INTERVIEWER: MOHAMED SHOUMAN

About Charles Mentor Omofomwan:

A community development professional, with over ten years in the nonprofit sector; focusing on empowering communities and families as safety nets for children. Charles has a strong passion for child’s rights and development. He worked with Education as a Vaccine and SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria in the past before his full-time commitment to his initiative as the Executive Director.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Would you tell us more about the history of NMI?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: I started Noble Missions for Change Initiative – NMI (www.noblemissions.org) in 2005 as a student body called Noble Missions International to create awareness about the dangers of pre-marital sex and use of hard drugs. Over the years, the student body transformed to what is now known as Noble Missions for Change Initiative. It was registered in Nigeria in 2010 as a national nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering children by supporting their access to quality education.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Could you take us through the history of education in Nigeria?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: As far as I know, education in Nigeria didn’t start with the colonial masters during the colonial rule. Informal educational system was already in existence as children learnt about culture and other relevant areas such as cooking, etc. from their parents at home and other informal gatherings. The formal (western) education, on the other hand, was introduced in the 1840s. Since then, education in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous growth although there is still a lot to do in the sector. Statistics show that literacy rate in Nigeria is 72.1% for male and 50.4% for female. Schools and enrolment rate have also been on the increase, but statistics still show that millions of children are out of school due to several reasons including poverty and insecurity.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What is more important in Nigeria: food or education?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: Generally, both are important. We need good education to produce food, and we need food to be able to receive good education. No one can learn on empty stomach, and no one can sustain the production of food without the right education.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Did you face any obstacles while launching your initiative and do you still face difficulties? Can you describe what you faced throughout your journey?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: There have been so many obstacles which I have lost count of, but the most challenging obstacle has always been in the area of funding. As an individual, it was a big battle going through school with the support of a single mother who was a petty trader. Launching the organization required funds to register, employing staff, among other necessary expenditure. All other challenges are all tied up to the issue of getting the right funding.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: While we were Google-ing the conditions in Nigeria, which informed us about the issues with education, we found out that this sector is suffering due to many problems. Statistics show that the problem is mainly due to poverty. Are there any other problems that effect education in Nigeria?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: There are several problems that affect education in Nigeria, some of which are: lack of awareness, corruption, insecurity, lack of government willpower, poor monitoring and evaluation system, etc.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Does the Nigerian government help you, knowing that your initiative’s purpose is mainly educational development?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: The government has recently started acknowledging our initiative. We have received the necessary government approval we need to implement our projects, and we have started talking with some relevant government’s departments and agencies for collaboration and support.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Why do you use volunteers, especially online volunteers from UNV website instead of your home land volunteers?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: We work with United National Volunteers generally. Unfortunately, most UN Volunteers are not Nigerians. Through the UNV website, we recruit volunteers that have the skills we are looking for, whether they are Nigerians or otherwise. We also work with volunteers locally here in Nigeria.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What are the gaps you still want to fill?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: I want a situation where the quality of education being offered in the weakest public school will be as good as the quality of education being offered in the best private school in Nigeria. And that the teaching industry becomes the most attractive industry in the country.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Do you face any threats from people who want Nigeria to remain in darkness?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: No, I don’t.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Are Nigerian citizens aware of NMCI? If Yes, do they help NMI? And how?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: NMI is not really popular in Nigeria but we hope it will improve as we implement our projects and enable more children to go to school in Nigeria. Many Nigerians are still not used to helping nonprofits like NMI, but we are confident that things are changing. Gradually, we have started receiving help from few.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Do Nigerian people desire to be educated? What are their dreams? Give us an example of a Nigerian who became a pioneer or an entrepreneur?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: Of course, every Nigerian wants to be educated and become great. So many Nigerians have broken that cycle of poverty because of access to the right information and education. One of the richest men in the world today and the richest in Africa is a Nigerian, by the name Aliko Dangote.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Do other African countries have their own problems in economy, education, etc. as much as you have in Nigeria?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: Yes! All countries in Africa and beyond have issues they are dealing with. And of course, Nigeria is peculiar in Africa because of our large population.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Did you try to make NMI an African initiative that works – under authority of main NMI – in the other African countries?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: For the now, NMI is based and operates in Nigeria. But our vision is to be able to reach all children in Africa and other developing countries that need our help. We are willing to support other organizations to replicate what we do here in other countries.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What is your strategic plan for the next 5 years?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: My plan for the next five years is to be able to have a strong system and structure on real-ground that will not only help at least 10,000 children have access to quality education, but also be able to reduce unemployment in Nigeria.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Would you tell me the S.W.O.T of NMI (Strength points, Weakness points, Opportunities, Threats)?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: Our strength lies in our passion to change the educational system of Nigeria and see children receiving quality education. We have the skills and information. However, our major weakness is the lack of human resources and other relevant resources to realize our vision due to lack of funds. The opportunities are enormous; we are recognized by the government and we keep developing ourselves to be able to tap into several grant opportunities that are available. Insurgency issues in Nigeria is a big threat to the implementation of our projects among other threats.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Visionary expectations: Where is the future of education in Nigeria going to be?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: I look forward to seeing Nigeria’s educational system being compared to that of Singapore and other Asian countries with great educational systems.

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Are you going to succeed?

Charles Mentor Omofomwan: Yes we will succeed! Thank you!

HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Thank you so much Mr. Charles for your great effort to the society and for this interview.

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