By Juliet Umeh

The Special Youth Leadership Foundation, TSF, has announced plans to expand its annual Special Summer School programme to reach over 40,000 children across 20 learning centres in 12 states of the federation in 2026.

The foundation said the initiative, now in its ninth year, is aimed at ensuring children, particularly those in underserved communities, continue learning and developing essential life skills during the long school holiday.

According to the foundation, the 2026 edition is the largest since the programme was launched in 2018 and reflects its commitment to expanding access to quality education and leadership opportunities for young Nigerians.

It explained that participants would benefit from programmes designed to strengthen literacy and numeracy skills, while also receiving mentorship, leadership training, vocational education, entrepreneurship lessons, creative arts and sports activities.

The foundation added that this year’s edition introduces an expanded focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, STEAM, to prepare children for opportunities in an increasingly digital and innovation-driven world.

It noted that participants would also receive training in digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving through practical learning experiences aimed at boosting confidence and preparing them for future careers.

Speaking on the initiative, Founder of The Special Youth Leadership Foundation, Mr. Seyi Akinwale, said the programme was designed to ensure that no child is denied access to learning and mentorship during the holiday period.

He said: “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 just 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.”

The foundation said the expansion follows the success of the 2025 edition, which reached more than 24,500 children in 14 learning centres across nine states through the support of volunteers and corporate partners.

It disclosed that since its establishment in 2018, the organisation has impacted over 62,000 children through scholarships for orphans and vulnerable children, mentorship programmes, leadership development initiatives, school infrastructure projects and its annual Special Summer School.

The foundation called on volunteers, corporate organisations, development partners and members of the public to support the 2026 edition to enable more children to benefit from quality education and personal development opportunities across the country.