The Special Foundation has restated their commitment to deepen inclusive and transformative education for children from underserved communities.
In a statement after the successful completion of its annual Thought Leadership Summit 2025, held in Lagos, and themed ‘Educating the Future of Africa’, the event gathered a distinguished array of speakers and participants, including the CEO of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, representatives of the US Embassy, First E&P Development Company, Skystone Capital, Heritage Oil Limited, Mariteam Nigeria Limited, Sterling One Foundation, Microsoft, BlueChip Technologies, RIF Trust, GardaWorld Security, thought leaders, educators, policymakers, community builders, and beneficiary families.
The summit stood out as a powerful convergence of voices, blending storytelling and lived experience into a call for long-term investment in African education, one child at a time. The event highlighted celebrated collaborative solutions being implemented on the ground and encouraged more to be done to combat the challenges in the educational sector.
The CEO of Credit Direct and one of the Ambassadors of The Special Foundation, Mr. Chukwuma Nwanze, delivered an address that spotlighted the urgent crisis of Nigeria’s 20 million out-of-school children.
Framing the statistic as a national call to action, he challenged attendees to leave the summit lighter in conscience but heavier in commitment, a powerful charge aligned with the Foundation’s bold goal to educate over 100,000 out-of-school children by 2030.
He also highlighted the impact of the foundation to date, saying “over 35,000 impacted lives, over 600 full scholarship beneficiaries currently supported, with 98 per cent having received continuous support for five+ years, 140+ schools partnered across 15+ states, 15 refurbished schools, 10,000 mentored children, and over 300 Communities impacted.”
Among the most moving moments were reflections from scholarship recipients and their families.
Founder of The Special Foundation, Mr. Seyi Akinwale stated, “the future we dream of begins with the spark of a child. The great world we anticipate and aspire for ourselves is only made possible if we can get more children into school to reshape their thoughts, influence their minds, and bring a positive influence to our society.”
He added that “at its core, the 2025 Thought Leadership Summit affirmed The Special Foundation’s resolve to nurture Africa’s future leaders by increasing access to quality education while mobilizing support across sectors.”
The CEO of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, emphasized the need for continued commitment to the cause championed by The Special Foundation.
“The kids are the reason why we are here. We are not here to convince you to start giving; you already give. All I am asking is that we give through the foundation that has demonstrated that it really does get to the people who are in the most need. And that with the least amount, they are bringing out the most value,” he said.
This landmark event celebrated milestones and paved the way for renewed partnerships and action. It underscored the importance of shared responsibility in addressing Africa’s educational gaps and upholding the ideals of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Special Foundation is a privately funded non-governmental organization committed to shaping Africa’s future through education. Since its inception, The Special Foundation has touched the lives of over 35,000 children through a comprehensive ecosystem of support that includes Inspire Scholarships, Special Summer School, Mentorship, and School Build Projects like the revitalization of Hope Primary School. With a bold mission to reach 100,000+ children by 2030, The Special Foundation continues to lead as a beacon of impact, advocacy, and equity in African education.