A free school has opened in Adiyan, Ogun State, with about 50 children already enrolled as part of an initiative aimed at closing the gap in access to quality education.

The Bennie Griffins Academy, officially launched on Thursday, provides free tuition, meals, uniforms, socks and other basic learning needs to children enrolled in the school.

The initiative was founded by 18-year-old Nigerian-German entrepreneur and recording artiste, Georgia Oviesu, who said she decided to establish the school after observing the difficulties faced by children in the community.

Oviesu, also known as Gia Réi, said she noticed many children selling food and other items on the streets instead of being in school.

She said the situation highlighted a wider problem affecting Nigerian children whose families cannot afford quality education.

“I noticed there was a gap. I realised that the average Nigerian child doesn’t have access to high-quality education. And I wanted to close that gap,” Oviesu said.

The academy began as a project Oviesu started developing last year when she was 17 and studying for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

She said her own educational experience strengthened her belief that access to quality education could give children the foundation to become leaders and contribute meaningfully to society.

Oviesu said the initiative should not be viewed simply as charity because its intended impact extends beyond the children currently enrolled.

“I think it’s beyond charity. I am helping this community, I’m helping Nigeria as a whole, gain access to children who can actually make impact,” she said.

The school currently has about 50 children registered, with all their basic educational needs provided without charge.

According to Oviesu, the children receive free tuition, food, uniforms and socks, among other provisions.

She said the school’s impact would also be measured by the confidence and independence the pupils develop, rather than academic performance alone.

Oviesu said she wanted the children to feel comfortable expressing their views and challenging ideas without fear.

“I do not want to create an environment where children are scared to say their opinion. In fact, I want to foster that,” she said.

She believes such an environment can help children develop the confidence and critical thinking required to become future leaders.

Oviesu said establishing the school also made her question why she should take on the responsibility when other people with greater resources could do the same.

She said the answer became clear when she considered the difference she could make with the resources available to her.

“I realised because I can. Because privilege isn’t just what you have, it’s what you’re able to change with what you have,” she said.

The founder now plans to expand the initiative beyond Ogun State, with the long-term goal of establishing a free school in every state of the federation.

She said she hoped to continue developing the project as she begins university, stressing that quality education should become accessible to children regardless of their family background.

Some of the pupils said they were already enjoying their new environment.

Ten-year-old Qabiya, a Year One pupil, said she was happy to attend the school and identified English and Yoruba as her favourite subjects.

Asked what she wanted to become in the future, Qabiya said she hoped to become a doctor.

Another pupil, 11-year-old Bamise Oluwatoba Elion, who is in Junior Secondary School 2, said he appreciated the opportunity to receive free education.

“I like the way they’ve given the children opportunities to have free education,” he said.

Bamise, who listed English Language as his favourite subject, said he hoped to become a surgeon.

The official launch follows the earlier announcement of the academy, which was conceived to provide children from disadvantaged backgrounds with opportunities to develop academically and discover their talents.

For now, the school is focused on its first group of pupils in Adiyan. But Oviesu hopes the project will eventually grow into a nationwide education initiative that gives more Nigerian children the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.