SuperKids Project Launches Nationwide Push to Boost Creativity and Mother Tongue Learning

(School children at the launch of the SuperKids Project held in Abuja on Wednesday. Photo credit: Punch News)

Children have been urged to strengthen their creativity, embrace indigenous languages and develop problem-solving skills as part of efforts to improve learning outcomes and prepare them for future opportunities.

This charge was given in Abuja on Wednesday at the launch of the SuperKids project, an initiative of the Shelta Impact Programme in collaboration with the Printrite Foundation for Sustainable Environment and Education.

The programme targets children between the ages of six and 12 across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and is structured as a six-week nationwide engagement featuring weekly competitions, school-based participation and digital registration through a mobile application.

Speaking at the launch, the Chief Operating Officer of Shelta, Stanley Odum, stated that the organisation is expanding its focus beyond household insurance coverage to include child-centred programmes aimed at strengthening families and shaping future generations. He spoke on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Austin Igwe.

Odum explained that children remain central to societal development, noting that present-day actions largely determine future outcomes.

“The children are the future. What happens tomorrow can be shaped by the activities we put in place today,” he said.

He noted that the initiative was structured around two main pillars originality and creativity and expressed concern over the declining use of indigenous languages among children.

“How many people can still speak their mother tongue? Only a few. We are focusing inward, encouraging children to reconnect with their roots and speak their indigenous languages,” he said.

Odum further explained that the creativity component was designed to help children explore innovative thinking rooted in their cultural environment.

“We want children to understand that innovation can come from their immediate environment and cultural background,” he said.

He also highlighted the programme’s environmental sustainability focus, saying it aims to promote responsible waste management and environmental awareness among children.

“It means giving children an understanding of how waste can be useful. It promotes a clean and green environment and encourages responsible environmental practices,” he said, adding that children would be taught to see waste materials as potential resources that can be repurposed for societal benefit.

On security, Odum stressed that ensuring safety requires collective effort and shared responsibility, adding that reliance on government alone is insufficient. He further noted that Shelta is engaging relevant stakeholders, communities and government authorities to support the initiative.

The Project Manager of the Printrite Foundation, Esther Atar, said the programme was driven by the belief that every child has potential regardless of background, and was designed to encourage children to recognise their abilities and develop problem-solving skills while embracing their cultural identity.

“This project is built on a simple belief that every Nigerian child is a super kid, regardless of their background. To our super kids, you were chosen because you exhibit greatness. Be problem solvers and speak your language,” she said.

Also speaking, a teacher at Government Science Secondary School, Tunga Maje, Umar Abu, said the initiative would improve social interaction among pupils and boost academic performance.

“The benefit for the children, first and foremost, is socialisation. Secondly, competition brings out the best in them,” he said.

Abu also stressed the importance of incorporating indigenous languages into the learning process, noting that it enhances students’ understanding.

“When students are taught in their mother tongue, they understand better what is being taught.

There is no better way to improve both academic performance and other areas of learning than by using the mother tongue,” he added, calling for the continuity of such initiatives and noting that countries which prioritise local languages in education often achieve stronger outcomes in both education and technological development.

A teacher from LEA Primary School, Apo Resettlement, Zuwaira Yahaya, observed that teaching in the mother tongue significantly improved pupils’ comprehension and classroom participation, adding that the initiative also incorporated practical environmental awareness activities such as waste management and recycling, helping students better understand issues around cleanliness and sustainability.

A student of Junior Secondary School, Gosa, Chigbo Stanley, noted that the initiative would help him reconnect with his mother tongue and strengthen his appreciation for learning in it.

“I have been able to learn and better understand my language. I was born and raised speaking Igbo, and I fully support the use of our mother tongue in learning,” he stated.

Several schools participated in the programme, including Redeemer’s Private Secondary School; Living Spring Karu; JSS Pyakasa; NAOWA College Kurudu; LEA Primary School Apo Resettlement; Army Day Junior Secondary School, Maitama; JSS Idu; LEA Primary School Karu; JSS Kado-Kuchi; JSS Airport; JSS Gosa; LEA Galadimawa; JSS Karamajiji; Government Secondary School Tudunwada Wuse Zone 4; and LEA Primary School Wuse Zone 1, among others.