Saving St. Michael's

In 2019, my wife and I went to my home town of Ogidi in Nigeria with my two foster sons. While we were there we visited my old primary school. 

When we first arrived it was hard to enter. The roof of one of the classrooms had blown off. The classrooms had no ceiling. The windows had been smashed and the building was infested with rats. 

What I saw devasted me. Children were being educated in a space that wasn't fit to be inhabited and I truly felt we'd let the future generation down. 

This was an amazing, talented and vibrant community that has nurtured artists, lawyers, physicians and entrepreneurs - many now scattered throughout the diaspora. I knew something had to be done. 

My foster son suggested that we launch a crowdfunding campaign when we got back to the UK and that's exactly what we've done. 

So far this campaign has raised over £26,000 from ex-pupils, family, colleagues and friends. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved but we still need to raise a final £4000 by the end of the year to get the school back up and running. Making it fit for pupils to learn, flourish and grow.  

A break down of how this money will be spent: 

Ceiling: £750 | Flooring: £600 | Plastering: £400 | Painting: £300 | Plumbing: £450 | Wiring: £400 | Windows and doors: £500 | Furnishing: £600

We thank you for your generosity in helping to bring St Michael's back. 

Matthew and Family.


A picture of the dilapidated school block 


Progress made in early 2020


Ogidi is a vibrant community, home to the famous Nigerian artist Nike 


My primary class of 1961


Current pupils surveying progress at the school