On this International Day of Education, Muiz Olanrewaju Yusuf, a University of Ilorin graduate from the Faculty of Education, shared the progress of Project Ja’Kawe, his innovative Be The Change (BTC) initiative as a second-year fellow at Teach For Nigeria.
Nigeria continues to face a learning crisis, with millions of children completing primary school unable to read and comprehend simple sentences, according to data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF. Yusuf has witnessed this firsthand in underserved communities, motivating him to co-create Project Ja’Kawe (“Let’s Read” in Yoruba) with his Teach For Nigeria partner, Fatimah Akanbi.
Project Ja’Kawe is an educational board game designed to expand the vocabulary of children, particularly those in communities experiencing the widest learning gaps. Learners work in two teams to form words using given letters, guided by a teacher. The aim is for children to learn 500 basic vocabulary words, strengthening their reading and comprehension skills.
“Our focus is on underserved schools because that is where the impact is most critical,” Yusuf explained. “Without the ability to read and understand basic English, children cannot fully benefit from the education system.”
The project has already printed the first three stages of the game, and the team is seeking support to print additional stages, letter cards, duplicate copies, and a game handbook to enable nationwide scalability.
Yusuf called on education advocates and partners to support Project Ja’Kawe, highlighting its potential to transform the learning experiences of children across Nigeria.
As Nigeria observes International Day of Education, initiatives like Project Ja’Kawe serve as a reminder that innovation and community-focused solutions are key to addressing the country’s educational challenges.
