Slum2School Africa Builds Nigeria’s First Fully Eco-Friendly Green School in Lagos, Nigeria.

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, a new chapter was written in the history of Nigeria, as Slum2School Africa, one of the continent’s leading education nonprofits, commissioned the Slum2School Green Academy – a groundbreaking, fully eco-friendly school designed to bring learning, clean water, electricity, and connectivity to a community long deprived of basic infrastructure.

The project was centered in Saga Island, a riverine settlement on the Lagos lagoon and for the first time, the community welcomed a school. Not a makeshift hut, not a temporary structure, but a fully equipped, eco-friendly revolutionary design built to last and redefine how to integrate sustainability with education.

For a community that had gone decades without classrooms, electricity, or clean water, the launch of the Academy was more than an event. It was the fulfillment of a long-deferred promise: that education, dignity, and opportunity should reach even the most forgotten corners of Nigeria.

The Slum2School Green Academy, Saga Island, Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria.

A Community Long Left Behind

Saga is one of many fishing islands that dot the Lagos lagoon, about 15 kilometers off the Epe mainland. It is home to several hundred families from diverse ethnic backgrounds including the Ijaw, Ogu, and Yoruba. For decades, Saga’s story was one of resilience under neglect.

Children here grew up without basic infrastructure. No electricity lit their homes, no clean water flowed from taps, and no school stood in their community. Parents who wanted more for their children often attempted to send them to distant schools across the lagoon. But the trips were long, expensive, and unsafe. Many gave up, resigning to the reality that their children would never hold a classroom chair or chalkboard.

One elder summed it up during the commissioning: “We wanted education for our children, but it never came. We thought maybe it was not meant for us.”

That silence ended with the arrival of Slum2School Africa, a nonprofit organization that has spent more than a decade championing education in underserved communities.

Slum2School’s Long Walk with Saga Community

Founded in 2012 by Orondaam Otto, Slum2School Africa has grown into one of the continent’s leading volunteer-driven NGOs. Its mission is simple but ambitious: to end Africa’s education crisis by ensuring that every child, regardless of geography or economic background, can access quality education and support.

Before the Green Academy, Slum2School had worked in Saga for over 10 years, providing education in makeshift structures, mentorship, and health interventions. Hundreds of children benefitted, but Otto and his team always knew these were temporary fixes. “We always said the children of Saga deserved more than band-aid solutions,” Otto recalled at the launch. “They deserved a school of their own.”

That conviction gave birth to the Green Academy – a project conceived not only as a school, but as a holistic hub of education, sustainability, and community development.

The Journey to History

The commissioning day began not with speeches, but with a journey. To reach Saga, more than 200 volunteers, staff, teachers, board members, and partners of Slum2School boarded four giant wooden boats and sailed across the lagoon.

The boats carried not only guests but symbolism: education was crossing the water to meet a community long cut off from it. Along the ride, volunteers sang, laughed, and reflected on the weight of what was about to happen.

Hundreds of Slum2School volunteers and stakeholders, traveled by water to Saga community. 

When the boats docked, Saga was ready. Parents, elders, and children gathered on the sandy shore. Drums and songs filled the air. For the first time, the community was not waiting for charity, but welcoming investment in their future.

Volunteers, partners, government leaders, community leaders, and children pose for a group photo at the Slum2School Green Academy launch.

By the time the commissioning began, more than 400 people had gathered – government officials, corporate executives, traditional leaders, philanthropists, volunteers, and community members.

Hon. Sikiru Adeniyi Owolomose, Vice Chairman of Epe Local Government presenting a letter of recognition to Slum2School Africa in appreciation of their contribution to Nigeria’s education.

The Green Academy: Innovation Meets Education

The Green Academy is unlike any other rural school in Nigeria. Its design embodies resilience, sustainability, and dignity:

• Bamboo Architecture: The school is constructed from bamboo, chosen for its durability, environmental friendliness, and ability to withstand the lagoon climate.
• Solar Power: Saga now has electricity for the first time. The Academy runs entirely on solar, powering classrooms, computers, and lighting.
• Clean Water: Boreholes and rainwater harvesting systems provide safe drinking water for children and families, ending reliance on unsafe sources.
• Biogas Energy: Waste is converted into clean energy through biogas digesters, promoting hygiene and sustainability.
• Digital Connectivity: Satellite internet connects Saga to the global classroom, offering access to resources and teachers beyond the community.
• Holistic Services: Beyond academics, the Academy integrates health services, psychosocial support, and play facilities. Fully furnished staff quarters ensure teachers can reside in Saga.

The Academy can accommodate over 250 children from Saga and seven neighboring communities. For many, this was their first time in a classroom.

“It is more than a school,” Otto declared during his address. “It is a model for the future of education in Africa — a space where learning, sustainability, and community growth converge.”

Voices of Unity at the Ceremony

The commissioning drew a cross-section of Nigeria’s education leadership.

Hon. Sikiru Adeniyi Owolomose, Vice Chairman of Epe Local Government, delivered a goodwill message from Hon. Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun, Chair of Epe Local Government:

“This project has restored hope to our children and renewed parents’ confidence in accessing quality education within the community. It will leave a lasting impact on generations to come. We assure you the school will be maintained and used for its intended purpose.”

From Lagos State SUBEB, Hon. Owolabi Falana hailed the Academy as a model that “shows what is possible when government and innovative organizations work together.” He described it as “equity in action,” and pledged government collaboration to replicate such models.

Senior representatives from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and the Lagos State Ministry of Education also attended, alongside members of the House of Representatives. Several paramount chiefs and Baales added their voices in support.

Mrs. Alero Ayida-Otobo, Board Chairperson of Slum2School Africa, noted: “This is overwhelming and only possible when vision meets commitment. No child should ever be excluded from learning because of geography or circumstance.”

Iyobosa Oyaide, representing BioMérieux International, the lead partner of the project, said: “This project has surpassed our expectations. To believe that one year ago this was an empty field and today it is a fully functioning school is remarkable. It embodies the transformation BioMérieux stands for — education, health, and sustainability converging.”

Partnerships that Built the Academy

The Green Academy was the result of extensive collaboration. With BioMérieux serving as the lead partners, several other organizations contributed in various ways like United Airlines, HP, Triton International Paints, Preserve Your Roots, and numerous individual donors.

Slum2School’s volunteer base played a central role. Many camped in Saga during construction, ensuring logistics and community buy-in. “It wasn’t easy, but it was worth every moment,” said Mr. Adekunle Idowu, Senior Project Manager.

Ms. Yemi Alugo, Education and Innovation Manager, who will oversee daily operations, reflected: “To see the children run into their first classroom was unforgettable. This is why we do this work.”

Why It Matters

Saga’s transformation is symbolic of a wider national crisis. Nigeria has over 20 million out-of-school children, the largest number globally. Many live in marginalized, hard-to-reach places like Saga, where the challenge is not tuition fees but infrastructure, distance, and safety.

The Green Academy offers a replicable model: by combining classrooms with electricity, clean water, internet, and health services, it solves multiple development challenges at once. Experts believe this integrated approach is the future of education in remote and underserved communities.

their school resumption.

Students at the Slum2School Green Academy exploring their new classrooms as they prepare for their school resumption.

A Day of History and Light

As the commissioning drew to a close, emotions ran high. Parents walked slowly through the classrooms, touching desks and chalkboards with awe. Children ran through the play areas in uniforms gleaming against the dust of their village. Elders nodded in relief, some quietly shedding tears.

One father said softly: “We thought we would never see this day. Now, for the first time, our children will learn here at home.”

When evening fell, solar lights glowed across the Academy, reflected on the lagoon waters. For the first time in Saga’s history, the night was lit — not only with electricity, but with hope.

Looking Ahead

Slum2School is clear that this is only the beginning. “The goal is not one school,” Otto explained. “The goal is to show what is possible, then replicate it across Nigeria and Africa.”

To sustain the Academy, Slum2School has launched a pledge campaign inviting individuals and organizations to sponsor students, mentor children, and support maintenance. Replication in other slums and riverine communities will depend on continued partnership.

About Slum2School Africa

Slum2School Africa is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to ending the education crisis in Africa by ensuring that every child, regardless of geography or economic limitation, can access quality learning and support. Through advocacy, policy reforms, and grassroots development programs, the organization builds sustainable schools, digital classrooms, and health and psychosocial services that empower children and transform communities.

Since its founding in 2012, Slum2School has reached over 715,000 children, proving that education is the most powerful bridge to dignity, equality, and Africa’s future.

For more information, partnerships, and inquiries, contact: info@slum2school.org or visit https://slum2school.org/greenacademy