 At NigerianNGO, we shine a light on individuals who are driving change through nonprofit work across the country. Today, we’re thrilled to feature an inspiring conversation with Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa, the Founder of KOA Education Foundation. In this interview, she shares her journey, the impact her foundation is making in underserved communities, and how she’s helping to create real educational opportunities for children in Nigeria. From firsthand classroom experiences in Ogun State to establishing free libraries and digital training centers, Kafilat’s story is one of passion, resilience, and purpose.
Join us as we delve into the mission behind KOA Education Foundation and the powerful work they’re doing to promote educational equity in Nigeria. NigerianNGO: Tell us about yourself? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: My name is Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa, the Founder of KOA Education Foundation. I’m passionate about educational equity and community development, and I currently serve as the Project Manager of our Programs. I am currently studying for a Master’s in Educational Administration and Planning from the University of Lagos. My journey has been driven by a commitment to make quality education accessible to underserved children, especially in rural communities across Nigeria. NigerianNGO: What inspired you to found the KOA Education Foundation? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: When I moved to Ogun State in 2016, I taught in a school and I observed that many children in my community and even some in schools lacked access to basic learning materials, school sponsorship, and learning spaces like libraries. Some children couldn’t read or write despite being in school, and others were at risk of dropping out due to finances. This inspired me to take action. In 2018, I started KOA Education Foundation to provide free educational support, starting with providing back to school needs to pupils, sponsoring children in school, then establishing free public libraries, and eventually offering tutoring and digital skills training. NigerianNGO: What are some of the success stories from KOA Education Foundation? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: We have several inspiring stories. Children like Segun, Iyanu, Seun, and Ruth who were selected for our Literacy and Numeracy program, unable to read simple words, now read fluently and confidently solve basic math problems. One of our beneficiaries, Abel, has been supported in school since 2021 and continues to excel academically. Over 80 students have learned digital skills at our ICT Centre, and more than 400 people have benefited from our libraries. Parents and teachers often share how their children’s academic confidence has grown significantly through our programs. NigerianNGO: How does your organisation receive support in terms of funding? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: We receive support through individual donations, grants, and partnerships. We’ve been fortunate to receive grants/fundings from organizations like The Oxford Review, The Pollination Project, New Africa Fund, and af Jochnick Foundation. For our libraries, we’ve also received book donations from Book Aid International, Child2Child Book Foundation, and others. Our recent fundraising campaign was part of a matching fund opportunity where every dollar donated was matched 1:1 , helping us to reach more children with our work. NigerianNGO: What are the challenges you faced in bringing the vision of KOA Education Foundation to life? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: Funding is an ongoing challenge. Many of our programs, especially school sponsorship and digital skills training require consistent support. We also face challenges with infrastructure, such as unstable power supply at our ICT Centre, which affects our training schedule. NigerianNGO: What events or projects do you have coming up in the near future? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: We are preparing for the August batch of our Free CBT Readiness Program for secondary school students, this program is co-owned by 3 NGOs (KOA Education Foundation, MisstyB’s Educational Foundation and Wuraola Foundation) and its aim is” to ensure secondary school student, regardless of background, can confidently take digital exams by making CBT training free and accessible through grassroots collaboration”. We also plan to expand our reach by establishing a third free public library and installing solar power in our learning spaces to address electricity issues. NigerianNGO: What advice would you give to aspiring NGO founders? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: Let your passion guide you, be ready to learn, adapt, and build partnerships. Transparency and accountability are essential, especially when seeking support. Most importantly, stay connected to the needs of the people you want to serve, that’s where your impact lies. NigerianNGO: Do you have any words of encouragement to people who lack essential needs at the moment? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: Please don’t give up. There are people and organizations who truly care and are working daily to make things better, we are one of them. Keep believing in your potential, seek support when needed, and take things one step at a time. Even the smallest progress is still progress. NigerianNGO: For readers that are interested in your work, how can they connect with you and support your initiative? Kafilat Olanike Olanrewaju-Akintomiwa: To support us, you can donate to 0970014219 Ecobank KOA Education Foundation. If you're a reader, educator, donor, or volunteer who wants to join us in expanding access to education, we’d love to hear from you! You can learn more about our work by reaching out to us through: Website: www.koaeducationfoundation.org Instagram: @koaeducationfoundation @koaedufoundationlibraries Twitter: @koaeducation Facebook: KOA Education Foundation LinkedIn: KOA Education Foundation Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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