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Tag: Polly Alakija

  • Nigerian First Lady, SHOM Partner for Children’s Creative Education

    Nigerian First Lady, SHOM Partner for Children’s Creative Education

    The SHOM Charity Gala 2025, hosted by the Nigerian First Lady, HE Senator Oluremi Tinubu,  and the Spouses of Heads of Mission (SHOM) Abuja, was held on Wednesday, 21 May, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, in support of the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative, a non-profit that leverages arts, storytelling, and community engagement to improve learning outcomes for children in underserved communities in Nigeria.

    The gala brought together more than 350 guests, including the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who delivered the keynote address, alongside Honourable Ministers, Governors, Ambassadors, and senior representatives from the private and development sectors.

    With strong support from SHOM and the diplomatic community, the evening underscored a shared belief in the power of creativity in transforming education in a way that is inclusive, accessible, and rooted in local realities. Funds raised will help Five Cowries expand its impact across Nigeria, building on its track record of reaching over 250,000 learners through initiatives such as Mu Shuka Iri, Zinariya, and the Aunties Programme.

    In her address, the First Lady highlighted the alignment between Five Cowries’ community-driven model and Nigeria’s national development priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda. She said: “By supporting the Five Cowries initiative, we are reiterating our commitment to promoting education and fostering inclusive development across our local communities, dignity, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and our shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

    Five Cowries CEO, Polly Alakija, expressed gratitude for the support shown by SHOM, the First Lady, and all event partners: “We are honoured by SHOM’s commitment and deeply grateful for Her Excellency’s recognition of our work. This evening is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when global and local actors come together to drive inclusive education, creativity, and restore agency to communities. With this support, we are better placed to deepen our impact and expand to more Local Government Areas across Nigeria.”

    The SHOM Charity Gala 2025 served as a powerful platform for cross-cultural partnership and reaffirmed the role of arts-based education in delivering inclusive, community-driven solutions to improving learning outcomes in Nigeria.

  • Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative Launch Vision 2030: 

    Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative Launch Vision 2030: 

    …Supporting community resilience across Nigeria by harnessing the power of arts and culture based learning.

    The Board of Trustees of the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative (FCI) launched its 2030 Vision at a high-level reception hosted at the Abuja residence of the Ambassador to Spain. The vision sets out Five Cowries’ ambition to scale up its work to harness the power of arts and culture to enhance learning for children and young adults in Nigeria.  The vision seeks to build on the success of Five Cowries existing programmes, which have already delivered results in Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States.  

    The vision will be delivered through a six-year strategic plan that sets out the actions and resources required to scale the more inclusive learning pathways that Five Cowries offers by integrating arts and culture into educational experiences to improve learning outcomes. One of the driving theories behind the initiative is that community-driven creative learning sustainably develops community resilience.  

    His Excellency, Ambassador Juan Sell of Spain, who hosted the reception, said about the launch, “We are committed to projects that leverage the arts to offer inclusive pathways to education that are responsive to individual learning, social and cultural needs. We are pleased to be able to host the launch of this initiative and wish the Five Cowries team well as they work to broaden their impact over the coming years.”

    Since its inception, FCI has delivered projects in Kano via its flagship program Mu Shuka Iri (MSI), a community-based learning programme that engages caregivers and children aged 4 to early teens in households through a cohort of community educators called ‘Aunties’.  

    For the first programme – The Children’s Programme (MSI), the 2030 Vision sets out plans to roll out the programme to 19 states by 2030, starting with Kaduna, Kano, Adamawa, and Sokoto, scheduled for 2024 delivery.  FCI’s ambition is to grow the networks of hubs and schools involved in the programme, allowing the project to empower more aunties across our focus States. 

    The second, Young People’s Programme themed, My Story: My Heritage, will provide young people with the soft skills needed to survive the 21st century workplace.  

    Speaking about the vision, the Chair of FCI, Mr. Olumide Adeosun said, “These programmes offer a route to education that improves school attendance and significantly improves numeracy and literacy outcomes whilst ensuring that no child in the community is left behind.  The Board of Trustees are excited about the planned rollout of this innovative and impactful programme. We are counting on our donors, particularly through these lean times, to deliver these programmes to communities that need them the most.”

    Polly Alakija, Founder/CEO, FCI says, “These programmes have a proven positive impact on educational outcomes, such as improved numeracy and literacy, as well as transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving and creativity and are fun!” FCI’s goal, she continued, is to, “drive equitable empowerment in underserved communities”. 

  • Red Door Gallery Presents Carnet de Voyages “images and emotions from a Traveller’s life” by Michel Puchercos

    Red Door Gallery Presents Carnet de Voyages “images and emotions from a Traveller’s life” by Michel Puchercos

    Photographer, Michel Puchrcos is unveiling an exhibition titled ‘Carnet de Voyage’ at Red door Art Gallery in Victoria Island from 29 October to 1 November. The exhibition–open to the public will display photographs from Michel Puchercos’s travel’s across Nigeria and will be sold in support of the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative.

    In a world where travel and adventure have been halted by border closures and numerous disruptions, the exhibition aims to celebrate what Puchercos calls the “life without borders”. It highlights the rich cultural heritage of Africans through carefully observed photographs.

    Michel Puchercos said that the exhibition represents, “a captured glimpse, a special unguarded moment, swift emotions, people, nature and the environment are present at every level of my work”. According to him, they form part of those recurring themes that he finds himself constantly drawn to.

    The photographs in this exhibition are strongly in line with Five Cowrie Arts Education Initiative’s vision to integrate art into learning and teaching.

    Polly Alakija, the founder of Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative said, “Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative thrives thanks to the shared passion of individuals and institutions for the need to deliver richer and more relevant learning experiences to the children and youth of Nigeria.” In admiration for the photographer and his support, she states her gratitude for “Michel’s dedication and commitment towards documenting a positive narrative”.

    All 34 photographs from the collection are also included in a photobook and, the profits from the sale of the photographs will be donated to the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative.