria." Education 127.2 (2006): 176.
MNIA Website at http://www.missnigeriainamerica.org/v2/index.php
