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, fueled by nothing more than a fierce belief that every child deserved a chance.
On one of those ordinary days in Makoko, he saw an unusual crowd gathered on the waterfront. Curious, he pushed forward. At the center was a young man, Orondaam Otto, trying earnestly to explain Slum2School’s mission to enroll out-of-school children. But English was a barrier, and the message wasn’t landing.
Tope stood in that gap.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and asked if he could interpret. His voice became the channel the community needed. His presence instantly bridged what language had separated. At the end of that day, phone numbers were exchanged, not knowing that this simple act would spark a partnership that would reshape thousands of lives.
From that moment, Tope became a link between Slum2School and the Makoko Community.
For a full year, Tope paddled the team through the narrow waterways, guiding volunteers from house to house. He knew the paths, the families, the fears, the hopes. He knew the children who wanted to learn but lacked opportunity. And he knew how to reach them.
Soon, Slum2School entrusted him with more responsibility. He was given volunteer recruitment forms-one for himself and many for others. Tope returned with 60 sign-ups, evidence of a mobilizer with extraordinary influence.
He wasn’t just a helper. He was a leader emerging from within.
Driven by Passion and Purpose
For years, Tope worked tirelessly, enrolling children, visiting homes, supporting parents, and mobilizing neighbors to care. Rain or shine, Tope showed up.
His commitment grew so deep that he eventually moved back to the waterside of Makoko.
“I did it so that I could use the boat to take the children from the waterside to school,” he shares. “And so I could go around the community and make sure every child actually goes to school.”
This wasn’t a job. This was purpose.
From Volunteer to Community Officer
In 2017, Tope officially transitioned into the role of Slum2School Community Officer. But unofficially, he had been one long before.
Today, he is a first point of contact for parents, a trusted support for students, key liaison with community leaders, a strong anchor for PTA meetings, logistics, and school transitions.
Tope once hoped to become a medical doctor; he trained after hours at a local clinic and even attended a medical school in the Benin Republic. But at every turn, he found himself drawn back to the children in his community.
“When it comes to children in my community, I will always be there,” he says quietly. “I go for all their open days, all their meetings. I’m passionate. I do it for the passion I have.”
A Transformed Community And A Transformed Life
Tope has witnessed Makoko change before his eyes.
- Parents who once disregarded school now insist their children attend.
- Children speak better, dream bigger, and push further.
- Enrollment numbers have risen beyond what he ever imagined.
- Teachers now recognize him as he walks in with new learners, children who follow him with confidence and hope.
And as the community grew, so did he.
“Working with Slum2School has helped me focus on my passion,” Tope reflects.
“I know what I faced when I was schooling-that is what drives me. Before I met the Slum2School team, I only showed up halfheartedly. I could only register children in primary school. But now, I have reached numbers I couldn’t have imagined.”
Leadership trainings, volunteer summits, and mentorship programs have shaped him, refining not only his skills, but his sense of possibility.
“I can go beyond where I am,” he says with quiet pride. “Nothing is stopping me.”
The Power of One
Tope’s story is the story of Makoko.
It is the story of Slum2School’s model-empowering communities from within.
It is the story of what happens when one young person decides to bridge hope into reality.
He is no longer just the boy who interpreted a message.
He is now the man transforming a community.
A reminder that sometimes, the biggest change begins with a single voice that chooses to speak up.
