By Olayinka Ajayi

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has charged the Special Foundation Advisory Council on the need for every child to have equal opportunity to discover their capabilities and fit in globally.

Speaking during a leadership summit convened by the Special Foundation, themed “Leadership Rooted in Educational Equity,” the former vice president, while commending the foundation in his goodwill message, emphasized the urgency of educational equity.

He said, “True leadership, the kind that endures, the kind that transforms, must begin with a commitment to equity. Not equal outcomes for all, but equal opportunity. Every child, regardless of where they were born or what their family earns, deserves the chance to discover who they are and what they are capable of.”

Responding, the Foundation’s Founder, Seyi Akinwale, Non-Executive Director, thanked the former vice president for his charge.

He said: “In 2026, we are targeting 90,000 children. Our Summer School expands to 20 centres. Our scholarship programme grows to 1,000 scholars. These are not aspirational numbers. They are operational commitments, and we will report on every one of them at the next summit.

“Since 2018, we have reached over 62,623 children, with 2025 standing out as a breakthrough year in which more than 30,000 children were impacted. With a long-term vision of reaching 500,000 children by 2030, the Foundation is targeting impact for more than 90,000 children in 2026 alone. Its Inspire Scholarship Programme currently supports 619 scholars across 21 states. Eighty percent of whom are orphans, 56 percent are girls, and 98 percent have received continuous support for more than five years.

“Our Special Summer School programme reached over 24,500 children across 14 centres in 9 states in 2025, and will expand in 2026 to 20 centres across 14 states, with a target of impacting more than 40,000 children as part of the Foundation’s broader goal of reaching 90,000 children this year.

“As we enter our next phase of growth, we urge corporate organisations, high-net-worth individuals, and philanthropic partners to join in building sustainable solutions that expand access to quality education and unlock the leadership potential of Africa’s next generation. With a long-term vision of reaching 500,000 children by 2030, the Foundation says the task ahead will require deeper collaboration, stronger institutional backing, and a shared commitment to educational equity as a driver of nation-building.”