August 2026

A year of education, opportunity, resilience and the power of collective giving For many children, going to school is something they should be able to take for granted. But for families struggling with unemployment, bereavement, illness, rising living costs and other financial challenges, keeping a child in school can become an enormous burden. This is where the work of AISEPH Aid Foundation becomes especially important. Through its sponsorship programme, AISEPH continues to support children whose educational journeys could otherwise be interrupted by financial hardship. The 2025/2026 academic session was another year of growth, increased need and meaningful impact, with scholarship support reaching children across several schools and states in Nigeria. From school fees and textbooks to stationery and other educational needs, the programme is helping beneficiaries remain in the classroom and continue pursuing their dreams. FIRST TERM: EXPANDING THE REACH The 2025/2026 academic session began with a significant expansion of the sponsorship programme. During the first term, AISEPH Aid Foundation spent ₦1,456,725 supporting 25 student beneficiaries across 16 schools in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This represented a 112% increase over the ₦686,450 spent during the first term of the 2024/2025 academic session. The increase was driven largely by two factors: the rising cost of education and general inflation in Nigeria, as well as the expansion of the scholarship programme from 18 beneficiaries to 25. Behind every number was a child whose education was being protected. When circumstances change The term also demonstrated that scholarship programmes must respond to the realities families face. Two beneficiaries, Chidera Ukpong and Bright Ukpong, were unable to benefit during the first term after their family relocated from Badagry to Ojo, Lagos, due to family circumstances. At the time of the relocation, the family had not yet secured a new school for the children. AISEPH subsequently communicated that their scholarship could be reactivated once they resumed school, while expenses associated with changing schools would remain the responsibility of the family. It was a reminder that educational support is not simply about paying fees; it is also about understanding the circumstances that affect a child’s ability to remain in school. SECOND TERM: CONTINUING THE JOURNEY The second term saw the foundation continue its commitment to keeping children in school despite the financial pressures facing many families. AISEPH spent ₦807,300 supporting 22 beneficiaries across 14 schools in Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States. The figure represents approximately 55% of the first-term expenditure, reflecting a reduction of about 45% from the previous term. However, compared with the second-term expenditure of the previous academic session, the foundation’s report recorded a 44% increase. Again, inflation and the growth of the beneficiary pool remained significant factors influencing the cost of the scholarship programme. A sponsorship reactivated One particularly important development during the second term was the return of Chidera Ukpong to the sponsorship programme. Following the family’s relocation, Chidera was able to resume her education and have her sponsorship reactivated. Her brother, Bright Ukpong, however, remained out of school following the family’s decision. This experience highlights an important reality: keeping children in school requires more than financial intervention. It requires continuous engagement with families and attention to the circumstances surrounding each child’s education. THIRD TERM: LOOKING AHEAD AND SUSTAINING THE IMPACT As the academic year progressed, the foundation’s records continued to reflect the financial commitment required to sustain the scholarship programme. The scholarship database provided for this report records ₦635,800 in projected third-term educational costs across beneficiaries for whom third-term estimates were available. These projected costs include school fees and, where applicable, textbooks and other educational requirements. However, it is important to distinguish between projected costs and confirmed disbursements. The available spreadsheet contains third-term estimates rather than a final third-term expenditure report. The final third-term figure will therefore provide a clearer picture of the foundation’s actual expenditure for the complete 2025/2026 academic session. MORE THAN NUMBERS While the financial figures tell an important part of the story, they do not fully capture the impact of the scholarship programme. Behind the numbers are children like Fawaz Popoola, whose education was interrupted by difficult family circumstances but who was given an opportunity to return to school. There is Ameedat Ayorinde, whose teachers speak proudly of her respectful behaviour and academic journey. There is Iniobong Ebuka, who dreams of becoming a medical doctor. There are beneficiaries who have expressed their gratitude directly, and parents who have shared how scholarship support has eased the burden of providing an education for their children. And there are teachers and school administrators who have witnessed these children continue to learn, grow and dream. This is what the numbers represent. AN INVESTMENT IN FUTURES AISEPH’s scholarship programme is not simply about paying school fees. It is about creating the opportunity for a child to sit in a classroom, open a textbook, learn a new concept, discover a talent and begin imagining what their future could look like. A child who dreams of becoming a doctor needs the opportunity to remain in school today. A child who wants to become an engineer needs access to education today. A child who hopes to become a teacher, entrepreneur, scientist, lawyer or leader needs someone to believe that their future is worth investing in. Education is that investment. THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE GIVING The continued growth of the scholarship programme also means that the need for support continues to grow. With increasing educational costs and more children requiring assistance, AISEPH cannot do this alone. Every donation contributes to keeping a child in school. Whether it is ₦1,000, ₦10,000, ₦50,000 or a full scholarship, every contribution can become part of a much bigger story. A child stays in school.A dream stays alive.A future remains possible. A CALL TO ACTION The 2025/2026 academic year has shown us both the scale of the need and the difference that support can make. But the journey does not end with one academic session. There are more children who need