For some parents, the beginning of a new school session is a happy moment. For others, it comes with a lot of worry.
School fees, books, uniforms, transportation and other expenses can become a heavy burden, especially for families already struggling to provide basic needs. For some children, the situation can even mean staying at home despite having the ability and desire to learn.
It is against this background that Encouragement Initiative (EI), in partnership with philanthropic foundations, has stepped in to give more children an opportunity to remain in school as the 2026/2027 academic session begins.
The initiative has brought together organisations and individuals who believe that no child should lose the chance to get an education simply because their parents cannot afford it.
As part of the latest intervention, the Mrs Adesola Aderonke Lawal Foundation has committed to sponsoring three brilliant but indigent secondary school students for one full year.
The scholarship will provide the selected students with comprehensive educational support throughout the 2026/2027 academic session, giving them one less thing to worry about as they pursue their studies.
The COCOMMA Light of Love Foundation has also joined the effort, pledging full sponsorship for three primary school pupils for the same academic session.
For these six children, the support could mean the difference between sitting at home and sitting in a classroom with other children, learning, growing and preparing for the future.
But the new scholarships are not the beginning of EI's work.
The organisation has been building a growing network of partners committed to supporting students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Its existing partners include PG Foundation, Alen-3 Welfare Initiative and Terristiana Foundation.
Through these partnerships, EI supports students at different stages of their education, from primary school to secondary school and higher education.
The organisation's focus is particularly strong on children from rural communities, where financial difficulties and limited access to opportunities can make education even more difficult.
EI said it has so far supported six students who have successfully graduated, with some of them receiving assistance from their secondary school years through graduation.
The organisation is also currently supporting 46 other beneficiaries across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, with additional students expected to join the programme during the 2026/2027 academic session.
Behind these figures are real children and young people whose educational journeys could easily have been interrupted by financial difficulties.
A child who is good at Mathematics, another who dreams of becoming a doctor, a teacher, an engineer or a professional in another field may have the ability to succeed but still struggle simply because the money to stay in school is not available.
This is the gap EI and its partners are trying to address.
Rather than allowing poverty to determine how far a child can go, the initiative seeks to give deserving students the support they need to continue their education and develop their talents.
The latest partnership also highlights what can happen when organisations come together around a common purpose.
While one foundation may support a few students, several organisations working together can reach more children and create a wider impact.
For the Mrs Adesola Aderonke Lawal Foundation and the COCOMMA Light of Love Foundation, their commitments are not just financial donations. They represent an investment in children who may one day become professionals, community leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, healthcare workers and contributors to Nigeria's development.
EI believes that education remains one of the strongest ways to give young people a better chance in life.
A child who receives an education has a better opportunity to understand the world, develop useful skills, make informed decisions and contribute meaningfully to society.
This is why the organisation has continued to seek partnerships with foundations, individuals and other organisations that share its belief in the power of education.
Reaffirming its commitment to young indigent students, EI described the beneficiaries as “the architects of our collective future.”
The message behind the scholarship drive is simple: a child's future should not be decided by the size of their parents' bank account.
For the beneficiaries, the 2026/2027 academic session will therefore come with more than a new timetable and new classrooms. It will come with renewed hope and the assurance that there are people and organisations willing to invest in their dreams.
As more students join the programme, Encouragement Initiative and its partners are hoping to reach even more children who are bright, determined and ready to learn but need someone to help them overcome the financial barrier.
The collaboration is ultimately a reminder that supporting education is not only about paying school fees. It is about giving children the chance to dream, equipping them to pursue those dreams and helping to break the cycle of poverty one student at a time.
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