About Us

The Nigeria Model United Nations Society (NigMUNS)

We are a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization committed to educating and guiding young people, fostering a spirit of diplomacy and understanding among the leaders of tomorrow. We organise annually, two MUN conferences in Nigeria, the NISSMUN and NIGIMUN for Secondary and Tertiary Institutions respectively.

The programs of our organization are recognized and endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have continued to receive commendations from individuals and other organizations within and outside the country.

Our Aims and Objectives

1. To promote among youth and students, knowledge and support for the aims, achievements and activities of the United Nations and its agencies.
2. To actively promote an awareness of global issues through the simulation of organs of the United Nations and related international organizations.
3. To provide a forum within which the students can communicate and explore issues and ideas relevant to the United Nations.
4. To prepare, select and train students for participation in Model United Nations within and outside Nigeria.
5. To engage students in those issues which hold relevance to their future professions and personal interests.
6. To discourage sectional attitudes and prejudice for other people and cultures

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What is 'Model United Nations (MUN)?'

The 'Model United Nations' is an experimental education programme where students assume the role of Representatives of UN Member States and deliberate, debate, consult and investigate international issues and where necessary, come up with constructive resolution options. The beauty of the conference is that students, as MUN delegates, learn the foreign policy, economy, history and geography of a country other than their own and gain a respect for the cultures and customs of that country.

Participants develop an ability to cooperate with others. They learn to distance themselves from narrow sectional attitudes and prejudice towards other cultures and peoples. They become socially and politically aware. These objectives are achieved because the delegates, coming from many different cultural and national backgrounds are required to represent each of the member countries of the UN in as realistic a manner as possible.

The programme provides for students, the opportunity and guidance to do in-depth original document research on a specific topic. It also enhances the students’ ability to articulate and debate in a large conference setting of other well informed, intelligent delegates and sensitizes the participants to the many issues that face the global community, which in turn affects their daily lives.

Model UN programme is an unforgettable learning experience that not only immensely assists young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the development of skills, which they will find useful throughout their lives. It improves the student’s capacity to engage in problem solving and teaches aspects of conflict resolution, research skills and communication skills. It also creates the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

HOW DOES MODEL UNITED NATIONS WORK?

Each student will select a country he/she will represent and spends considerable time preparing for the conference, with research and administrative support provided by their schools and teachers. During the conference, the students participate in committee and plenary sessions that test their global awareness, knowledge, presentation skills and ability to work collaboratively with their peers. The teachers serve as coaches and often time incorporate the topics of the conference into their course curriculum.

Model UN delegates learn how the international community acts on its concerns about peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the need, goals and foreign policies of the countries they represent at the conference.

PREPARATION (INTENSIVE RESEARCH)
The conference goes much deeper than just three or four days. In order to fully understand the various rules and systems of the United Nations, most of the students begin their preparation weeks in advance. This consists of intensive research and gathering of information on a range of political, environmental and economic topics, including visits where possible to the offices of relevant organizations. Furthermore, students have to study the rules of procedures and practice debating and negotiating skills. In addition to these intellectual tasks, many participants are also involved in a range of fund raising activities at their schools in order to collect money for their travel and participation fees.

The conference committee will facilitate delegates’ participation at the conference through the distribution of journals on the theme and introduction to delegates with relevant research websites. Rules of procedures would be spelt out for effective co-ordination of the conference. This will include rules and regulations guiding motions at the conference.

To help in the research, the students often visit these resource persons or groups namely:

1. National Embassy
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3. School Teachers
4. Civil Society Group
5. United Nations Agencies
6. Website of the United Nations (www.un.org)
7. Research links.

The Benefits of the Model United Nations Conferences are numerous:

1. Provides a co-operative environment where delegates work together to accomplish shared goals.
2. Provides a multicultural learning experience, as it gives students the opportunity to meet others from diverse backgrounds and nationalities.
3. Helps the students break out from their own prejudices and preconceptions about world affairs.
4. Encourages the creation of networks between future leaders in the international arena
5. Encourages the personal development of students as they acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for a culturally and ethically diverse nation and world
6. Instills responsibility and discipline as the students assume the role of ambassadors and speak out on behalf of nations in a bid to resolving issues
7. Helps the student appreciate the relevance of academic study to real world problems and utilize the skills learned through their school’s course curriculum or degrees and apply to real issues of concern in the international arena.
8. The students develop different kinds of skills important for professional development and future career successes: teamwork, expository and persuasive writing, debating and negotiation.
9. It presents an enabling environment for assimilating and understanding the complexities of global problems and possible strategies to resolving them.
10. It gives students a global perspective about world problems.

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Board of Trustees

Staff

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