The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Anna Westerholm, has called for urgent intervention to save the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI) School in Abuja from eviction, urging government, donor agencies and private organisations to support the education of children from underserved communities.
Westerholm made the appeal on Friday during the graduation ceremony of the NFI School in Abuja, where education advocates also stressed the need for greater investment in vulnerable children to help them realise their potential.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFI School provides free education, school uniforms and meals to children from low-income families through donations from private individuals and development partners.
Established in 2018 on an undeveloped plot in Asokoro with just 14 pupils, the school has grown to enrol 128 pupils and now boasts seven classrooms, a library, a computer laboratory, a music room and an event hall.
However, the school is facing an uncertain future after receiving a quit notice from the owner of the land on which it operates.
Describing the development as heartbreaking, Westerholm said she was impressed by the confidence and achievements of the pupils, which she described as evidence of the school’s positive impact.
“It is devastating to learn that the school is being evicted in four days. This school, built by the parents and teachers, represents the hopes and dreams of these children,” she said.
The ambassador appealed to government agencies, development partners and well-meaning Nigerians to visit the school and support efforts to secure a permanent site and better learning facilities for the pupils.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, described the pupils’ performances during the graduation ceremony as inspiring, saying they underscored the transformative power of education.
He urged government and philanthropic organisations to support the initiative to ensure that its vision is not undermined by infrastructure challenges.
“Government may not necessarily take it over, but it should find a way to support them,” Adeniyi said.
Earlier, the founder of the Not Forgotten Initiative School, Mrs Oluwatosin Adeniyi, said the project was established to ensure that no child is denied quality education because of poverty.
She disclosed that, in addition to the 128 pupils currently enrolled, the initiative sponsors 26 students in Federal Government Colleges and seven others in private schools through scholarship programmes.
According to her, the initiative has also produced two university students, one polytechnic graduate, while three other beneficiaries are awaiting admission into universities.
She added that more than 200 children have benefited from the initiative since its establishment.
Despite the eviction notice, Adeniyi reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to providing quality education for disadvantaged children.
“While buildings may change, our mission remains unchanged. We remain committed to ensuring that no child’s future is limited by the circumstances of his or her birth,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating pupils, Abdullahi Musa described the school as a second home for many children whose parents cannot afford quality education.
A parent, Ms Faith Bulus, appealed to government and other stakeholders to intervene urgently, warning that the planned eviction would disrupt the education of many vulnerable children and place additional burdens on their families.
She urged authorities and well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative and prevent the school from shutting down.
source:NAN
