The Special Foundation targets 40,000 children in summer learning drive

For many children, the long school holiday is a time to rest and recharge. But for thousands of children in underserved communities across Nigeria, it can also mean weeks away from structured learning, limited access to mentorship, and fewer opportunities to develop the skills they need for the future.

The Special Foundation (TSF) is working to change that. The Foundation has announced the 2026 edition of its flagship Special Summer School, an expanded nationwide initiative that will provide learning opportunities for over 40,000 children across 20 learning centres in 12 states, making it the program’s largest edition since its launch in 2018.

Now in its ninth year, the Special Summer School has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading volunteer-driven holiday education initiatives, transforming school breaks into periods of learning, discovery and possibility. Throughout the program, classrooms become spaces where children strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, discover new interests, build confidence, develop practical skills and connect with mentors who inspire them to dream beyond the limitations of their circumstances.

The announcement follows the success of the Foundation’s 2025 program, which reached more than 24,500 children across 14 learning centres in 9 states. Supported by hundreds of volunteers and corporate partners, the program combined academic learning with vocational education, leadership development, creative arts and mentorship, ensuring children remained engaged while gaining knowledge and experiences that continue to shape their educational journeys.

Building on that momentum, this year’s edition introduces an enhanced focus on STEAM education—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics—reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to preparing children for an increasingly digital and innovation-driven world.

Alongside vocational training, participants will be introduced to digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills that complement their academic development and broaden their future opportunities.

Beyond the classroom, children will participate in leadership sessions, entrepreneurship exposure, creative arts, sports, reading activities and mentorship designed to nurture curiosity, resilience and self-belief. The program reflects the Foundation’s belief that education extends beyond textbooks and that every child deserves the opportunity to explore their talents, develop practical skills and imagine a future filled with possibility.

The continued growth of the Special Summer School is made possible through partnerships with organisations that share the Foundation’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for underserved children.

“This summer, we are making a deliberate commitment: to open our doors to tens of thousands of children across Nigeria and ensure that no child spends this holiday period without access to learning, mentorship, and the belief that their future is full of possibility. The Special Summer School is not a programme. It is a promise – that wherever a child is in Nigeria, whatever their circumstances, there is a community of people committed to investing in who they can become. Reaching 40,000 children across 20 centres in 12 states this year is not the ceiling of our ambition. It is a milestone on the way to it,” Seyi Akinwale, founder, The Special Youth Leadership Foundation, said.

Since its inception in 2018, The Special Foundation has reached more than 62,000 children through its education-focused programs, including scholarships for orphans and vulnerable children, mentorship and leadership initiatives, school infrastructure projects and the annual Special Summer School. Guided by its vision of building Africa’s next generation of leaders through education, the Foundation continues to create pathways that expand access to learning, unlock potential and inspire lasting change.

As preparations continue across all 20 learning centres, The Special Foundation is inviting volunteers, corporate organisations, development partners and members of the public to join its mission of ensuring that every child – regardless of background – has access to opportunities that inspire learning, nurture leadership and shape brighter futures.