Nigerian-German Teen Opens Free School for Underprivileged Children

An 18-year-old Nigerian-German entrepreneur, Georgia Oviesu, is set to open a free school for underprivileged children in Ogun State, with an ambition to replicate the initiative across Nigeria’s 36 states.

Oviesu, who is also a recording artiste known professionally as Gia Réi, said the Bennie Griffins Academy, located in Adiyan, Ogun State, was created in response to the barriers that prevent children from disadvantaged backgrounds from accessing quality education.

The school, which is scheduled to open officially in September, will cater for pupils from primary level to Junior Secondary School 3. About 100 children are currently on its waiting list.

Speaking virtually with journalists on Thursday, Oviesu said her vision was to create an educational system where children would be given opportunities to develop their talents, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds.

“Privilege isn’t what you have. It’s what you’re able to change,” she said, describing the philosophy behind the school.

Oviesu said she became concerned about the educational gap facing Nigerian children after recognising that many could not access high-quality education because of their family circumstances.

“The Benny Griffins Academy’s sole purpose is to give every child a chance at change. Regardless of whether they come from a rich family or not,” she said.

She said the school would follow the Nigerian curriculum while offering German and French language instruction, alongside creative arts and programmes in science, technology, robotics and other disciplines.

Children would also be encouraged to participate in clubs based on their interests and abilities, while those showing exceptional talents in areas such as music, film, theatre, technology and the sciences would be given opportunities to develop them further.

Oviesu said the school was designed to go beyond conventional classroom education by equipping pupils with practical skills and exposing them to opportunities outside Nigeria.

“We’re trying to create geniuses, we’re trying to create global leaders,” she said.

She said the long-term objective was to establish the school in every state of the federation, stressing that quality education should ultimately cease to be a privilege.

“I want Nigeria to reach the point where having high-quality education is no longer a privilege, but a basic human right,” she said.

The teenager said the school had already become a safe space for children in the community even before its formal opening, with some children visiting the premises to play.

She explained that admission would depend partly on age and academic level. Younger children would be admitted from primary school, while prospective junior secondary pupils would undergo an assessment to determine their ability to cope with the academic demands of the school.

Oviesu said the school was being sustained through donations and grants, but declined to disclose the amount spent on its establishment, saying the focus should remain on the children rather than the cost of the project.

The education initiative is one of three major projects Oviesu is pursuing, alongside technology and music.

She is also the founder of SafeLink, an Android-based emergency communication application developed to enable people to send distress messages without internet connectivity or mobile networks.

The application uses Bluetooth Low Energy mesh technology to connect nearby devices and relay messages from one device to another.

Oviesu said she developed the application after identifying what she described as a gap between the occurrence of an emergency and the arrival of rescuers.

“Thousands of people lose their lives every year to natural disasters. And even the number reaches millions of people losing their lives due to kidnappings,” she said, adding that the application was created to give survivors “a voice”.

SafeLink has two categories of users; survivors and rescuers. A survivor can activate an SOS button, while a rescuer with the application can receive the alert when within the communication range.

The app currently operates within about 100 metres, although Oviesu said her goal was to extend the range to more than two kilometres through device-to-device relays.

She said the application could be useful during kidnappings, building collapses and other emergencies, particularly where victims are unable to make conventional calls for help.

“Imagine if the rescuers had this device, they would know exactly where each potential survivor is through the app,” she said.

Oviesu said SafeLink was developed this year after more than a year of research, mentorship and work with software engineers and product developers. She said it was functional but still being enhanced before wider deployment.

She is expected to demonstrate the technology in Nigeria later in September.

Under the name Gia Réi, Oviesu is also building a career in music, combining Afrobeats, R&B and pop.

She said her interest in music began at an early age, influenced partly by programmes she watched on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.

Her current releases include Cara and Taking Your Time, which form part of her debut project, Amara.

She said her music was intended to tell stories and explore themes beyond superficial entertainment, including self-discovery and overcoming personal struggles.

Oviesu was mentored by Patrick Bishay, a Berklee College of Music graduate and music scholar, who she said taught her to use musical instruments and sound to create emotions and communicate stories.

She said her work in education, technology and music was driven by the same desire to create opportunities and make a difference.

“I wanted to impact people and to tell stories that have never been told before,” she said.