Our Stories

The Latest: Updates, News and Stories From Slum2School

Harvard Professor and Faculty Director of the African Center for African Studies, Prof. Zoe Marks, visits Slum2School Africa in Lagos, Nigeria.

Slum2School Africa welcomes Harvard Professor, Prof. Zoe Mark and the other Leaders from the Harvard Center for African Studies.

Slum2School Africa hosts the U.S. Consulate General Will Stevens

Summer Skills Showcase at the Slum2School STEM and Innovatio Center in Makoko Community.

United Airlines partners with Slum2School Africa.

This partnership will support 1,000 children in Nigeria as they return to school.

david amosu

Unveiling Talent: How David turned Struggle into Harmony

Education doesn’t just open doors—it gives young people the courage to walk through them.

Maryam Alade - The Girl Who Found Her Voice And Gave Her Community a New One

In Makoko, the floating city of narrow bridges, wooden homes, fishing nets, and endless resilience, a 12-year-old girl once stood quietly inside her JSS1 classroom at Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School.

alfred

Alfred Hunge: From School Dropout to Fashion Entrepreneur & Community Trainer

In the winding wooden walkways of Makoko, where the lagoon mirrors the changing sky, a 12-year-old boy once sat quietly by a stall of assorted goods-biscuits, sachet water, tiny household items-calling out to passing buyers.

jennifer williams

Jennifer Williams: This is a story of a fighter, a polymath and a star.

A Journey of Courage, Community, and the Power of Opportunity On a humid afternoon in May 2019, during what was supposed to be a routine malaria-prevention outreach to a remote riverine settlement outside Lagos,

Mary Sunuvun: a story of possibility, resilience & the power of one girl's dream

Mary always believed she could break a cycle that had held generations of girls in her community back. Growing up, Mary watched many of her peers drop out of school.

Tope Iroko - My work connects my community to the world

In 2012, Tope was just 15 years old. Born in Makoko but living in a small slum in Ikate on Lagos Island, he would often return to the mainland to help children find a path to school, walking from house to house.

Fabi Lokossu - At age 15, Fabi Lokossuis finally starting school.

For most children, the first day of school happens at age 4 or 5. For Fabi Lokossu, it happened at 15. For years, Fabi Lokossu's world was a small wooden stall in the heart of Makoko.

The Slum2School Green Academy. After Decades of Exclusion, the first school finally rises in Saga.

For years, Saga was a place time forgot. Tucked deep within the riverine belt of Epe, it was the kind of community people only passed through when they were lost.

Emmanuella Iduot - Volunteering with Slum2School shaped my journey to the global stage

Six years ago, Emmanuella Iduot made a simple decision. She clicked “volunteer” on the Slum2School Africa website, hoping to make an impact

Slum2School and HP Conclude 5-Week Tech Training for Learners

About 105 learners at Slum2School Africa have taken many such steps, diving into the world of technology with the HP's STEM program in partnership with Slum2School Africa

UNICEF Children's Day: Reimagine a Better Future For Every Nigerian Child

Reimagine a better future for every Nigerian child

Universal Children’s Day; Investing In Our Future Means Investing In Our Children

Investing In Our Future means Investing in Our Children

Intimate Sexual and Reproductive Health Outreach

Our Medical Team and our incredible volunteers in the Field Management Team volunteers embarked on a 4-hour session Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) outreach with some of our beneficiaries at Makoko to discuss the importance of SRH in young and adolescent women.

Our Children Takes Center Stage at TEDx Talk in Lagos

Maryam and Emmanuel bravely stood in front of over 100 attendees at TEDx Lagos to speak about the strength of children in society.

Eat ''N' Go Visits The Slum2School Innovation Hub

On Wednesday, November 12th, Eat’N’Go, one of our most formidable partners and friends, visited us at the Slum2School Innovation Hub.

Slum2School Africa Wins The Prudential Zenith Insurance $100,000 Award Grant

One of the remarkable milestones and achievements of the Virtual Learning Program was winning the Prudential Zenith US$100,000 Award Grant for “Sustainable Innovative Solutions birthed during Covid-19 Pandemic”.

Slum2School's Efforts In Response To The Pandemic

Transitioning After the Lockdown: What is the Practical Way Forward for Nigeria?

Slum2School Enrolls 510 out-of-school children from 11 communities into 5 schools accross Lagos State

The Fundraising campaign to sponsor one thousand out of school children into school was officially kick-started on Saturday the 18th of August 2018 and was themed #AThousandDreams.

Slum2school commissions its enterprise development centre

Slum2School Africa has undertaken several projects in the past in line with its vision to ensure that every child irrespective of their background is given the best quality of education.

The U.S Ambassador Staurt Symington’s visit to Slum2school in Mokoko community

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Stuart Symington, on Sunday the 4th of November, 2018 visited Slum2School Africa.

World Literacy Day: Slum2school brings #AthousandDreams to Tarkwa Bay

“Every child deserves a chance to dream and, in dreaming, they deserve to dream something bigger than themselves.” – Awesu Williams

Slum2School Africa

In 2024, Slum2School Africa took a bold step into the future of education with the groundbreaking of the Slum2School Academy—our very first pilot school, designed to show what truly inclusive, high- quality

Hubert Hunye

When Hubert first enrolled in school in 2016, he could never have imagined how much his life was about to change. Back then, he was just another child in his community eager to learn but unsure of how far education could really take him.

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Emmanuel Okechuckwu

For Okechukwu Emmanuel, curiosity has always been his strongest trait. As a boy growing up in Makoko. he was fascinated by how things worked. He often asked questions no one around him had the answers to: “What makes this phone light up?” “Why does the computer stop working when one button fails?

Mustapha Oseni

Do you believe that investing in a child today truly means investing in the future? I do. Because I am living proof. - Mustapha Oseni, I finished JSS3 as one of the top three students in my class. I had always loved learning and dreamed of going further, but my parents could not afford to send me to another school.

Lois Ifeanyinchukwu - Volunteer

"Why are you hawking donuts when you should be at home taking shelter?" I asked, my voice sharp with concern as I stopped in my tracks. "You could be infected with the coronavirus! And you're even out here with your little brother"

Tope

In 2012, when Slum2School Africa began its journey in Makoko, hope felt like a fragile thing. Schools were scarce, opportunities even scarcer, and many children drifted between days of hawking, fishing, or wandering aimlessly through narrow wooden walkways

Habeebat Olatunde

Habeebat Olatunde looks back at her journey, she sees two very different versions of herself. The first was a shy young girl—bright in her studies, always doing well in class, but terrified of speaking in public. The thought of standing before an audience made her heart race, and her voice shrink.

Virtual Learning Center

In 2020, the world came to a standstill. Schools were shut down, streets grew silent, and for millions of children in underserved communities across Nigeria, the future of education seemed to vanish overnight.

Pledge a Birthday

Pledge a Birthday

References

  1. Global Education Monitoring Report Team (2016). Education for people and planet: creating sustainable futures for all.
  2. Comms, D. (2021). The ripple effects of investing in girls’ education. Plan International Australia.
  3. Comms, D. (2021). The ripple effects of investing in girls’ education. Plan International Australia.
  4. Comms, D. (2021). The ripple effects of investing in girls’ education. Plan International Australia.
  5. Global Education Monitoring Report (2023). 244M children won’t start the new school year.
  6. World Bank. (2019). Ending learning poverty: What will it take?
  7. Fatunmole, M. (2023). Key data on early childhood education in Nigeria. The ICIR- Latest News, Politics, Governance, Elections, Investigation, Factcheck, Covid-19
  8. Enoch, A. (2024) Quality education delivers growth – but Africa’s scorecard remains poor. ISS Africa.
  9. UNESCO. (2022). 244 M children won’t start the new school year. Paris: UNESCO.
  10. Fatunmole, M. (2023). Key data on early childhood education in Nigeria. The ICIR- Latest News, Politics, Governance, Elections, Investigation, Factcheck, Covid-19.
  11. World Bank. (2019). Ending learning poverty: What will it take?. World Bank.
  12. Quality education delivers growth – but Africa’s scorecard remains poor | ISS Africa. (n.d.). ISS Africa.
  13. Heminway, J., & Heminway, J. (2023). Why Becoming Educated is Hard in Sub-Saharan Africa – Especially for Girls – The Water Project. The Water Project.
  14. UNICEF, (2021), Transforming Education in Africa.
  15. World Economic Forum. (2023), How Africa’s youth will drive global growth.

Every sponsorship supports:

  • Construction: Eco-friendly school facilities built with locally sourced, sustainable materials

  • Innovation: Solar power, rainwater collection, biogas, gardens, and internet access.

  • Learning & Support: Scholarships, teachers, health services, and psychosocial care.

  • Sustainability: Training, monitoring, and integration into public systems.

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Library & Innovation Lab

Every Green Academy includes a library, STEM and Innovation lab, giving children access to books, technology, and digital resources. This opens doors to coding, research, and global learning experiences that prepare them for the future.

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Biogas Systems

Waste from the school is converted into biogas through a clean, closed-loop system. This provides safe cooking energy and powers the backup generator – reducing pollution, improving sanitation, and teaching children about renewable energy in action.

 
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Full Annual Scholarships

Each Green Academy provides 250+ underserved children with free, high-quality education. Scholarships cover tuition and also books, meals, healthcare, psychosocial support, and skills development, ensuring every child has the tools to thrive.

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Open-Air Design

Classrooms are designed with circular, open-air structures that maximize natural airflow and light. This reduces heat, lowers energy use, and creates healthier learning environments, without the need for costly air conditioning.

 
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Rainwater Systems

Green Academies are built with rooftop rainwater collection systems. Rainwater is stored, filtered, and treated to provide safe drinking water for students, teachers, and the wider community-improving health and reducing time spent fetching water.

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Gardens & Biodiversity

Outdoor gardens and biodiversity spaces make learning hands-on and holistic. Children grow food, study ecosystems, and learn sustainable
agriculture. These green spaces also support nutrition programs, providing fresh produce for students.

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Satellite Internet

For many communities, Green Academies provide their very first internet connection. Through satellite technology, children gain access to digital learning, global knowledge, and virtual mentorship. It also connects teachers and families to new opportunities and resources.

 
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Solar Power

Every Green Academy runs fully on clean solar energy. This ensures classrooms, labs, and digital tools stay powered without reliance on
unstable grids or generators. With solar, learning continues seamlessly, even at night or during power cuts.

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Built with sustainably sourced bamboo, reclaimed wood, and locally sourced materials- reducing carbon emissions while providing durable, safe spaces for learning. These materials are low-cost, renewable, and naturally cooling, perfect for Africa’s climate.