Ethan & Harriet is a Nigeria’s leading educational toy manufacturing company championing the promotion and preservation of African culture through educational toys and games held its official product launch on Thursday, August 25, 2016.
Ethan & Harriet is an indigenous company that manufactures educational toys designed to teach Nigerian and by extension African history.
The official product and initiative launch held on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The strictly-by-invitation event saw a lot of stakeholders in the Nigerian government and educational sector coming together to celebrate the innovative development.
Ethan & Harriet creates interactive educational toys and officially launched their Nigerian-themed puzzles for children and adults. In the process of utilising these products, the users get to learn more about the country's history, heritage, geography and many more.
The event was interesting and fun with a lot of dignitaries in attendance. Derele Edun and Amira Ibrahim-Alfa hosted the red carpet, while Chioma Omeruah -Chigul and Layole Oyatogun co-compered the event. Aisha Ibrahim-Alfa, Seni Makanjuola and Rosemary Inegbese handled the purchase at the display area. And many thanks to the strong team, that made the launching a success- Ms. Kemi Adewunmi -CEO KAIMI EVENTS, Jasmine's Nest: Edora Jarikre -Event Styling head, Williams Derrick -Event Production Head, and Rita O. Ohaedoghasi.
In attendance to launch Ethan & Harriet’s ‘Lift n Learn Magnetic Puzzle’ and ‘Family Floor Nigeria Puzzle’ were former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; former deputy governor of Lagos state, Sarah Sosan; fashion icon, Abba Folawiyo; Barclays Ayakoroma who represented Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information, Chief S.K Onafowokan, former president of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Erelu Olusola Obada, former deputy governor of Osun State and erstwhile minister of State for Defence; Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, director-general, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Dr Femi Ogunsanya, President, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN) and many others that all endorsed the puzzles at the event.
An interesting part of the Ethan & Harriet product launch was when four volunteers were asked to rearrange the jigsaw puzzles of the map of Nigeria. None of the volunteers could successful complete the puzzle before the time allocated, which further buttresses the point Ethan and Harriet is trying to make -- that we need to be more conversant with our history.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Special Guest of Honour at the event applauded Ethan & Harriet Company for developing learning tools that will expose Nigerians across social status and background to the country’s cultural values and heritage.
Ethan & Harriet is an indigenous and leading educational toy provider championing the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage among Africans through fun and games. The company also launched their social impact initiative tagged ‘Ethan & Harriet Pals’, which is meant to impact educationally disadvantaged children in the society.
Speaking at the product launch in Lagos on Thursday, the former President, commended the Ethan & Harriet founder/CEO, Mrs Bunmi Williams for rejigging cultural transmission to younger generation in a creative manner, adding that even adults will benefit from the new products launched.
Obasanjo lamented the poor level of awareness of the Nigerian history and cultural heritage, likening it to suffering a memory loss.
“Not knowing your history is like losing your memory. How can you be inspired when you don’t know your history; when you don’t know your sense of identity?” he asked.
Obasanjo said he was proud Ethan & Harriet came up with a solution through the puzzles, which can help children and adults learn about all states of Nigeria, their capitals, and their locations on the map.
“I came from the Mambila Plateau few days ago, and when people called me and I told them I was at the Mambila Plateau, they asked what country it was in. Mambila Plateau is in Taraba State.
Obasanjo called on Nigerians to imbibe cultural values and norms so as to promote the nation’s heritage. He regretted that present upbringing was disappointing, as many children do not know enough about their states of origin let alone the country.
“I have understood that history is no longer thought in school, which is unfortunate. Not knowing the history of your country, family or locality is to lose memory and if you lose your memory, you won’t remember even what you ate last night. You can see that it is a disaster,” he said.
Obasanjo stressed that Nigerians must “go back to make our children know what matters about our country and ourselves so they can be inspired for tomorrow.”
Chief Obasanjo said, “I like the fact this product will impact the students to know more about our culture, immediate environment and Nigeria’s heritage at large. Even the parents can make use of it to know the history about the Federation.
“This is a product that will impact everybody; young, old, men and women, what they need to know about their country, each State and what they produce or what they are known for. It is a learning material for Children, teenagers, adults and teachers as well.
“It is also good for non-Nigerians who might be interested in knowing about Nigeria. It is a knowledge product. It is disappointing that our children do not know about States, the capitals and what they are noted for.
In her speech, Mrs Bunmi Williams, the Ethan & Harriet founder/ CEO said she was inspired to create the puzzles to preserve Nigeria’s heritage.
“Our national and cultural heritage is our responsibility to preserve and promote. Only those that truly care can change Nigeria. But you can’t change what you don’t know about.
“We created this to bridge the gap – as a fun way to teach our values,” she said.
Product reviewer, Donald Duke, who also lamented the relegation of history in schools said the product was a good one.
On his part, Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross Rivers said that Ethan and Harriet’s vision will reignite the cultural acumens of most Nigerian and Africans at large.
He said that ‘corruption’ of Nigeria’s traditional heritage by penchant for foreign culture do not augur well for the development of the country.
“How come, people who stayed and studied abroad all their life, without any knowledge about Nigeria, are usually interested in coming back to lead the people. You do not know anything about the people, culture and values. Now, we have an intervention in the products Ethan & Harriet are launching today; let us make use of them, even adults are not left behind, because only few can identify the States in the map and their capitals. Because there is a problem with the way and manner our culture and heritage are dying, now, the opportunity has come to resuscitate them,” he urged Nigerians to embrace the products. “This is noble and really worthy of our entire support,” he said.
Also speaking, Erelu Olusola Obada, former deputy governor of Osun State and erstwhile minister of State for Defence, charged parents to be conscious about their childrens learning tools.
She scored the Ethan and Harriet ‘Lift n Learn Magnetic Puzzle’ and ‘Family Floor Nigeria Puzzle’ high and said that it was relevant in today’s society for knowledge sharing.
Erelu Obada said, “It is a very good step in the right direction, because our children need to know about our heritage and what the country used to be. I think this product is very educational. If it is introduced into the school curriculum it is going to be very fantastic and exciting.
“I think kids and adults will appreciate it. Instead of wasting time on things that do not add value to their wellbeing, our children now have a tool to learn and become aware about the society at large”.
Dr Ogunsanya said she was glad it would expose children to learning about Nigeria early in life.
“The introduction and teaching of values must start from creche – with children under five. It gives me great excitement that it teaches children how to put together the Nigerian map early in life,” she said.
The Ethan & Harriet Founder/CEO said, “We have spotted a dis-connect between many Africans and their heritage and a lack of knowledge as it pertains to African history being passed on to children. Ethan & Harriet intends to bridge this gap by educating children through toys, which would in turn impart knowledge about African history in an engaging and appealing manner”.
She said that, from Nigerian to broader African context, they aim to promote education and knowledge about the rich culture, history and heritage.
“It is not by chance that Ethan & Harriet’s flagship products are puzzles. It is strategic. We want children to first of all know who they are – give them the basis, that foundation. Before we then open their minds to other rich aspects of our history and cultural heritage which would be embodied by our other products.
This is the beginning of a long journey that would never end because the history of Nigeria and Africa would never end.”, she said.
On the Ethan & Harriet Pals Initiative, a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, she explained, “We have developed this initiative with the sole aim to providing resources to foster healthier and conducive learning environments for students across the nation. Through this, we hope to change lives, because we know that education empowers children”.
She added that the Initiative was set up because of their commitment to education and social development. By giving students improved educational settings, we will help stimulate their learning interest, hence, keeping them in school.
Mrs Williams said in the initial phase, they will be looking to partner with government, corporates and private entities to gifts 12,000 puzzles to students across the nation. Ethan & Harriet will donate 10% of the proceeds in providing furniture (chairs and tables), learning aids (blackboards, books, rulers, chalks, charts, etc) and sanitary wares (toilets) to public schools in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The Ethan & Harriet founder/CEO said her company has partnered with Oando Foundation in identifying beneficiaries. She called for further collaborations with others to donate 12,000 copies of the puzzles to pupils whom without this may not be able to afford it but should not be deprived of the benefits and knowledge gained from them.
Meanwhile, it will interest you to know that, the red carpet host Denrele Edun, favorite of all and Beautiful, pretty and brain Amira Ibrahim-Alfa, the new face making waves in Nigeria, on social media and loved by all, kick start the event with a twist and touch of class on the red carpet with dignitaries, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is the Special Guest of Honour. While the presenters Chioma Omeruah -Chigul and Layole Oyatogun also got the guest attention. Aisha Ibrahim-Alfa, Seni Makanjuola and Rosemary Inegbese handled the purchase corner, which was well displayed.
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