By Idorenyin Inyang

For five secondary school students from schools in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, it was an unforgettable experience to behold the hallowed precincts of the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, USA, where they joined 3,000 other students from 23 countries for a week-long conference in March, 2012.  Africa was represented by two countries, namely: Nigeria and The Gambia.

Every year, for the past 38 years, the UN hosts the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) conference which brings together international students from all corners of the globe to deliberate on today’s burning issues.

Essentially, the sessions are simulations of a real United Nations. The forum offers invaluable insights into the full range of UN activities and responsibilities.

The conference takes a problem-solving approach where the students are truly placed in the shoes of diplomats – a uniquely powerful way to educate young people about global issues. The young delegates, in seeking solutions to these problems learn to break away from narrow self-interests and develop true international co-operation.

The research and preparation required, the adoption of views and attitudes other than their own, the involvement and interaction with so many other young people from around the world, all combine to give the young people a deep insight into the worlds’ problems, to make them aware of the causes of conflict between nations and to lead them to a better understanding of the interests and motivations of others.

The Nigerian delegation to the 2012 NHSMUN qualified to participate after an excruciating selection process organised by a Port Harcourt- based NGO, FutureTrust Initiative for Capacity Building (FTI) in select secondary schools. Dr. Maureen Egbuche, Country Director of FTI has been involved in the selection, coaching and ultimately the participation of Nigerian secondary school delegates to the conference since 2002.

The five student ambassadors (three parent-sponsored and two FTI-sponsored) emerged in the persons of Chukwuebuka Araka, Tolulope Olukanmi, Rahmat Udousoro, Olisaemeka Okolo and Prince Alugbara from Bloombreed International School, Graceland Secondary School and Oginigba Community Comprehensive Secondary School in Port Harcourt and Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State. These students flew the Nigerian flag.