Mr Mifa Adejumo, Communications Lead, Special Youth Leadership Foundation, says the foundation targets empowering 40,000 children in 20 centres through its 2026 Special Summer School programme.
Adejumo made this known in an interview with reporters, in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to him, the programme began in Kuje, Abuja, to reach out-of-school girls, addressing barriers involving access, confidence and exposure through free practical and skills-based learning.
He said the programme developed confidence, leadership, communication, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills to help children discover their potential and shape their future.
” The summer school complements the foundation’s education, mentorship and leadership mission, serving as a gateway to longer-term interventions, including the Inspire Scholarship.
“The 2026 programme covers academics, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics( STEAM), vocational and entrepreneurship skills, creative arts, sports, leadership and life-skills development”, he said.
Adejumo said the programme reached no fewer than 24,500 children across 14 centres in nine states in 2025, with partnerships providing additional practical training.
He said the foundation measured impact through learning outcomes, engagement, skills development, feedback and beneficiaries’ progression into longer-term programmes and opportunities.
Adejumo said funding remained the biggest challenge, noting that supporting one child costs about N300,000 annually and N100,000 per term.
He said the foundation prioritised low-cost schools and communities with clear educational needs, particularly areas with limited access to quality learning opportunities.
Adejumo said its support included the Inspire Scholarship, Special Scholarship, mentorship, career development and School Build Programme, providing continuous support for children.
He said partnerships were critical to expanding programmes, noting that the foundation had over 400 partners and volunteers and more than 153 partner schools.
Adejumo said the foundation targeted impacting no fewer than 500,000 children by 2030 through sustained partnerships, scholarships, mentorship and leadership opportunities.
NAN spoke with the management and students of one of the schools that benefited from the SYLF summer coaching initiative.
Mr Dayo Moyo, Principal, Isador Model Schools, Agodo, said the summer coaching programme supported students struggling with core subjects while preparing them for the new academic session.
He said funding also enabled practical skills and project-based learning, with primary pupils learning knitting, bag making and beadwork, among others.
Moyo said secondary students’ major projects involved creating their dream school, including income-generating ideas and sustainable development projects.
He said students were grouped into seven areas: branding and marketing, building and construction, technology, business development, learning experience, sustainable development, and communication and media.
According to him, students developed school identities, physical and 3D models, landing pages, uniforms, school products, curricula, gardens, water purification and distribution systems.
He said students also documented projects while learning practical skills such as video editing with CapCut and photo editing with Lightroom.
Moyo said students became more confident as they took ownership of assignments, worked together and successfully completed their tasks.
“Bringing students from different schools and backgrounds together improves their behaviour, communication, organisation and ability to work effectively with others.
“This opportunity has helped students learn to express ideas clearly, take responsibility, work as team members and emerge as team leaders within two weeks”, he said.
He said organisations had a vital role in preparing students for the real world by helping schools provide practical and transferable skills beyond traditional classroom learning.
Moyo said The Special Youth Leadership Foundation (SYLF) connected the school with MacAdams to teach students large-scale baking, giving them opportunities to learn directly from professionals.
According to him, such partnerships expose students to events, professionals, mentors, volunteering opportunities and other experiences that broaden perspectives and connect classroom learning to real life.
Appreciating the NGO and school management for the opportunity, some students expressed gratitude and shared their expectations for the next summer coaching.
Miss Miriam Raheem, an SS2 student, said it was her first time seeing a school teach entrepreneurship in the classroom.
Raheem said the entrepreneurship classes had exposed her to various business strategies and broadened her understanding of entrepreneurship.
“I have been meaning to start a business for a while, but I was discouraged by the lack of capital. However, the class taught me that I can start with as little as N2,000 and still make a profit.
“I thank the NGO and school management for making the summer coaching free
I have learnt photography, videography and video editing with CapCut despite previously lacking photography skills”, she said.
Another student, Miss Precious Adam, said she learnt about the free summer coaching through a friend, adding that the classes improved her mathematics and exposed her to skills acquisition.
Adam, who was not a student of Isador Schools, praised the teachers and said she was grateful for the opportunity and would love to be a student of the school.
Master Great Nwaneri, an SS3 student, commended the NGO for sponsoring over 300 students and thanked the school management for opening the summer coaching to students from other schools.
“Isador Model Schools is located in Agodo, an underdeveloped community with a high number of students who lack access to quality education due to financial constraints.
“Skills acquisition will empower students financially, meet market demands and reduce youth involvement in societal delinquencies by providing opportunities to earn a living”, he said.
Nwaneri urged the SYLF to award scholarships to outstanding students and partner with Isador Schools to provide entrepreneurship and vocational programmes beyond summer coaching.