A 15-year-old boy who spent more than three years out of school and earned money taking photographs at Olumo Rock in Abeokuta is set to return to education after a chance meeting with Ogun State police spokesman led to a ₦525,000 intervention.

Ridwan Bolaji completed primary school in July 2023 but did not proceed to secondary school because, according to the account released by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), his family could not afford the cost.

He later began taking photographs of visitors at Olumo Rock to support himself.

The intervention began during the 2026 annual week of the Ogun State PCRC, known as Olumo 2026, when Ridwan photographed participants at the tourist attraction.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, was among those who noticed the teenager’s photography skills. After learning that he was no longer in school, Mr Babaseyi pledged to support his return to education.

The PCRC subsequently announced contributions from several of its groups and members.

The National Safe School Club Project contributed ₦200,000, while the Chief of Staff to the PCRC National Chairman, Taiwo Akinlabi, contributed ₦100,000 on behalf of the chairman’s special advisers.

The PCRC South-West gave ₦50,000 and the PCRC Zone 2 chairman, Samson Popoola, contributed ₦100,000.

The Ogun State PCRC gave another ₦50,000, while the Ogun State coordinator of its Safe School Club Project, Pastor Olanrewaju Joshua, and his central unit contributed ₦25,000.

Together, those announced contributions amount to ₦525,000.

The PCRC said its national chairman, Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, also pledged to personally pay Ridwan’s second-term school fees. Members reportedly made further individual donations to support the boy and his mother.

Why the intervention matters

Ridwan’s case reflects a much wider problem in Nigeria, where poverty remains one of the barriers preventing children from staying in education.

UNICEF says more than 10 million primary-school-age children in Nigeria are out of school, while other children fail to make the transition from primary to secondary education. The organisation identifies economic barriers among the factors contributing to exclusion from education.

Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education programme is designed to provide nine years of free and compulsory basic education, covering six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary school. The UBE Act also places responsibilities on governments to provide basic education and on parents to ensure that children attend and complete it.

From barbering to photography

According to the account, Ridwan initially tried to learn barbering but did not complete the training.

He later began working as a roadside photographer at Olumo Rock, where he developed an interest in photography and content creation.

The PCRC said his confidence in handling a camera and photographing visitors attracted the attention of participants at its annual event.

The organisation presented the encounter as an example of how vulnerable young people can have skills and potential that are not immediately visible.

Police and community role

The intervention has also been presented as an example of the relationship between the police and communities.

The Nigeria Police Force has publicly described its partnership with the PCRC as part of efforts to strengthen community relations and cooperation. In April 2026, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu received a PCRC delegation and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to the partnership.

Ogun’s wider education challenge

The intervention comes as Ogun State continues to invest in improving access to basic education.

State government documents say the HOPE-EDU programme is being implemented to improve school access, enrolment and learning outcomes, with the stated aim of providing free and quality education regardless of location or social status.

For families living on very low incomes, transport, learning materials, uniforms, food and the loss of a child’s contribution to household income can all affect whether a child remains in school.

Maltina says its Nourishment Tour has reached more than 300,000 students in over 1,000 schools, surpassing its first-year target of 250,000 as part of a four-year plan to engage one million young Nigerians through science education and nutrition awareness.

The campaign, which began at Government Senior College, Agege, Lagos, on 9 February 2026, has since visited schools across Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, combining practical science demonstrations with lessons on nutrition.

The figures makes it one of the larger privately funded school engagement campaigns currently running in Nigeria.

Why science education matters

The campaign comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with significant challenges in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

Education experts have repeatedly argued that many public secondary schools struggle with inadequate laboratory facilities, shortages of qualified science teachers and limited practical learning opportunities.

These gaps have prompted governments, development partners and private companies to introduce STEM-focused initiatives aimed at improving students’ interest in science-related careers.

Maltina’s programme attempts to address part of that challenge by taking practical science demonstrations directly into schools.

According to the company, students participated in experiments while learning about vitamins, minerals and healthy nutrition.

Students describe practical learning experience

Several students interviewed by the company said the activities made science more engaging.

“The field I am going for is a science-related one,” shared one participating student from Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuochita, Port Harcourt. “So having the Maltina Nourishment Tour come to my school was really exciting. Being able to see and participate in science experiments made learning feel real and has encouraged me to stay committed to my dream.”

Another participant from Governor’s College, Kano, said practical demonstrations strengthened her interest in science.

“As a science student, Chemistry is my favourite subject,” she mentioned. “Seeing science come alive through practical demonstrations made learning even more enjoyable and inspiring.”

Teachers also welcomed the approach.

A teacher from Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuochita, Port Harcourt, said:

“Practical learning helps students connect with what they are taught in the classroom. When they can see, touch and experience science for themselves, they become more engaged, ask more questions, and retain what they’ve learned. The excitement we’ve seen today shows how powerful experiential learning can be.”

Can one-day interventions produce lasting results?

Education specialists generally agree that hands-on learning improves student engagement.

Research has consistently shown that practical science lessons can improve understanding and retention when they are integrated into regular classroom teaching.

However, experts also caution that sustained improvements usually depend on continued teacher training, adequate laboratory equipment and long-term investment rather than occasional school visits alone.

The Maltina announcement does not indicate whether participating schools receive follow-up learning materials, teacher support or any system for tracking educational outcomes after the tour leaves.

Without such evidence, it remains difficult to assess the programme’s long-term effectiveness beyond immediate student enthusiasm.

Brand promotion alongside education

The programme also serves a marketing function.

The tour features Maltina brand ambassadors, including actress and media personality Oluwabukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as Kiekie, and television presenter Tomike Adeoye.

Reflecting on the initiative, Adeaga-Ilori said:

“Going back to my alma mater with Maltina was very special for me. Seeing these students from my school so excited about learning, confidently participating in experiments and discovering something new reminds us why initiatives like this matter. The success of this Nourishment Tour is a testament to what happens when you build meaningful connections with schools and communities while helping students understand the link between nourishment and learning.”

Tomike Adeoye added:

“It was amazing to return to my alma mater with Maltina and get another chance to go back to where it all began. The success of this Nourishment Tour shows what’s possible when happiness and nourishment come together. This is more than a school tour; it’s helping shape future innovators and leaders.”

Corporate involvement in education is increasingly common in Nigeria, particularly where public resources are stretched. While such initiatives can provide additional learning opportunities, education policy analysts say transparency about outcomes is essential to distinguish measurable social impact from corporate social responsibility messaging.

What happens next?

Maltina says it intends to reach one million students over four years, meaning future editions of the tour are likely to expand into additional schools across Nigeria.

Whether the programme ultimately succeeds will depend not only on the number of students reached but also on whether independent evidence demonstrates measurable improvements in science education, nutrition awareness and learning outcomes.

The Vice Chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Prof. Temi Emmanuel Ologunorisa, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS), one of the world’s oldest and most respected professional bodies for weather and climate science.

The fellowship, which took effect on 13 July 2026, recognises his contributions to meteorology, climate science, disaster risk management and coastal research.

The recognition was confirmed in a letter dated 16 July 2026 and signed by the Society’s Chief Executive, Prof. Liz Bentley FRMetS, who informed the Nigerian academic that he had been elected under membership number 00074173.

In the letter, Prof. Bentley wrote:

“From this date you may use the post-nominal FRMetS in your professional and other activities.”

She added:

“Maintain and enhance the reputation of the Society as well as of the science and its applications by your contributions.”

The Society also encouraged him to use its online Accreditation and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system to document his professional activities.

Why this matters

Climate change is increasingly affecting communities across Nigeria through flooding, coastal erosion, rising temperatures and unpredictable weather.

Experts say international recognition of Nigerian climate scientists can strengthen research collaborations, improve access to global scientific networks and support evidence-based policies on environmental protection and disaster preparedness.

Founded in 1850, the Royal Meteorological Society is regarded as one of the world’s leading learned societies for weather and climate science. Fellowship is reserved for professionals who have made significant contributions to meteorology or related disciplines.

Recognition comes after national engagements

The honour follows a series of high-profile academic engagements by Prof. Ologunorisa.

On 14 July, he delivered the keynote address during the inauguration of the National Executive Council of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Abuja, where he highlighted OAUSTECH’s progress as an emerging Centre of Excellence in Marine and Coastal Studies.

A day later, he presented the Aret Adams Professorial Chair Lecture at the University of Ibadan titled “Agenda for the Development of Blue Economy in Nigeria.”

University says fellowship strengthens Blue Economy research

Reacting to the development, the Dean of OAUSTECH’s School of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Prof. Oladotun Oluwajana, described the honour as international recognition of the Vice Chancellor’s academic achievements.

He said:

“A major international validation of the Vice Chancellor’s scholarship and leadership.”

According to him, the fellowship supports the university’s growing investment in Blue Economy research, with doctoral students currently conducting studies in Blue Climate, Blue Energy, Blue Governance and Blue Security.

Expert perspective

Climate researchers say fellowships from globally recognised scientific organisations often create opportunities for international collaboration, joint research projects and knowledge exchange.

They note that stronger links between Nigerian universities and international scientific bodies could improve climate adaptation research and support government efforts to address environmental challenges.

About the Royal Meteorological Society

The Royal Meteorological Society is the United Kingdom’s professional and learned society for weather and climate science.

It promotes scientific research, professional development and collaboration among experts working in meteorology, climatology and related fields across the world.

About OAUSTECH

Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, is a state-owned university focused on science, technology and marine-related education.

According to the university, it recently secured full National Universities Commission accreditation for 18 academic programmes and has produced more than 4,000 graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

What happens next?

The fellowship is expected to deepen OAUSTECH’s international academic partnerships and further strengthen research in climate science, coastal management and Nigeria’s developing Blue Economy sector.

It also places Prof. Ologunorisa among a global network of scientists contributing to research on weather, climate resilience and environmental sustainability.