“I am a Chief Lecturer and the pioneer Head of Department of Early Childhood Education, EACOED, Oyo. I was one of the lecturers trained by ECDI on play-based early learning from 2015-2019. Before the training, I did not have much knowledge about how to effectively facilitate child learning and learning areas, but now I have deep knowledge of how to conduct the circle time, learning areas, and sourcing ECD materials locally at no cost. This has greatly helped me in teaching the pre-set teachers at my college of education. Also, I serve as a national master trainer and this knowledge has enhanced the teaching skills of pre-primary teachers in Oyo state and across Nigeria. Thanks to ECDI and its CEO who has been my mentor and facilitator.”

— Dr. Adesina Olusola Joseph

“Meeting the ECDI team for the first time in 2015 was a turning point in my career as a child educator. They added to my knowledge, exposed me to the practical aspects of ECE, and enabled me to understand ECD better.  My horizon broadened as I was trained in the Reggio Approach. My mode of teaching has since changed from lectures to facilitation. The ECDI team helped me understand how to link the NCCE Minimum Standards with the pre-primary curriculum and changed my mindset on sitting arrangement in the lecture hall. It made me see the environment as a third teacher. I became encouraged and convinced on the use of low-cost/no-cost materials in the college resource centre that was formally stocked only with European standard play materials. I now use both local and international materials in the centre. My knowledge enabled me to obtain accreditation for the department of ECCE at two colleges – FCE Gombe and COE Billiri, Gombe State. I have learned a lot from ECDI. Thank you for educating me, team ECDI.”

— Asabe Ismaila

“I was introduced to ECDI at a time when I was really struggling. My four-year-old son had just started JK and the school called me every day, he’s crying, he’s not settling, he doesn’t fit, basically he would be better off at home. And then they said he was autistic. I was at my wit’s end. I was a single mum struggling to make ends meet, working long shifts at a grocery store, gaining “Canadian experience” so I could get into my field. A friend introduced me to ECDI and that completely changed the story for us. The staff went with me to meet the teacher. They knew the “right” language and helped me and the teacher begin to understand each other. They helped me understand that my son needed some support and linked us to Toronto speech and language services. They helped the school understand that some of my son’s behaviour was culturally appropriate. To cut a long story short, my son got services I did not know he needed, he was NOT autistic and the school learned to respect some cultural differences. I hope that made a difference in the way the school treated other children coming after him. I have a baby now and we all still attend ECDI programs.”

— Lucy Boateng