Adapting to the new normal: Engaging youth in Nigeria amidst COVID-19

Adapting to the “new normal” the world finds itself in today amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, UNIC Lagos combined both traditional in-person outreach and virtual digital tools and platforms to reach out, engage and inspire solutions during the Lagos Secondary Schools Model UN (LASSMUN) Conference on 4 March, which is the biggest Model UN in Nigeria and arguably in the world.

The hybrid event organized by UNIC, ensured safety first, calling for strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols for its physical audience, and online access via Zoom to its larger virtual audience of nearly 2000 student delegates from over 680 public secondary schools.

The Conference, aptly themed 'Ensuring quality education through technology and innovation' (SDGs 4 and 9), captured the new reality faced by millions of students worldwide who have been forced to isolate and shelter at home due to COVID-19 lockdowns but are still expected to  fulfill their educational obligations by embracing technology and innovations to attend online classes.

Prior to the event, UNIC prepared and disseminated Information and educational material on the theme through Staff Advisors to over 500,000 students out of whom 1,968 were selected as delegates.

The Conference was attended by the Consul General of France, Her Excellency, Mrs. Laurence Monmayrant;  the Consul General of Cameroon, Her Excellency, Ms. Bessem Manga; Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo; as well as the six Tutors General/ Permanent Secretaries of the Education Districts.

UNIC Director, Ronald Kayanja, presented the message of the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.