‘Sesame Square’ launches new season with Hausa translations

The new animated segment, ‘Adventures of Kami and Big Bird’, to air on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was launched last Thursday at the Child-Friendly School Initiative, LEA Primary School, Ushafa, Bwari, Abuja. Funded by the United States Government through the USAID, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Maria Brewer said  “for more […]

The new animated segment, ‘Adventures of Kami and Big Bird’, to air on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was launched last Thursday at the Child-Friendly School Initiative, LEA Primary School, Ushafa, Bwari, Abuja.
Funded by the United States Government through the USAID, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Maria Brewer said  “for more than a decade, the United States Government has partnered with the Nigerian Government to help strengthen Nigeria’s education system.  As partners, we work together to ensure that all of Nigeria’s children receive quality basic education.”
In this segment, Kami and Big Bird pose questions to their new bus-driver friend, Didi, who will provide answers by taking them on a magical bus ride. During this adventure, viewers will see more of what they love best; the faces of children, voices and stories from around Nigeria. Special celebrity guests visiting ‘Sesame Square’ include musicians Sasha and Nomoreloss.
“Sesame Workshop is excited to continue our work with USAID and NTA to bring back Sesame Square to Nigerian children and families,” said H. Melvin Ming, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop, co-producers of the program. “It is our mission to help every child reach their highest potential and we are thrilled to deliver valuable content in innovative ways to promote lessons of literacy, numeracy, health and diversity to prepare Nigerian children for a brighter and healthier future.”
Sesame Square season three, like previous series, was developed in collaboration with education advisors which include Nigeria’s Ministries of Education and Health. It consists 26 half-hour episodes designed to promote fundamental literacy, numeracy, the importance of recycling, health and good hygiene habits in settings that foster children’s self-esteem, cultural pride, and respect for differences and diversity. The series will also emphasize malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention and immunization education against other child-hood diseases.
The program which debuted in May 2011, is designed to engage children and families with lessons on ABCs and 123s, girls’ empowerment, and health and hygiene – all crucial in a country where early childhood education is scarce and diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS are all too common.