WHY PACAW?
The education crisis in Africa reflects chronic leadership failure. A colossal endemic deficit which requires homegrown solutions, new thinking and totally different mindset. This calamity, i.e. Profound Leadership Failure may indeed be the greatest impediment to the ascent of these nations from the bottom of the human ladder of development. The education crisis resulting in alarming knowledge deficit is one of the most heart-wrenching features of the populations in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa.
In June 2007, Pan Africa Children Advocacy Watch (PACAW), Inc., a non-profit organization headquartered in Maryland, USA was founded by Dr. Sylvanus Adetokunboh Ayeni, a Neurosurgeon in the USA who was born and raised in Nigeria. The goal of PACAW, Inc. is to help, in its own humble way, with predominantly homegrown solutions for this monumental problem facing the failing nations of Africa especially Sub-Saharan Africa.
The main purpose of PACAW, Inc. is to add a voice to the search for solutions for the huge problems facing Nigeria and the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is an attempt to address these very complex problems at their root. Our focus is on the education of children from Kindergarten to High School in the poorest communities.
Clearly, in many of these nations, the problems cannot be blamed on two things.
1. Lack of available money to the leaders from both domestic and foreign sources.
2. Lack of natural resources or human resources.
Indeed, Africa is over-blessed with more than sufficient human resources and enormous natural resources. It is also the 'youngest' continent on the planet -- in average or median age of the populations.
So, what is the problem? Or maybe one should ask: what are the problems?
We believe there are four fundamental issues at play in these poor performing African nations.
1. Failure of Mindset especially at the leadership level. The "Cannot Do" Mindset and dependency on other segments of the human race must be replaced with a "Can Do" Mindset.
2. The mammoth Corruption and Self-Centeredness particularly at the leadership level must abate.
3. Public safety must be prioritized by the leaders.
4. The profound deficits in infrastructure and knowledge require very urgent attention by the leaders.
We have made leadership training through the Biennial Leadership Academy (depending on funding), a component of our programs. PACAW, Inc. believes strongly in public education. So, we do not set up private schools. We go to the poor and most neglected village/community and resuscitate the dilapidated public schools. We do this by providing infrastructure, staff, books, equipments like photocopy machines and other support systems.
Hopefully, from these children would emerge a new generation of leaders that will solve Africa's development crisis. Without quality education at all levels, i.e. basic, secondary and tertiary, the leadership crisis and consequently the maldevelopment in these nations would never be solved.
Our long term goal, as we pray earnestly and wait for assistance from individuals and/or entities with the financial means, is to establish a kind of Lyceum. This would be an institution where scores, hundreds and hopefully eventually, thousands of young Africans would come and spend at least one academic year to learn, ruminate and be mentored by selected individuals who care deeply about the fate of Africa.
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The Mission of Pan Africa Children Advocacy Watch (PACAW), Inc. is threefold.
First: To nurture a 'different' generation of African leaders through the vehicle of access to a new education culture at the basic level and secondary school level. A type of education that will focus on mindset transformation. Turning the gaze of the students away from avarice, extortion, selfishness, and obsession with accumulation of material wealth, and prepare them for leadership that embraces living for a higher purpose. The transformation of the mindset of future African leaders from "Me, my family and cronies" to "We The People" is paramount.
In pursuant of this objective, our long term goal is to establish a kind of Lyceum for deep thoughts Africa's Regeneration. An institution where young Africans would come and spend at least one academic year to ruminate and be mentored by selected individuals who care deeply about the fate of Africa.
Second: Biennial PACAW Leadership Academy. The Academy is primarily for the teachers, young graduates from the country's tertiary educational institutions and community leaders. The lessons learnt during the Academy are expected to be conveyed to the students.
Third: Community Economic Empowerment Program. The program is intended to lift up the forgotten communities where we operate economically. The goal is that eventually, hopefully within a few years, the programs can be transferred to the community, the local government and perhaps, the state government. This is designed to break the cycle of dependency which is deeply entrenched in many nations of Sub-Saharan Africa.
PACAW, Inc. teachers and community leaders during the PACAW, Inc. Leadership Academy in Koro-Ekiti, Kwara State, Nigeria in September, 2014. PACAW, Inc. President, Dr. Ayeni, is in the middle row, fifth from left.
PACAW Inc. Teachers and Staff, Koro-Ekiti, Kwara State, Nigeria Primary and Secondary Schools in the 2024/2025 Academic Year
