A free education programme serving hundreds of vulnerable children in Makoko, Lagos, is facing an uncertain future as funding shortages threaten its ability to sustain operations.
The founder of the Makoko Children Development Foundation School and Orphanage Home, January Wheduto, raised the alarm during the school’s 2026 graduation ceremony and prize-giving event for 18 graduating Basic Six pupils.
According to Wheduto, the institution currently caters to 445 pupils, most of whom come from poor and vulnerable backgrounds, but growing financial pressures have made it increasingly difficult to provide meals, learning materials and teachers’ salaries.
The school previously had about 650 pupils before a recent demolition exercise in parts of Makoko displaced many families and reduced enrolment.
Wheduto explained that the school operates entirely on a free education model and relies largely on donations and personal resources to survive.
“We provide breakfast daily. We need food supplies, learning materials and cooks for the children to continue to come to school,” she said.
She noted that feeding has become a critical incentive for school attendance, as many children arrive hungry and struggle to concentrate during lessons.
“When hunger is removed, the children come to school, they are focused, and they learn,” she added.
The founder disclosed that much of the school’s operational expenses are funded through proceeds from her personal farming activities in Ijebu-Ikosi.
“I have a farm where I go to Ijebu-Ikosi, and it is the income I get from that farming that I use to pay salaries of teachers and keep the school running,” she said.
She lamented the absence of government support despite several efforts to seek assistance from relevant authorities.
According to her, repeated letters and follow-up visits to government offices have yet to yield meaningful intervention.
Beyond funding concerns, Wheduto said the school faces infrastructural challenges, including limited classroom space and the loss of four classrooms during the demolition exercise.
She appealed for support to acquire land and construct a permanent school facility, arguing that the current waterfront location exposes pupils to safety risks.
“If I get support, I want to buy land to build a standard school for the children because they are not safe on water,” she said.
The founder also outlined plans to establish a digital learning centre, library, technology hub, vocational training centre and healthcare facility for the community.
She stressed that access to education remains a lifeline for many children in Makoko, where poverty and limited opportunities often prevent school attendance.
Wheduto further expressed concern over inadequate healthcare services in the community, noting that some families rely on traditional remedies due to poor access to medical facilities.
She called on government agencies, private organisations and philanthropists to support the school’s expansion plans and help secure a better future for vulnerable children.
