November 11, 2024
Advisory Board Chair – Abosede Paul-Obameso from Abuja (Nigeria), Advisory Board Member – Stephen Caleb Opuni from Accra (Ghana), and the SEED team led by the Executive Director – Olanrewaju Oniyitan embarked on a two-day school visit to three SEED Partner Schools in Lagos, Nigeria. The goal of the visit was to gain firsthand insight into the critical role of the affordable non-state education sector in providing access to quality education for children from low-income families.
The team set out visiting 3 different schools, engaging school leaders, observing the learning environment, and interacting with students and teachers. What unfolded was 2 days filled with deep connections, inspiring experiences, and unforgettable moments, all wrapped up in the vibrancy of Lagos State. This journey highlighted both the challenges and opportunities within the low-fee private school ecosystem, reaffirming the vital role of SEED Care & Support Foundation in supporting and advocating for these schools and their communities.
Day 1: Urban Lagos
Oworonshoki (Kosofe Local Government Area). Oworonshoki is a Yoruba word culled from the sentence “Ewo ero ni ilu shoki” meaning “Look at a lot of people living in this small town.” It is a predominantly low-income residential community that sits on the Lagos Lagoon shore with a high population density (over 200,000 inhabitants on a total landmass of about 3.8 square kilometres). Its eastern border is the highway that leads to the Third Mainland Bridge, Africa’s second-largest bridge that links Lagos Mainland with the upmarket neighbourhoods of the Islands. “Oworo” (as preferably called) is pivotal to Lagos State as it is seen to be its centre because there is good connectivity to various road networks.
Join us as the team visits two (2) partner schools in Oworonshoki (Education District 2) – SADEC Schools and Skye-View College
Partner School 1: SADEC Schools
Under the visionary leadership of its proprietress, Mrs. Ajeonikumo Ebun, SADEC Schools has emerged as a beacon of quality education in Lagos State, Nigeria. With a legacy spanning over two decades, the school has earned a reputation for nurturing young minds and fostering their growth into well-rounded, accomplished individuals. Strategically located at two key sites in Lagos State, Nigeria, SADEC Schools has played a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of the Oworonshoki community. The journey of SADEC Schools began in 1996 with the establishment of its Primary School, reflecting a commitment to providing a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Building on this success, the Secondary School commenced September 2012, further extending the institution’s impact on education in the area.
The team was warmly received by the Headmistress and Principal across both sites of SADEC Schools. Touring the sites and its facilities, the team spent time engaging the students as they were taught in class. Despite being a low-fee private school, the visit offered an opportunity to explore the effort to provide quality education with limited resources. SADEC Schools exemplifies how determination and resilience can overcome challenges to create a thriving learning environment.
Partner School 2: Skye-View College
The origin of Skye-View College is rooted in a concern deeply felt by the Muslim community of Oworonshoki: the absence of a standard Islamic College. Fueled by a shared vision, a dynamic team of five set forth to create a transformative solution. Recognizing the scarcity of opportunities, they envisioned a school that not only offered quality education but also a nurturing environment to develop responsible, competent, and God-fearing leaders. The result was the birth of Skye-View Academy, a name that captures the institution’s aspirations to elevate perspectives and empower generations. Skye-View Academy has embarked on a remarkable journey to provide not only a standard Islamic secondary education but also to foster values, ethics, and skills that will shape the future of its students. In July 2016, Sky-View College commenced operations. Housed within a rented bungalow apartment, they have steadily grown to become a beacon of educational excellence.
The team commenced the visit with productive discussions with the school leader with core focus on the experience running a low-fee, faith-based secondary school and innovative strategies to keep secondary school students motivated and engaged. The team proceeded to tour the classrooms and interacted with students and teachers. A highlight was the opportunity to inspect their facilities from a “school approval” lens, as the school was expecting the team from the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education, Lagos State a few days after. The team was able to provide areas of improvement that should be dealt with before the visit from OEQA. Overall, the school’s leadership demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering academic excellence and holistic development among their students.
Day 2: Rural Lagos
Badagry (Badagry Local Government Area). A coastal town, with a population of over 250,000, located on the north bank of Porto Novo Creek, an inland waterway that connects Lagos to Benin Republic’s capital. A bicultural as well as bilingual community, the town is made up of mostly immigrants from Gold Coast (modern Ghana) Dahomey (modern Benin Republic) and Togo and the Awori, a Yoruba speaking race. Badagry emerged as a commercial center on the West African coast between 1736 and 1851. Its connecting and navigable lakes, creeks and inland lagoons acted as a means to facilitate trade. During the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the town was a middleman between European traders on the coast and traders from the hinterland. Badagry people subsist largely on fishing, agriculture and trade. Badagry as the ‘door of civilization of Nigeria’ has lots of historical buildings of interest now converted into tourist attractions. Badagry is home to the first Primary School in Nigeria (Nursery of the Infant Church) established in 1843 by Mr. & Mrs. De Graft. The school was later moved to the permanent site in 1845 and was renamed St. Thomas Primary School.
Let’s explore Hakolat Private Schools located in Okeogbe Community in Badagry (Education District 5).
Partner School 3: Hakolat Private Schools
Hakolat Private Schools, established in 2015, is a distinguished Islamic educational institution dedicated to nurturing morally upright and academically accomplished students. Hakolat Private Schools’ vision is to place moral values at the core of education and instill the teachings of the Quran in the hearts of our children, empowering them to make the Quran the guiding principle in all aspects of their lives.
The students and teachers welcomed the team with songs and other performances, a lively and heartwarming welcome that set the tone for the rest of the visit. The team were then guided through the school to see firsthand the unique struggles and resilience of rural schools like Hakolat Private School. Despite limited infrastructure, human and material resources, the school remains committed to delivering quality education to underserved children in the community. The visit underscored the importance of tailored support for rural schools to address their distinct challenges and unlock their full potential in improving access to education.
Reflections and the Way Forward
The school visits revealed the pivotal role of low-fee private schools in expanding access to education for underserved communities in Lagos State. It also emphasized the need for ongoing advocacy, capacity building, and resource mobilization to ensure these schools can sustain and enhance their impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Abosede Paul-Obameso, the Advisory Board Chair shared:
Walking through the schools, I was struck by the disparities in infrastructure, teaching quality, and student understanding. It’s daunting to think that these students will compete with global peers who are already leveraging AI and entrepreneurship. Yet, Olanrewaju Oniyitan‘s words echoed in my mind: “these are our better schools… you should see some others.”
But then, a poignant moment outside the [SADEC] school gate put everything into perspective. A young girl, likely between 9-13 years old, gazed longingly at the school from across the street. She stood just inside a humble food shack where she worked while her mates were in school. In that instant, I better grasped the vital role these schools play in their communities.
Low-fee private schools may have deficiencies, but they’re often the only hope for many. With targeted support and enabling frameworks, they can achieve so much more, especially for children at the last mile.
SEED Care & Support Foundation’s work is crucial in bridging gaps, supporting teachers and school leaders, and championing innovation in education. These efforts not only empower individual schools but also contribute to the broader goal of achieving quality education for all.
The SEED Advisory Board’s school visits provided valuable insights into the resilience, creativity, and determination of low-fee private schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. These schools are not just places of learning—they are hubs of hope, transformation, and community growth.
