DOVAfrica is currently engaged in numerous projects in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

In keeping with DOVAfrica's goals to increase our capacity to not only develop, but to also sustain the abilities of vulnerable in Africa, DOVAfrica works with partners based in Nigeria. DOVAfrica's current projects strengthens the economic, political and socio-cultural capabilities of women and men, girls and boys.

In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, DOVAfrica's study identified Education, Environment, Health Care and Information Technology as areas needing immediate and continued development and sustainability.

Education

Children, especially girls, from low income and rural families do not have access to subsidized tuition and subsidized text books and other supplies essential for them to complete their education.

Schools in low income areas often have an alarmingly high student to teacher ratio. This makes it impossible for children to achieve their potential.

Schools in low income areas are few and insufficient to handle the demand in those neighborhoods. Schools and training centers in such areas are often overcrowded and in urgent need of repair.

In low income and rural areas, the attendance of females in secondary institutions is disproportionately low. A study carried out by DOVAfrica indicated that when girls in low income/rural areas, were given the opportunity to attend secondary school, they usually graduated at a disproportionately higher rate than their male counterparts. Targeted training and education of women is therefore essential, in order to assist them in making decisions that effect their lives, and futures.

Centers for skill acquisition targeted at youth and women is lacking. Youth and women without formal education can not fully contribute their potential to society.

Lack of adequate training of teachers on latest learning and training techniques.

Professionals do not have access to current or even "next-to-current" text books and journals. It is therefore not rare to find Medical students in Nigeria using texts books that are 20 years behind the most current edition.

Professionals are unaware of the latest developments in their fields, due to the lack of access to conferences, seminars and other professional development opportunities.

There is a general lack of awareness about the delicate and unique ecological balance of the Niger/Delta environment.

There is a general lack of broad knowledge of sustainable socioeconomic environmental practices. Farming is therefore becoming unsustainable in many rural centers in the Niger/Delta.

Lack of awareness of the ecological impact of the sabotage to oil installations, deforestation and the effect of improper waste management to the environment.

One of the main causes of the vicious cycle of poverty and lack of sustainability in the rural areas is the lack of awareness of the consequences of destructive environmental practices.

Low income women and women in rural areas often do not have access to proper primary health care and primary health care education.

Awareness and access to methods of population management is often lacking in rural and low income areas.

Insufficient education on sexual heath. For example, AIDS awareness is many rural areas of Port Harcourt are inexistent.

Women are unable to make informed decisions which will consequently effect their families and their communities at large.

Severe information/technological gap exist. Most rural and low income people, especially women, do not have access to the most basic computer.Computer awareness and skills are therefore lacking, to a great extent.

Reliable power supply to operate the computers, functioning telephone network to transmit data and and computer-literate personnel are seriously lacking. Hence, impeding the development and sustainability of computer skills and information technology know-how in the area.

General lack of awareness that information technology is one of the major determinants of sustainable economic and social development.

There are very few training centres. These training centers, usuall few and far between, are often unaffordable and have difficulty in keeping up with demand.