The YALI Network Lagos has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education with the successful completion of its 2025 Back-to-School Project at the Makoko Dream Foundation School, deep in the heart of Lagos’ informal waterfront settlement often dubbed “Africa’s largest floating slum.”

Held on September 29, the outreach marked a return visit for the group, exactly one year after its first engagement in the community. This year’s initiative saw the volunteer-driven network distribute educational supplies and deliver mentorship sessions to more than 150 children across nursery, primary, and secondary levels, a continuation of its effort to bridge Nigeria’s widening education access gap.

The Makoko project forms part of a broader YALI Network Lagos agenda to promote learning, leadership, and empowerment in underserved communities. Volunteers faced daunting logistical challenges,facing narrow waterways by canoe and working through heavy rainfall, yet pressed ahead to deliver resources and inspiration to pupils preparing for a new school term.

Reflecting on the experience, one of the volunteers remarked, “The happiness on the children’s faces made every obstacle worthwhile.”

The initiative was backed by corporate sponsors including MTC Nigeria, Kafi Africa, and Altuhealth HMO, underscoring a growing trend of private sector involvement in social impact projects. Organisers say such partnerships are essential to achieving long-term progress, particularly in communities where public education support is limited.

YALI Network Lagos volunteers also used the event to share personal success stories in an effort to build confidence among the students and inspire consistent academic commitment. The school’s principal praised the effort, calling it a model of compassion and civic responsibility that restores dignity and hope.

The project highlights how citizen-led initiatives are increasingly filling gaps left by public institutions in Nigeria’s education system. With over 10 million out-of-school children nationally, according to UNESCO estimates, community partnerships like YALI’s are emerging as vital lifelines for marginalised learners.

By anchoring its intervention in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), YALI Network Lagos aims to scale its efforts beyond Lagos to other vulnerable regions, promoting inclusion, empowerment, and long-term human capital development across Nigeria and Africa.