By Lawani Mikairu

A Nigerian Adaptation of Sesame Street, Sesame Square, an education television series with focus on Literacy, Mathematics and Health Education, will debut in Nigeria on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) on Saturday May 21st2011.

Funded by the American people and government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the programme’s story-lines were developed in collaboration with teams of educational advisors that include Nigeria’s Ministries of Education and Health. It is designed to promote fundamental literacy, numeracy, health and good hygiene habits in settings that foster children’s self-esteem, cultural pride, and respect for differences and diversity. Sesame Square will also emphasize Malaria prevention and HIV/AIDS education.

Speaking about the programme, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrance McCulley said ‘’Through our collaboration with Sesame Workshop to produce Sesame Square and the related outreach materials we hope to make a significant difference in improving the health, education and everyday lives of Nigerian children and their families,”

In addition to Sesame Square airing, literacy kits to reach 80,000 children and 2,700 care givers that include a set of alphabet flashcards, an alphabet storybook, a story tree mat, and a puppet kit, will be distributed through local NGOs during season one to support the educational messages of the television show.

In the words of Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop “Through Sesame Square, Nigerian children will have a unique opportunity to see other children just like them engaging in exciting activities and lessons that have the potential to foster a lifelong love of learning, Sesame Workshop is proud to work with the United States Government through USAID and NTA to create and distribute a series that will not only introduce children to letters and numbers, but will also teach important lessons about diversity, health and the world around them.”