Call To Love Initiative Marks 15 Years of Impact with New Education Index Launch
The Call To Love Initiative celebrated a significant milestone this week, marking fifteen years of dedicated work impacting children in underserved communities across Lagos. The anniversary event in Ikoyi served as the platform for launching the groundbreaking Affordable and Inclusive Education Index (AIEI), a comprehensive data-driven tool designed to address the persistent education affordability crisis in Nigeria's commercial capital.
Stark Statistics Reveal Education Crisis
The AIEI pilot findings present a sobering picture of education accessibility in Lagos. According to the data, 95.3 percent of students attending low-cost schools struggle significantly to pay their tuition fees. The financial strain manifests in alarming dropout rates, with 72.7 percent of students leaving school due to family relocation often prompted by economic pressures, while 47.7 percent drop out specifically because they cannot afford to continue their education.
Beyond affordability, learning outcomes present another major concern. The index reveals that nearly half of students (45.7 percent) battle with basic reading proficiency, highlighting systemic challenges in educational quality despite attendance.
Fifteen Years of Grassroots Intervention
Founder Omowunmi Akingbohungbe reflected on the organization's journey, stating that their work has always been anchored in the fundamental belief that every child deserves access to quality education regardless of socio-economic background. Over the past decade and a half, the initiative has implemented numerous programs including:
- Comprehensive mentorship programs for students
- Scholarship opportunities for financially disadvantaged children
- Teacher development initiatives to improve classroom instruction
- Professional training for educators in low-cost school systems
"Fifteen years ago, this work began with a conviction that every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves access to dignity, opportunity, and quality education," Akingbohungbe emphasized. "Today, we are not just celebrating impact; we are defining what comes next through evidence-based approaches."
From Observation to Evidence: The Education Observatory Evolution
Akingbohungbe explained that while grassroots interventions delivered measurable impact, a significant gap persisted in translating community insights into structured data that could inform large-scale policy decisions. This realization led to the development of the Education Observatory, which has now evolved into the comprehensive AIEI framework.
The index specifically measures three critical dimensions of education equity:
- Affordability: Examining tuition costs and financial support mechanisms
- Accessibility: Assessing physical and economic barriers to education
- Inclusion: Evaluating how well schools serve diverse student populations
Resilience Amid Challenges: Lagos Pilot Findings
The AIEI pilot phase focused on Lagos Districts 3 and 4, revealing both systemic pressures and remarkable resilience within low-cost school systems. Despite relatively low tuition ranges between ₦13,000 and ₦45,000 per term, the data shows that 86 percent of schools still provide scholarships or fee reductions to support struggling families.
However, infrastructure deficits remain critical, with 87.8 percent of surveyed schools lacking proper science laboratories, severely limiting STEM education opportunities. Teacher certification presents another significant challenge, with 61.5 percent of educators in these schools currently uncertified, though 93.3 percent express willingness to obtain proper certification if barriers are addressed.
Policy Implications and National Alignment
Dr. Ronke Soyombo, Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), delivered the keynote address, describing the initiative as a critical bridge between grassroots realities and national education reform efforts.
"We cannot fix what we cannot measure," Soyombo stated emphatically. "By creating a community-focused research platform, this initiative is providing the eyes that our education system needs. This data will not sit on a shelf; it will drive evidence-based decision-making in Lagos State and beyond."
Soyombo highlighted the initiative's alignment with federal priorities on human capital development, particularly in ensuring equitable access to quality education and strengthening teacher capacity. She noted that while teacher certification will become mandatory by 2027, affordability remains a major barrier for many educators seeking professional development.
Holistic Impact Beyond Academics
Beyond policy implications and data collection, the human impact of the Call To Love Initiative remains central to its mission. From children gaining access to education for the first time to teachers improving their instructional capacity, stakeholders report visible ripple effects across entire communities.
Soyombo commended the organization for its holistic approach to child development, stating, "You are not just developing literacy and numeracy; you are developing the whole child. What we see here proves that quality learning can happen anywhere, not just in elite schools."
As the Call To Love Initiative enters its next phase, the AIEI represents both a culmination of fifteen years of grassroots work and a new beginning in data-informed advocacy for education equity in Nigeria's most populous city and beyond.
