Over 24,500 youngsters empowered with solar energy, tailoring, mentorship opportunities – Businessday NG
In a major boost to educational development, the Special Foundation has provided learning opportunities and mentorship to over 24,500 children, aiming to bridge educational gaps and inspire future success among underserved communities.
The foundation empowered the children in 14 learning centres during its 2025 special summer school programme held in underserved communities in nine states recently.
Seyi Akinwale, founder of the Special Foundation, explained that the initiative provided children with access to learning opportunities, mentorship, and creative activities during the long holiday, ensuring continuous engagement and growth outside the traditional school calendar.
“This year’s programme impacted more than 24,500 lives, from out-of-school children in Minna, Niger State, learning tailoring and shoe-making, to young adults in Nekede LGA in Owerri, Imo State, learning about Solar Energy,” Akinwale explained.
According to Akinwale, the vision to educate the next generation of African leaders by the foundation continues to drive every programme and partnership.
Besides, he said that this shared commitment to impact has inspired volunteers, organisations, and corporate bodies alike to contribute their time and resources toward creating opportunities for children in underserved communities.
“Our vision has always been to raise a generation of young African leaders through education and access. Through the 2025 Special Summer School alone, we have touched over 24,500 lives across nine states and 14 centres, and next year, we are looking to expand to 15 states as we continue to deepen our impact and reach more children.
“We are in economically disadvantaged communities and trying to ensure that no child gets left behind. We are investing in the future of children across the country. And the summer school programme is targeted and structured around these lines, ensuring that the children are equipped with vocational skills and ensuring that they have a more developed passion for learning,” Akinwale said.
Through its mentorship programmes in Kaduna State, The Special Foundation was to nurture and transform Brave Sunday, a shy and reserved person, into a bold girl who boldly declared that she wanted to be known in the future as ‘Her Excellency.’
Her story mirrors many others shaped by the special summer school programme aimed at expanding access to quality education for underprivileged children in Africa.
Alongside scholarships, mentorship, and school infrastructure projects, the programme reflects the foundation’s commitment to inclusive learning environments that nurture potential and inspire hope.
The programme, in its eighth edition, has equipped participants with critical literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills while fostering creativity, confidence, and teamwork.
Volunteers, educators, and corporate partners such as Bluechip Technologies, Credit Direct Limited, Descasio, Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe Law.
Others include Macadams Baking Systems Nigeria Limited, De Miller Farms, UAC Foods, and Nigerian Bottling Company, together with over 423 young professionals from the partners’ pool, powered the programme’s success.
There were interactive lessons, extracurricular activities, and back-to-school materials, among others, to create a conducive and safe space for every child to learn, have fun, and thrive.
At the Ikota-Lagos centre, teenage volunteers from the Rockstars at Kindness non-profit painted two classrooms, adding colour and warmth to the learning space.
At the Makoko centre, the Macadams Baking Systems team led a week-long programme, inspiring 100 participants with hands-on lessons using state-of-the-art baking equipment.
