By Abubakar Muhammad (9NEWS NIGERIA, NORTHEAST)
Elizabeth Abdulmalik, a National Youth Service Corp member, serving in Borno’s capital, Maiduguri has organized a painting session for secondary school students in the city.
The program, which was held at Maiduguri Capital School on Thursday, is part of her Community Development Service (CDS) project for the one year national service in the city.
With about 30 participants, all girls, the students were introduced to painting materials and went through a painting session during the program.
The program enjoys support from Center for Community Awareness and Youth Development Initiative, CAYEI and Center for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative, CATAI.
Other partners are Easy Clik Global Solutions, Eleja-Care and Mola.The participants were also donated with schooling materials at the end of the program.
In an interview with 9News Nigeria, Miss Abdulmalik said that the painting exercise is meant to boost the confidence of the school students.
She noted that art is an important aspect of knowledge and it influences creativity, motivation and self esteem.
She also thanked her partners for their support and Capital School for hosting the program, adding that other individuals had supported the initiative with cash donations to purchase the painting materials and gifts for the students.
Some of the participants expressed their excitement for participating in the program.
Talking on behalf of the students, Fatima Sheriff, a JSS-3 student said that although they engage in art activities in the school, the program is their first experience in painting.
“We are very grateful for being part of this program, we really enjoyed it and I cannot wait to hang my painting on my room wall,” she said.
Also part of the program is career talks by Elizabeth and other corp members who assisted in organizing the program as well as another program, Bring Your Child To Work Day, for staffs of her Place of Primary Assignments (PPA).
Both teachers and the school management have also thanked Elizabeth for choosing the school for the program, noting that the painting exercise would boost their students passion on art and creativity.
On serving in Maiduguri, Miss Abdulmalik said that the reception she has in the city was beyond her expectations, recalling how she and her parents reacted to her posting.
“I have never been to Maiduguri before now and when I was posted her, my parents were not happy about that because of the narrations we hear about insecurity and all, but I made up my mind and gave it a try, believe me, it was exciting and it is a wonderful experience staying here,” she explained.
She noted that she is willing to settle in Maiduguri if she gets a job offer.
Elizabeth served at Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA) Maiduguri, as a news reporter as her PPA.
