Education
Slum2School Africa Founder Shares Experience With CNN
The founder of Slum2School Africa, Mr Orondaam Otto, has had a day with CNN International for his dedication to ensuring underprivileged children in Nigeria can go to school.
In July, Mr Otto launched Nigeria’s first virtual learning classroom to help underprivileged communities across Nigeria access education during COVID-19 lockdown. So far, his initiative has reached around 1,000 children and the goal is to reach 10,000.
In a chat, he told CNN, “We believe that every Nigerian child deserves the best. This is what inspires us to do what we do…I work with volunteers across the world to provide access to quality education for children across underserved communities.”
Mr Otto has been devising innovative ways to engage students since visiting slum communities around Lagos in 2012, explaining that, “I came to realise that there were a huge number of children in these slums who weren’t going to school or who didn’t have access to education. I asked myself back then what would really give me fulfilment after completing my national youth service.”
In the interview, he explained how he was able to quickly organise and raise money, stating that, “I want people to understand that everybody can make a difference if you only believe in yourself.
“You have all the resources that you need right where you are. In about three months, I was able to get my friends together. We raised funds, and we were able to get 114 children into school for the first time.”
Buoyed by this early success, Mr Otto founded Slum2School, a social initiative that provides education and health services to disadvantaged children.
The first project was in the Makoko community in Lagos where Mr Otto focused on developing the infrastructure; fully equipping the classrooms and building an innovation lab where kids are learning computer programming and robotics.
“Our plan is to primarily ensure that every public primary school across the country has beautiful facilities like this and this is a home economics lab which is also an enterprising development centre where children can learn all kinds of skills from catering, to fashion to bead making and we’re currently working on this and building this in schools across the state,” he informed CNN.
The Makoko project is still ongoing and once complete it will become a model which can be replicated nationwide. In order to do this, Slum2School works with the government, big corporations and private donors in order to keep the organization sustainable.
An annual fundraising campaign involves over 3,000 volunteers in more than 30 different activities including walking across Lekki-Ikoyi bridge in Lagos.
CNN met Omolola Oyewloe, a lawyer who volunteered two years ago and spoke about the importance of raising funds, saying, “The first time I listened to the founder Otto on Instagram, I fell in love with the way he projected the mission of the organization.
“Growing up I had friends who could not afford school tuition and they had to go to government schools which weren’t well equipped and so bringing this initiative in and making sure every child gets the quality education they deserve is something I could easily relate with because of my friends dropping out of school growing up.”
Chairperson of Slum2School Africa, Ms Alero Ayida-Otobo, praised Mr Otto for his vision and achievements in creating change.
“Otto, in summary, has the ability to inspire. He has the ability to get you to do a lot more. He has the ability to execute and is a great strategic thinker and I actually think Slum2School is poised to change the narrative of volunteerism not just in Nigeria but in the continent of Africa,” she said.
New headquarters in Leikki will include a factory to supply uniforms, bags and equipment to local schools.
According to Mr Otto, “It’s an exciting space that’s going to really facilitate innovation, creativity, learning, in all ways. We have various amazing spaces from the innovation lab we have there, to the arts and crafts centre, where kids are going to be learning how to paint and draw and build.”
In addition to the schools Mr Otto and his team recognised that children often miss school due to illness and so they’re supporting those who require medical assistance, he said: “There’s also a huge medical program that’s been put in place to ensure that every child is not just learning but they are learning in a healthy condition. We have lots of children who need urgent medical attention to surgical interventions.”
Speaking about the impact of Slum2School Africa, Mr Otto noted that: “We’ve seen lots of our young learners and teenagers who are in secondary school or university, who started community projects, who have come together to enrol more children in their community.
“It’s inspiring seeing that ripple effect that we are creating as a community. And I think it’s fulfilling. It’s extremely fulfilling. And if I were to choose to do something again, I think I would choose this, and I think literally everyone is born to be a change maker.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The winner of the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship, Ms Adeolu Oreofe, has been congratulated by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President described the outstanding achievement of the 14-year-old student as the importance of sustained investment in education, literacy, and youth development.
The student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado Ekiti claimed the championship in the Junior Category in Harare, Zimbabwe recently.
She defeated contestants from over 20 African countries to claim the continental crown, which comes with a $5,000 educational scholarship.
She finished second at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee and the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee. She then placed fifth at the 2025 African Spelling Bee and second at the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee, before clinching the first prize this year in the continental championship.
Mr Tinubu applauded Oreofe’s dedication, as well as the unwavering support of parents, teachers, and mentors who contributed to this remarkable success, noting that she did not allow earlier disappointments to deter her from her determination to reach the top.
“I am convinced that this feat not only brings honour to Nigeria on the continental stage but also serves as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerians to pursue excellence in academics and personal development.
“As a government, we will continue to strengthen the education sector by creating opportunities that enable Nigerian youths to compete and excel globally. I wish Miss Oreofe continued success in her future endeavours,” the President further said in the statement by his chief spokesman.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has made new appointments in the country’s educational sector, covering the National Examination Council (NECO), the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), the Federal Polytechnic in N’yak Shendam, Plateau State, and the National Library of Nigeria, all institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to a statement on Wednesday, President Tinubu appointed Professor Modupe Adeola Adelabu as Chairman of the Governing Board of NECO, and retained the current registrar, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi.
The President also appointed Dr Bongfa Binfa as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, Plateau State, and renewed the tenure of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as chief executive of the National Library of Nigeria.
For the chairmanship of the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), President Tinubu appointed Professor Babatunde Salako.
On April 10, President Tinubu reappointed the incumbent executive secretary, Professor Idris M Bugaje, for a second and final term of five years.
Professor Adelabu, who will chair NECO, is a retired Professor of educational administration who rose through the ranks to full professorship at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
She was a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State (2013- 2014) and the Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) between 2018 and 2021.
Professor Babatunde Salako, the new chair of NBTE, is a globally respected researcher with decades of experience in higher education, institutional governance and national policy leadership.
He previously served as the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) from 2016 to 2024, a period during which the institute experienced significant revitalisation, enhanced research governance, expanded international collaborations, and improved infrastructure and research outputs.
Dr Binfa, from Plateau State, succeeds Dr Mukaila Zakari Ya’u, the pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, whose tenure expired on March 16, 2026.
President Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Binfa for a single term of five years, following the conclusion of the process for appointing a new Rector through a public advertisement in national dailies in September 2025.
Dr Binfa holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Before this appointment, Dr Binfa was Deputy Rector (Academic) at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny. He was also a Lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah.
President Tinubu approved the renewal of the tenure of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as CEO of the National Library of Nigeria for a final term of five years. She was first appointed on September, 2, 2021.
Since assuming office, she has led several institutional reforms aimed at repositioning the National Library as a modern technology-driven knowledge institution, including the development and operationalisation of the National Repository of Nigeria, the Newspaper and Magazine Locator, the Index and Abstract to Nigerian Newspapers, and the National Virtual Library of Nigeria.
She has also played a strategic role in advancing the long-awaited completion of the National Library Headquarters project and in initiating plans to migrate heritage collections from the 34 state branches to the new headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, the President expects that the renewal of her tenure would ensure continuity in the implementation of ongoing reforms, completion of the National Library Headquarters project, and execution of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan of the institution.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a final deadline of April 30 for the federal government to conclude the ongoing renegotiations with its members or face indefinite shutdown of universities nationwide.
The warning was contained in a communiqué at the end of a Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of SSANU over the weekend in Abuja.
The union, in the document signed by its National President, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim, clarified that negotiations with the government were still ongoing and have not been concluded, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.
SSANU expressed concern over what it described as misleading information circulating in the public domain, particularly claims that a 30 per cent increase in allowances had already been approved. The union insisted that no such agreement has been finalised or signed by the parties involved.
Reaffirming its stance, SSANU stressed that it would not accept any outcome that falls short of the understanding reached during the renegotiation process. It emphasised the need for fairness, due process and respect for collective bargaining principles in arriving at a final agreement.
Part of the communique read: “NEC reaffirmed that the renegotiation process with the Federal Government is still ongoing and has not been concluded.
“NEC expressed serious concern over attempts in the public domain to portray the process as concluded, particularly through the circulation of a letter suggesting approval of a 30 per cent increase on allowances, when discussions are still in progress, and no final agreement has been signed by the parties.
“It maintained that SSANU will not accept any outcome that falls below the negotiated understanding reached in the course of the renegotiation process and insists that fairness, due process and collective bargaining principles must be respected.
“Consequently, NEC in session, reaffirms its position by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU on the final ultimatum given to the Federal Government from April 1 to 30 to conclude the renegotiation process and sign their respective agreements. Should the Federal Government fail to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreements within the stated period, SSANU will have no alternative but to commence an indefinite, comprehensive and total industrial action along with NASU.
“NEC calls on all members of the Union across the branches to remain calm, vigilant, united and prepared to fully comply with the decisions of the Union in defence of their welfare, dignity and collective interest.
“NEC in session passes a vote of confidence on the National Administrative Committee under the leadership of M. H. Ibrahim, and also reaffirms its full support for the union.
“NEC reiterates that SSANU remains committed to the defence of the rights and welfare of its members and will continue to pursue justice with firmness, unity and resolve.”
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