Name: Qudus Olojede
Age: 7 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story:
Ibrahim Olojede, Rotimi Philips and Friday Uti were hanging out in front of their work shop when they were shot dead by a police officer on Thursday 1st October 2009. Qudus is the son of the late Ibrahim Olojede. Qudus is a 7 year old brilliant primary 2 pupil of Samuel Francis Preparatory School. Qudus’s mother is a caterer by profession however; she works as a stylist at a mini hair salon (where she earns N10, 000 monthly) due to lack of patronage for her catering services.
Name: Samuel Orja-Uti
Age: 7 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story:
Samuel Orja-Uti: he is the son of the late Friday Uti, who was shot dead alongside his friends; Rotimi Philips and Ibrahim Olojede by a happy trigger police man while hanging out in front of their work shop on Thursday October 1st 2009. Samuel is a 7 year old brilliant primary 2 pupil of Samuel Francis Preparatory School. His mother is a house wife who has no source of livelihood.
Name: Justine Rex Ekpen
Age: 21 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: University
Occupation: Student
Personal Story:
I am a 21 year old hundred level indigent student of University of Benin and the first born of my family. I was sponsored through secondary school by an anonymous individual (who was never disclosed to me). I started my primary education late due to the fact my father abandoned my mother and siblings in the village for Lagos in search of greener pasture. We were however; united in the year 2000 when we came down to Lagos in search of our father but to our chagrin, our father had remarried with two other children. In the year 2004 when I was in J. S. S. 2 and while my mother was four months pregnant with her last child, I lost my father. My father was until his demise a patrol man in University of Lagos in 2004 earning a meager salary monthly. Since the demise of my father, my family has been in disarray as my mother is a house wife and cannot afford to sustain the family.
Name: Eseimu Leonard
Age:
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story:
Eseimu Leonard: I am orphaned and a J. S. S 1 student of Agboju Senior Secondary School Agboju Lagos. My mother died immediately after delivering a still born in the year 2003. Immediately after the death of my mother, my father took in another wife who maltreated my elder brother and me. Two years later; in the year 2005 my father died after a brief illness. Since my step-mother was not ready to take care of us, my elder brother was sent to my first uncle in Surulere who later died in the year 2009 while I was sent to my second uncle at Agboju. Since the demise of my first uncle, my elder brother and I have been living with my 70 year old uncle who is a security man at the school we attend. My uncle can barely feed himself with is paltry salary not to talk of taking care of us; his nephews.
Name: Akindele Esther
Age: 14 years old
\Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story:
Esther Akindele: I am a 13 year old S.S.S 2 student of New Covenant High School Isolo. I am orphaned and the last of three siblings. I lost my father in the December 1997 when I was just a year old thus; I was raised by my mother and two other siblings. My father was a photographer before his demise while my mother who died in June 2008 was a petty trader. Since the demise of my parents, my elder brother and sister have been sponsoring my education. My brother and sister are part-time students at the Lagos State Polytechnic while they also work part-time to earn a living and support the family. Specifically, my sister works as a sales girl in Chicken republic with a paltry salary of Fifteen Thousand Naira (N15, 000) only monthly which; is barely enough to meet her personal needs and pay for her education.
Name: Wasilat Ipadeola
Age: 14 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Wasilat Ipadeola: I am a J.S.S. 3 student of Shining Lord’s Secondary School Apapa Lagos. I lost my father in August 2009. Before my father’s demise, he was a dress maker who makes the school’s neck tie and others. My mother sells engine oil (mainly used by “okada” and “danfo”) by the road side on Apapa road.
Name: Ogochukwu Umeakaeze
Age: 15 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
I am an S.S.S. 1 student of Shining Lord’s Secondary School Apapa Lagos. I lost her father sometimes ago. Before his demise, he was a pure water distributor (on a small scale). My mother sells pure water. Most times, I miss school due to the fact My mother cannot afford my school fees.
Name: Mariam Aliu
Age: 14
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Mariam Aliu: I am a 14 year old J.S.S.S student who was born by a father from Niger Republic and a Yoruba mother (kwara state) from a broken home. My parents have both remarried leaving me in the middle of a bitter collapsed marriage. My mother is a petty trader at Idumota. She sells “disposable party utensils such as serviette, foil paper, disposable places e.t.c. My father lost his job as a casual worker at a textile company in April 2009. I reside with my father. My father wanted to send me to the village for marriage because he cannot afford to pay her school fees. Now I can continue my education through Change-A-Life’s scholarship grant.
Name: Hannah Peter
Age: 11 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
What problems brought him/her to Change-A-Life?: She has never had any form of formal education which; she craves for.
Goals/Needs: To be educated
Peter Hannah: she is an 11 year old girl who has never had any form of formal education. She resides in the murky water of Makoko community with her grandmother. She never had any form of formal education until Change-A-Life intervened. She is now a proud student of El-shaddai Nursery and Primary School Makoko, Lagos.
Name: Bose Ajaba
Age: 5 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Ajaba Bose: she is a 5 year old pupil of El-shaddai Nursery and Primary School Makoko, Lagos. She also resides with her grandmother in the murky water of Makoko community. She paddles from the murky water to land where her school is located daily
Name: Katherine Leyon
Age: 8 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story:
Leyon Katherine: she is an 8 year old El-shaddai Nursery and Primary School Makoko, Lagos. She also resides with her grandmother in the murky water of Makoko community. She paddles from the murky water to land where her school is located daily
Name: Okon Clement
Age:
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Okon Clement: He is a Labour prefect of Community Senior High School Maryland. His parents live in Cameroon however; he lost contact with them some three years ago. He resides with his Aunt who is a secretary at Sit of Wisdom Montessori Mende Maryland. His Aunt’s income barely sustains them. He is at the mercy of members of his church as they contribute some token for his upkeep.
Name: Anuoluwapo Goriola
Age:
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
Goriola Anuoluwapo: the Change-A-Life Project began when Anuoluwapo’s late sibling; Seun Goriola was diagnosed with a hole in the heart. Change-Life intervened by raising fund for his operation however; he died before he was operated upon. The fund was used to save another baby with a hole in the heart. Anuoluwapo is pupil of Salvation Nursery and Primary School, Arepo. His mother is petty make-over beautician while his father travelled out some years ago abandoning his family. His where about is yet to be known by his family members.
Name: Uwana Umoh
Age: 10 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
Uwana Umoh: She is a brilliant 9 years old (the last of six children) who is a primary 6 pupil of Best Legacy Private School in the year 2000. She is an indigene of Akwa Ibom is the last child of six children; four girls and two boys. One of the boys is deaf. Uwana was barely a year old when she lost her father who was a custom. To their surprise, their father’s family requested that her mother marry their father’s younger brother which, they claim is according to tradition. Her mother refused to accept the tradition. This made their father’s family to abandon them. They were left to bury their father alone. Her mother is a petty trader who deals in cheap jewelries. She alone shoulders the responsibility of the family.
Name: Obianyor David Ejikeme
Age:
Gender: Male
Education Level: University
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
I am a brilliant 300 level student of University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. I was raised by a single parent; my mother. My mother lost her job thus, could not provide all necessities for life including a decent higher education. I graduated from the secondary school with flying colours in the year 2001 however; I waited for seven (7) years due to lack of funds. With the seven years (7), I was offered admission four (4) times into different higher institutions in the country yet; I could not enroll due to lack of funds. In 2007/2008, when I was offered admission into the prestigious University of Lagos, my mother also came down with diabetes. My mother sold her house so that I could go to school and not lose another golden opportunity to secure a decent education and a future. Presently, mother and I squat with a friend. Amidst all tribulations, I still make my education a number one priority and I am on a CGPA of 4.13.
Name: Ojora Satar
Age:
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
Ojora Satar: an S.S.S 1 student of Ansar Ud Deen College Isolo is from a polygamous family of three wives, four children and a father. His father died in September 2006 after battling with cancer for several months at the age of 36years old.
Name: Mbuotidem Asuquo
Age: 7 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
Mbuotidem Asuquo: is a seven year old student of Onward Nursery and Primary. She is last of four children. On the 23rd of April 2008, when she was barely 5 years old, she lost her father to the cold hands of death. On the 23rd April 2009, exactly a year after the demise of her father when they were barely recuperating from the shock of losing the breadwinner of the family, her mother lost all she had and her business to armed robbers.
Name: Precious Nkamere
Age:
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
Precious Nkamere: she is a brilliant J.S.S 1 student of Ezekiel Private School. Her mother is a petty trader who deals in fish. She lost her father sometimes ago. Immediately after the demise of her father, her father’s family disposed them of all her father left behind and threw them out of the house leaving them with nothing to fall back on. Precious’ aspiration is to be a better person and lift her family up.
Name: Ogbonna Samuel Chidi
Age: 23 years
Gender: Male
Education Level: Polytechnic
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
I am a 23 year old student of Lagos State Polytechnic. I am the only male child of three children. I lost his father when I was still an embryo (in my mother’s womb) and my sister at the age of 18 years old. My mother is a petty trader. Currently, my mother and I reside in a single room apartment in Orile Lagos while I work as a storekeeper in order to augment the income from my mother’s trading,
Name: Busola Adegunle
Age:
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
What problems brought her to Change-A-Life?: Inability to pay school fees
Personal Story
I am from a polygamous family.
Name: Okoro Nwakaego
Age:
Gender: Female
Education Level: University
Occupation: Student/ office Assistant
What problems brought her to Change-A-Life?: Lack of funding for my university education
Goals/Needs: To be educated and have a better life
Personal Story
I lost my both parents in November 2002 and November 2005 respectively. Before their demise, they were petty traders and I lived with them in Owerri. After their demise and burial, specifically, in February 2006 I came to Lagos and moved in with my sister. My sister who is a nursing mother and a house wife stays with her husband and two children. I and four other members of the family (my sister, her husband and two children) cramp ourselves in a single room apartment. I got a job as an office assistant in a company in Victoria Island Lagos where I earn a paltry sum of N15, 000. After mingling with the educated; I decided that I was also going to be educated. In my family, no one has ever gone past the secondary school education. In November 2008, I got admitted into the Lagos State University, School of Part-time Studies (Anthony Campus) to study B Sc Business Administration. So, I work and at the same time school. The only time I have to study is at night however; that is the time my niece chooses to cry. She cries all night that I would not be able to concentrate. The day she does not cry, I will not be allowed to switch on the light since it will disturb others. My conviction to excel in my studies and be the only graduate in my family made me rent a single room apartment in Ojota where I currently stay. Now I can face my studies thanks to Change-A-Life and my scholarship.
Name: Enobong Johnny
Age: 9 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
Enobong Jonny, a J.S.S.1 student of Megland Comprehensive college was born on 5th June 2000 to a family of Mr. and Mrs. Jonny however; she lost her mother on 13th November 2005. Before her demise, she was a petty trader who sold provisions. Her father had a publishing company however; the company went down 16 months ago when he was diagnosed of Tuberculosis. Since then he has been selling his properties in order to treat himself and sustain his family.
Name: Bolade Adetunji
Age: 13 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
I am the first of two siblings born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Samson Adetunji. I lost my father who was the bread winner of the family in December 2004 after a brief illness. After his death, my extended family deserted us and left my mother with the burden of taking care of us. My mother had to pull us out of the private school we attended immediately after our primary education because she could not afford the fees. In order to lift the burden of taking care of us from my mother, my sister now lives with my aunt in Ikorodu, Lagos where she helps out with the house chores and also attends a public school. Currently, I attend Agidi Comprehensive High School and my mother sustains us with the little money she makes from sowing dress for people in our neighbourhood.
Name: Obieze Ariwodo Ihekoromadu
Age: 14 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
I am a 13 year old J.S.S. 2 student of Mushin Community Junior High School. I am the third of six children. My father died on 16th March 2009 at the age of 50 years. Since the death of my father, my mother who is a tailor has been the one sustaining the family. My sister who 18 years old and who has just completed her secondary school education now works as a sales girl instead of furthering her education in order to augment earnings from my mother’s tailoring business.
Name: Ogundimu Oluwaseyi
Age: 16 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
I was born 16 years ago to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Ogundimu in Lagos State. In June 2003, I lost my father and three years later, My mother also followed suit. After the death of my mother, I was taken to grandmother whom is currently my guardian. The death of my parents affected me so much that I was demoted from primary 5 to primary 2 when I was enrolled in my current school (I had to change my school due relocating to my grandmother’s home). Our first born is a bus driver while my other two siblings are undergoing apprenticeship in Lagos.
Name: Adigun Zainab
Age: 15 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
My name is Zainab. I am 15 years old, light in complexion, five feet tall and slim. I hail from Osun State. I have six siblings. On 15th October 2001 when I was 6 years old, I lost my father. Since then, my mother has been the bread winner of the family. She supports the family with her business (she sells fabrics). She is a strong woman and my source of inspiration.
Name: Shemede Seun
Age: 8 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
Current Area of residence: 19 Raimi Close Makoko Lagos
What problems brought him to Change-A-Life?: Lack of funding for education
Personal attributes: Brilliant and focus
Goals/Needs: Needs a decent education
Scholar’s Comments: I appreciate Ms. Funmi Iyanda for the wonderful work she has been doing to make our future bright and to make our country Nigeria a great nation. I pray that Almighty God will give her the power to do more than this in future. Thank you.
Personal Story
My name is Shemede Seun. I am 8 years old and I am in Primary two. I am the third born of four children. I am native of Badagry Local Government in Lagos State. I reside at Makoko Houses on Lagoon Yaba Lagos where basic occupation if fishing. My father was a fisherman and my mother is a trader. My father financed our education and my mother tries her best so that our future will be bright. I am supposed to be in primary four however; I and my siblings had to stop schooling when tragedy struck. Our father died in the year 2007 while on his way to the river to catch some fishes so that he would earn a living. Since then, nobody has volunteered to finance our schooling. I started schooling when a group of “white men” established a school in my community called Whanyinna Nursery and Primary School. I was able to attend the school simply because the teachers volunteer to teach us without being paid.
Name: Jinadu Mathew
Age: 24 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Teacher/student
What problems brought him to Change-A-Life?: Financial aid
Goals/Needs: Aspires to become a doctor or an engineer.
Personal Story
My name is Jinadu Mathew. I am 24 years old and a native of Agemuwo Odofin Badagry Lagos State. I parents were petty traders. My father had four (4) wives and twelve (12) children however; I am the first born. My mother died in December 1994 when I was still in primary one (1). I thank God that I concluded my secondary school education amidst all tribulations however; I could not further my education due to financial constraints.
Name: Okoli Precious
Age: 17 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
My name is Okoli Precious. I attend Angus Memorial Senior High School and I am the assistant Head Girl. I am from a family of nine (9).
My mother died when I was in S.S.S.1 and my father remarried the following year. Immediately after remarrying, he left my siblings and me to cater for ourselves as my mother was responsible for our education and care (since my father would not provide for us). My father relocated to Ikorodu with his new wife (my step mother) and left us behind to provide for for ourselves. He practically abandoned us as he has never bothered to give us any financial aid.
To sustain us, my brother and sister work as a sales person in a shop at Mushin Lagos. They use part of their paltry salary to pay for my education and provide for themselves and my other siblings. To augment whatever sum I get from my siblings, I sometime work as a service-girls (at parties) during the weekends. Sometimes, especially when no work is forth coming, I go hungry. Even when I have money, I still go hungry so that I can buy necessary text books or tend to my educational needs. I struggled through S.S.S. 1& 2 now I am in S.S.S.3 and looking up to God to help me. Thank God for Change-A-Life.
Name: Toluwani Opaleye
Age: 10 years old
Gender: Female
Education Level: Primary
Occupation: Student
What led her to Change-A-Life?: Financial aid for Education
Personal Story
Toluwani Opaleye; a brilliant basic 6 student of Alart International School is the second child of a family of three comprising a mother and two children.
Her mother has been the breadwinner of the family. Since 2003, Toluwani has not seen her father as his whereabouts is not known.
Name: Obi Chika
Age: 15 years old
Gender: Male
Education Level: Secondary
Occupation: Student
Personal Story
”My name is Chika Obi, an S.S.S 3 student of Air Force Secondary School Ikeja Lagos. I lost my father on 1st January 2005 since then; things have not been easy for my family.
I live with my mother