The Need

At Starlight Secondary School in Madalla, Niger State, economically vulnerable students face compounding hurdles to staying in school and securing their academic futures. Beyond the everyday struggle of learning without basic textbooks and stationery, families confront steep examination registration fees—such as WAEC and Junior WAEC—that serve as prohibitive financial gatekeepers. Without these credentials, capable students who have completed years of secondary schooling are systematically cut off from higher education, formal employment, and vocational training.

Our Response

Supported by a Prince Casper Foundation Impact Grant, Fellow Okewoye Unique Adeola and Health Impact For Youth (HI4Y) launched the Starlight Empowerment Project, tackling both material shortages and high-stakes financial barriers:

• Direct Academic Provisioning: Procured comprehensive learning supplies tailored to class levels, including subject textbooks (Physics, Chemistry, and core subjects) for 20 senior students and complete exercise book packs for 80 junior students, alongside writing essentials.

• Removing Examination Gateways: Fully sponsored national exam fees for five students—registering two female learners for the Senior WAEC and three candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (Junior WAEC).

• Responsive Community Delivery: Collaborated with school leadership to identify the most vulnerable candidates, extended partial stationery sets to extra students in need on distribution day, and presented appreciation plaques to supporting teachers.

The Impact

Carried out across early 2026, the project converted educational barriers into permanent milestones for the Starlight school community:

• 100+ Learners Fully Equipped: More than 100 students transitioned from borrowed, scarce materials to owning the books and stationery necessary for daily classroom success.

• Doors Kept Open to Higher Learning: Five sponsored examination candidates gained the lifelong opportunity to sit for their gateway certificates unhindered by family financial hardship.

• Deepened School & Community Trust: Celebrating local educators and students fostered shared accountability, establishing a foundation for ongoing academic mentorship and future educational initiatives in Madalla.