In a bold stride toward inclusive and sustainable education, BIC Nigeria has unveiled three newly renovated solar-powered classrooms at Sari-Iganmu Inclusive School in Lagos. The initiative, conducted in partnership with Raising Star Africa Foundation (RSAF), was launched as part of observances around Global Education Week (GEW) 2025. The upgraded facilities are designed to enhance learning environments for children of all abilities, with special consideration for differently-abled students.
The classrooms are now powered by renewable solar energy and equipped with modern learning tools and infrastructure. According to Anthony Amahwe, General Manager of BIC Nigeria, this move reflects the company’s commitment to improving education in underserved communities and contributes to BIC’s global ambition to enhance learning conditions for 250 million students by the end of 2025.
Beyond the structural upgrades, BIC and RSAF organised a creative colouring workshop to encourage self-expression and donated writing materials and other learning tools. The occasion ended with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the formal handover of the renovated classrooms to the school community.
Table of Contents
What the renovation includes and why it matters
The refurbished classrooms now feature integrated solar power systems, ensuring consistent electricity for lighting, fans, and other devices. This addresses a major challenge faced by many public schools in Nigeria: unreliable power supply. The modernisation also extends to updated classroom furniture, learning resources, and infrastructure tailored to support inclusive education.
For differently-abled learners at Sari-Iganmu Inclusive School, the improvements are more than aesthetic. A better-equipped, stable learning environment can significantly improve concentration, participation, and overall academic experience, giving these children a fair shot at quality education.
The solar-powered classrooms also open opportunities for teaching beyond daylight hours, or running extra-curricular activities that depend on stable electricity, an important advantage in a setting where the national grid is often unreliable.
A collaborative effort for long-term educational impact
The project is a result of the collaboration between BIC Nigeria and RSAF, exemplifying how corporate–nonprofit partnerships can bridge gaps in educational infrastructure. RSAF’s founder, Michael Showunmi, commended the investment, noting that it would significantly expand access to quality education for children with special learning needs and help foster a more inclusive school ecosystem.
Beyond infrastructure, BIC also recognised the dedication of educators at Sari-Iganmu by awarding two of the school’s longest-serving teachers ₦1 million each. The company considers teachers vital to the success of learning and creativity, and this gesture underscores BIC’s appreciation for their commitment.
This initiative is not the first of its kind. Over the past three years, BIC, often teaming with RSAF and other partners, has renovated classrooms in several schools, provided thousands of writing materials, and trained hundreds of teachers under the programme Canvas of Change. Their efforts form part of the broader global sustainable development programme Writing the Future Together, which prioritises inclusive and accessible education.
Reactions and the road ahead for inclusive education
At the handover event, school leadership expressed heartfelt gratitude. The head teacher of Sari-Iganmu Inclusive School, Oladeji Aishat, described the renovated classrooms as a source of motivation and inspiration for students across all abilities. She stressed that inclusive education is a shared responsibility and welcomed the renewed attention to safer, more accommodating learning environments.
This project demonstrates how targeted social investments can address systemic challenges in Nigeria’s educational landscape. By providing reliable power and inclusive infrastructure in a public school, BIC and RSAF have set a tangible standard that blends accessibility with sustainability.
But more remains to be done. For the hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children, especially those with special education needs, initiatives like this must scale up. Stakeholders, from government agencies to private firms and civil society, need to replicate such collaborations to deliver long-term results.
In embracing renewable energy and inclusive design, this project offers a blueprint for future school upgrades and partnerships. If sustained, it could become a driving force for equitable education across Nigeria.
As Nigeria grapples with infrastructure deficits and inequitable access to learning, the launch of solar-powered inclusive classrooms at Sari-Iganmu Inclusive School by BIC Nigeria and RSAF offers much more than a facelift for old buildings, it represents hope, opportunity and the beginning of a more inclusive, resilient educational system.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
