About Us

Who We Are?

To improve the quality of lives of children and youth by providing them with enabling learning environments, resources and mentoring.

We are dedicated to building learning environments where children learn, play, and lead. We have reached over 8,000 children, trained over 600 teachers, and impacted 21 communities across Northern Nigeria.

School Children

8000 +

Trained Teachers

600 +

Educational Playgrounds Built

Communities

Organisational Objectives

Bridging the gap in education through training, resources, and mentorship.

Improve Learning and Literacy

We provide access to quality educational resources, community libraries, reading clubs, and programmes that strengthen literacy and promote a strong learning culture among children and young people, supporting school attendance and retention.

Promote Playful and Holistic Education

We advance playful learning through educational playgrounds, creative learning environments, and programmes that support children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, encouraging continued engagement in school.

Empower Youth for Informed Decision-Making

We equip teenagers and young people with accurate information, life skills, and guidance that enable them to make credible decisions about education, careers, relationships, wellbeing, and personal growth.

Strengthen Teacher Capacity, Professional Growth, and Educational Consulting

We provide teacher training, retraining, mentoring, practical classroom strategies, and educational consulting services that improve teaching quality, enhance learning outcomes, and help children remain engaged and successful in school.

Foster Critical Thinking and Strong Values

We nurture critical thinking, integrity, empathy, excellence, resilience, and social responsibility to help young people navigate challenges with a sound moral foundation.

Develop Confident and Responsible Young Leaders

We offer leadership development and mentoring programmes, school summits, and opportunities that inspire young people to become agents of positive change in their schools and communities.

Promote Access, Inclusion, and Educational Equity

We ensure that children and young people from underserved and low-income communities have equal access to learning resources, scholarships, support, and SELI programmes, helping them stay in school and succeed.

Strengthen Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Educational Consulting

We collaborate with schools, parents, local communities, NGOs, and institutions, offering educational consulting and strategic guidance to expand SELI’s reach, deepen impact, and build community-driven educational transformation.

Implement Effective Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability

We use strong monitoring and evaluation systems to measure programme effectiveness, track progress, enhance impact, and ensure transparency and accountability in all SELI initiatives, including school attendance and learning outcomes.

Enhance Continuous Learning, Innovation, and Adaptation

We stay responsive to evolving educational needs, societal trends, and technological changes by continuously improving programmes and implementing innovative learning solutions that enhance students’ experiences in school.

Why we do this

Our Mission

SELI is committed to improving learning outcomes and expanding opportunities that ensure children, teenagers, and young people not only attend school but thrive while there across Northern Nigeria. We advance education through playful learning, libraries and literacy programs, teacher training and consultancy, and youth leadership, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to thrive and succeed academically, thereby contributing meaningfully to their communities.

Our Vision

Our vision is a Nigeria where every child and young person has access to quality education, joyful play and learning, and life-shaping opportunities that support school attendance, retention, and overall development, unlocking their full potential. We aspire to nurture confident, compassionate young leaders who transform their communities and inspire positive change across Nigeria and beyond.

Meet Our Team

Lekan Otufodunrin

Chairman

Arc. Godspower Israel

Secretary

Esther Onyinyechi Mark

Founder, Executive Director

Genevieve Pritchard

Mentor

Rev. Nathaniel Ekpekor

Mentor

Nicole Swedlow

Mentor

Our core beliefs

Every child can learn and thrive from the earliest years

We believe every child is full of potential and deserves a strong educational foundation beginning in early childhood. When learning environments are safe, inclusive, and nurturing, children develop curiosity, confidence, and the capacity to thrive in school and in life.

Play is a powerful pathway to early learning and development

We believe play is central to how young children learn and grow. Through play, children explore ideas, build relationships, solve problems, and develop the social, emotional, and cognitive skills that shape lifelong learning and leadership.

Educators and communities create lasting change

We believe lasting impact in early learning and beyond is built when teachers are empowered and communities are engaged as partners. Sustainable education happens when local knowledge, care, and commitment support every child’s learning journey.

Where We Work

SELI is domiciled in Jos, Nigeria, but works in underserved and low-income communities across towns and cities in Northern Nigeria, where many children still face significant barriers to quality education. These barriers include limited learning resources, low teacher capacity, a lack of supportive learning environments and opportunities that help children stay in school and thrive.

Our core mission is to support children and young people with the greatest need in these disadvantaged settings through literacy programmes, book clubs, community libraries, educational playgrounds, teacher training, school support initiatives, and youth development programmes.

Alongside this mission-driven work, SELI also partners with mid-level and elite schools through the SELI Teacher Academy and our educational consulting services. This allows us to strengthen teaching quality, leadership capacity, and child-centred learning across all school types, and promote playful and effective learning, helping bridge educational gaps and elevate standards throughout the region.

This dual approach enables us to remain deeply rooted in underserved communities while also strengthening the broader educational ecosystem, ensuring that every child, regardless of background or school type, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

Partners & Sponsors

At SELI, we appreciate the institutions and networks whose support strengthens our mission to create joyful and equitable learning experiences for children.

We Don’t Work Alone. You Make This Possible.

Every donation, every volunteer hour, every share — it adds up to real change.

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