Wmmmtdmmmmage I2 Canadian Universitv Students Overseas

NIGERIA;

The Canadian University Service Overseas is an' independent, non-profit, development agency whid'l sends skilled workers overseas to help the natims of the Third World train their people to cope in a fast- changing, technological world.

Set up in 1961, it originally recruited mainly young, university graduates. Now, as the needs of developing countries change, it has more requests for volunteers skilled in trades and technology. Age is no longer a barrier; many volunteers have years of experience to contribute as well as basic knowledge.

In the last 16 years, CUSO has sent 6,000 Canadians to 65 different countries. Most are posted overseas for two years and are paid counterpart salaries by the host country or agency. CUSO pays health and life insurance costs, return air—fare and "settling-in" and resettlement allowances.

In the coming year CUSO will be sending 400 volunteers overseas to help in the fields of education, health, agriculture, business and technology including engineering and auto medianics. Any skilled worker who is a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant can apply through a CUSO local Committee.

CUSO also undertakes various projects within Canada to increase public awareness of development issues and will help groups wanting to organize education projects. And it provides financial and material support for specific development projects initiated and directed by Third World agencies. Funds care from business, groups and individuals across Canada.

Nigeria Fact Sheet

Nigeria is the African giant. It is a country with more of just about everything than any other country on the African continent —- more people, more color, more children in schdol,_ more farmers, more pulsating large cities,

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"more traders and hustlers

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falling steadily for some years. Recogning the facts of scarcity of foodstuffs, high prices and falling production, 'the military government launched Qaeration‘ Feed the Nation - a program to encourage an increase in food production. Nevertheless food prod- uction is still on the decline and food imports run into the billims

more good plush cars, more wealthy men and women, more noise and irrepressible vitality, more painters and musicians and actors,

and more problems. Scale is all in Nigeria — so it is appropriate that the problems are large indeed.

The dizzying euphoria that resulted from the quadrupling of crude oil

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Gon’t just . . . . . \

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lt's your World now. Why not' ; make your contribution by becoming a volunteer with us for two years in a developing co‘untry.

Do it! The sooner you apply the sooner we can place you in a suitable posting.

HOW to apply: Contact Canada

Manpower Office, lst Floor . Main Building

K as an alternative. . . . .‘CUSO 9 - J

of naira (Nigerian currency.) . Nigeria also has a

Universal Primary Education program to provide all children with six years of schooling. Students take a comprehensive test of basic English, arithmetic and other skills to determine whether they can

' proceed to technical

price in 1973 and 1974 became the premise for a $50 million develop- ment plan. But the oil revenues didn't materialize because of the devalued dollar and a reduction in demand for crude oil in industrial naticns. Due to the 40 per cent shortfall in revenue, programs are being slashed. Inflation in 1977 was estimated at 31 per cent, with food price increases substantially higher. Before the oil boom, ~ agricultural production was the major source of domestic income and 70 per cent of Nigerians still work in farming. At one time Nigeria was a major producer of gromdnuts, cotton, cocoa and palm oil, all of them primarily for export. ,- » However, agricultural '

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ccndary sdiools, commercial or teachers '. colleges and higher studies. The UPE program, officially laundied. in 1976,, is compulsory. .’.[leacher staggering and CUfiOES role infligeria igqv;

r mainly in fkiéz'of

education. =_-: .

Both the OFN and UPE programs are now suffering government cutbacks.

Nigeria's size, geographic position, population and econcmic strength have vaulted it into a leadership posi- tion on the continent. With a population of 80 million, Nigeria is the largest of the Coastal countries of We'Stf’Africa, with a diverse ranging from tropical rain forest‘i'cmt‘5the coast to grassland and, on the northern border, the Sahara Desert. (he in four Africans 7is Nigerian.

The country is divided into 19 states and there are at least 10 major ethnic groups and 250 different languages and dialects. English is the language of admin- istration, camerce and education. - /

‘Ihe CUSO program in Nigeria is the

, organization’s largest

single program

and has beenoperating since 1962, mainly in the field of teacher

placements.’

Science, English and math teachers are in particular demand, along with teacher—trainers for the colleges. CUSO's involvement in the fields of health and ' agriculture has been minimal but a strong effort is now being made to program in these areas as _well as the tedfiiéalarea?

Concerned? Qualified?_~Adaptable?

Contact your nearest CUSO ' I - committee, or Write: CUSO, 151 Slater, Ottawa K1

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