CheckWorld
About The Founder Of CheckWorld
Artina Yaro West: A Visionary in Education, Media, and Tourism.
Born in June 1985, Artina Yaro West is a dynamic leader whose career spans education, journalism, broadcasting, banking, and tourism. With a passion for knowledge and exploration, she has dedicated her life to bridging the gap between learning and real-world experience.
Her journey began at age 19, as a teacher at Holy Family Missionary School, where she taught French, geography, and dance choreography. Later, she ventured into the banking sector, working with the then All States Trust Bank, gaining valuable experience in finance and strategic management.
Her deep love for storytelling and discovery led her to journalism, where she became a tourism correspondent for the Abuja Inquirer Newspaper. A graduate of Nottingham Trent and Benue State University. Artina’s career expanded into broadcasting, documentary filmmaking, and a program anchor for The Independent Television (ITV), here, she conducted high-profile interviews with governors, senators, and diplomats. Her ability to tell compelling stories and engage with influential figures set her apart in the media industry. However, her passion for education and travel called her back to her true mission: creating impactful learning experiences for young people.
Now, as Founder and CEO of CheckWorld, Artina is revolutionizing how young minds perceive the world, fostering a deeper understanding of its complexities, diversity, and infinite possibilities. She is reimagining educational tourism, empowering students to become informed and engaged global citizens, in an increasingly interconnected world.
The Abuja Inquirer Exclusive: An excerpt from Artina's interview on the inspiration behind CheckWorld-
I've always been driven by a simple yet profound realization: many children are limited by their worldview, and most times, it's not just children who grow up in environments with limited exposure to different cultures, landscapes, etc., but also those lacking access to resources, opportunities, and experiences that help broaden a child’s perspective.
As one who has worked as a tourism correspondent for both electronic and print media, I've traveled extensively, documenting cultures from around the world.
In my expeditions, I realized the profound impact exploration can have on our understanding of the world and its complexities. I saw how venturing into new environments, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, and witnessing the beauty of the natural world can broaden our perspectives, challenge our assumptions, and deepen our appreciation for the world's diversity. But above all, I've witnessed firsthand how learning happens effortlessly when you stand where great events unfolded, and then I was reminded that many students' understanding of the world is limited to the globe on their classroom desk.
As someone who has worked with kids, first as a teacher, I've seen students learn about ancient civilizations without ever seeing the ruins, studying physics without witnessing the marvel of flight, memorizing historical events without ever walking the very ground where history was made. And even then, I knew there had to be another way.
I wanted students to learn about the world in the world… to experience it firsthand. Not just words on a page, not just facts memorized, but something bigger.
Founding CheckWorld to create opportunities for young minds to explore the world and develop a more nuanced understanding of it and its complexities became a responsibility I couldn't shirk.
Thus, CheckWorld was birthed, and it became more than a platform on which to educate children about the world, it became a tool with which to equip students to become encyclopedically versed. And then we curated every program with the underserved student in mind.
