Enugu Smart Green School Revolution
In Enugu Nigeria UB History Professor, Dr. Ndubueze Mbah, is leading a bold reimagining of Basic Education featuring Experiential Learning and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Project description
For Nigeria and much of Africa, Basic Education represents both an urgent challenge and a powerful solution for sustainable development.
In Enugu State, in Southeastern Nigeria, a bold re-imagining of Basic Education is underway. Through the construction of 260 new Smart Green Schools, students will engage in hands-on learning connected with the SDGs and local solutions to global challenges. The reform initiative is unifying Early Childhood with Primary, and Junior Secondary School levels of education within integrated campuses, creating 21st century learning environments equipped with modern Information and Communication Technology including internet connectivity, ICT and science laboratories, virtual and augmented reality, multimedia libraries, digital smart boards, and tablets for teachers and students. The Smart Schools are being constructed with low-carbon and recycled building materials and powered by clean and renewable energy. Resourced with integrated smart farms to support School Meal Plus Programs, promote sustainable agriculture, and foster circular economies of climate action, as well as child-healthcare facilities, the Smart Green Schools represent radical interventions in child welfarism and skill-oriented experiential education in Africa.
The Experiential Learning and Innovation Program, co-created with UB's Dr. Mara Huber, features experiential lessons and Innovation Challenges inviting students to solve problems using local resources and materials.
Although still in its nascent stages, the Enugu Smart School Model is gaining international attention and has been recently recognized by the UN as a model for replication across Africa.
Project outcome
Project opportunities include:
- research
- digital media
- grant development
- Innovation Challenges
Interested students and faculty collaborators should contact Dr. Huber as an initial point of contact at mbhuber@buffalo.edu
Project details
| Length of commitment | negotiable |
| Start time | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| Level of collaboration | individuals or groups |
| Benefits | Academic Credit, Volunteer, Work Study |
| Who is eligible | Students from all majors |
Core partners
- Enugu Smart Green School Initiative
Project mentor
Mara Huber
Senior Director Instructional Innovation and Transformation
Global NGO Project
This project is for students interested in collaborating with a global Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
Please be sure you identify your project as a Global NGO Project when you sign up to start the digital badge.
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
- Examine the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the history of the framework. Then select one SDG to focus on as you work through your project.
- Download and complete this PowerPoint template.