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.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has rewarded dozens of outstanding students, teachers and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) award recipients with cash prizes, while granting automatic employment to seven award-winning corps members in a move aimed at encouraging academic excellence and retaining skilled young professionals in the state.

The governor also announced the reappointment of Dr Taiwo Fasoranti as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), restoring one of his key aides to the state’s highest administrative office after he stepped down earlier this year to contest the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary.

Why it matters

The twin announcements highlight the Ondo State Government’s effort to strengthen education, improve public service capacity and retain talented young people at a time when many Nigerian states are struggling with youth unemployment and brain drain.

The education awards also signal an attempt to motivate students and teachers by recognising academic achievement beyond the classroom.

N1 million reward and automatic jobs

Speaking during an awards ceremony at the Cocoa Conference Centre in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa presented N1 million each to 66 award recipients and approved automatic employment into the Ondo State Public Service for seven NYSC National Award winners.

He described the event as both a celebration of excellence and an investment in the state’s future.

“You have not only excelled in your various endeavours; you have become worthy ambassadors of the Sunshine State and shining examples for generations yet unborn,” the governor said.

He added that excellence is built on “vision, sacrifice, discipline, perseverance and the courage to pursue greatness despite challenges.”

Teachers praised as nation’s builders

The governor reserved special praise for teachers, describing them as the foundation of national development.

“Countries are not built by chance; they are built in classrooms by committed teachers who mould character, impart knowledge and inspire dreams. History may remember the achievers, but posterity will always honour those who nurtured them for greatness.”

He said the recognition supports the education pillar of his administration’s OUR EASE policy agenda, which includes renovating schools, improving learning facilities, recruiting teachers, expanding digital education and strengthening technical and vocational training.

According to him, the goal is to produce graduates who are innovative, entrepreneurial and globally competitive.

“Education must produce not only certificate holders but responsible citizens, innovative thinkers, problem-solvers and future leaders.”

Who received the awards?

Among those recognised were seven recipients of the NYSC National Award.

The government also honoured 54 students who scored more than 300 out of 400 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Other recipients included students who represented Ondo State and Nigeria in international academic competitions, including the National Spelling Bee Global Competition in the United States, the World Olympiad Competition in Paris and the International Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan.

Two teachers also received national recognition—one from the public school system and another from the private sector.

Education commissioner: Recognition will inspire others

Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, said the initiative was designed to encourage excellence across schools in the state.

He said Governor Aiyedatiwa had directed the compilation of names of exceptional students and citizens for recognition, describing the ceremony as historic.

According to the commissioner, celebrating academic success publicly would encourage more students and teachers to pursue excellence.

Governor restores former SSG

In a separate announcement issued on Tuesday, Governor Aiyedatiwa reappointed Dr Taiwo Fasoranti as Secretary to the State Government with immediate effect.

Dr Fasoranti previously served as SSG before resigning on March 30, 2026, to contest the APC senatorial primary for Ondo Central Senatorial District.

Announcing the appointment, the governor said Dr Fasoranti brings extensive experience in governance, public administration and policy implementation.

He urged the returning SSG to justify the confidence placed in him by serving the people of Ondo State with “dedication, integrity and commitment” to the administration’s OUR EASE agenda.

What next?

Attention is now likely to focus on how the state sustains its education incentive programme and whether the newly reappointed SSG will play a central role in implementing the administration’s development priorities.

Observers will also be watching whether similar reward schemes become an annual feature for outstanding students, teachers and young professionals in Ondo State.