An Abuja school providing free education to more than 200 underprivileged children is facing eviction, raising concerns over the future of its pupils and ongoing educational programmes.
According to TheCable, the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI) disclosed that it has only a few days to vacate the premises housing its school in Kpaduma village, Abuja, after receiving an eviction notice on July 2.
Speaking during the school’s eighth graduation ceremony on Thursday, NFI Director Oluwatosin Adeniyi described the eviction as the organisation’s biggest challenge after seven and a half years of serving vulnerable children.
“Today, as we celebrate this joyful occasion, we also acknowledge a difficult reality. We have only a few days to remain before we must vacate this premises,” Adeniyi said.
She explained that the initiative began with just 14 pupils and has grown significantly, with 128 children currently enrolled in its primary school. An additional 26 pupils are attending federal government colleges through scholarship support, while seven others are enrolled in private schools within Kpaduma village.
Adeniyi said more than 200 children have benefited from the organisation since its establishment, many of whom had no previous access to formal education.
She also highlighted other challenges faced during the current academic session, including prolonged power outages and road construction around the school, which disrupted learning for several months.
Despite these setbacks, the organisation has invested in digital education by providing teachers with laptops and installing television screens across its seven classrooms to improve teaching and learning.
The development has drawn concern from stakeholders.
Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, described the impending eviction as heartbreaking, questioning what would become of the pupils once the school is forced to leave.
She said the school was built through the efforts of parents and teachers who shared a vision of providing education for disadvantaged children.
Also speaking, Kole Shettima, Director of the MacArthur Foundation’s Nigeria office, praised the initiative for giving children from low-income families access to quality education.
He expressed hope that whoever issued the eviction notice would reconsider after seeing the impact the school has made on the lives of the children and the wider community.
