
IDEAL SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
NOMINATE. ASSESS. TRANSFORM.

BUILDING MODELS
OF EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
Across Nigeria, thousands of public schools operate in conditions
that make learning difficult, unsafe, and undignified. Classrooms
are overcrowded.
Buildings are deteriorating. Access to clean water and sanitation is limited in many communities. If we are serious about improving learning outcomes, the learning environment must reflect safety, dignity, and excellence.
The Ideal School Campaign is an initiative of the Gamaliel & Susan Onosode Foundation (GAMSU) to identify and transform one high-need public school into a model of excellence in infrastructure, safety, and learning conditions.
This campaign is designed to demonstrate what an ideal public school environment should look like and how it can be achieved through structured assessment, community participation, and sustainable intervention.
OUR OBJECTIVE
To select one public primary or secondary school in urgent need of improvement and transform it into a demonstrable model for scalable public education reform.
The selected school will serve as:
-
A model of safe and dignified learning infrastructure.
-
A proof point for sustainable intervention.
-
A framework for future expansion.



WHY THIS MATTERS NOW
Nigeria’s education outcomes cannot be separated from the environments in which children learn. Research consistently shows that safe, well-maintained, and properly equipped learning spaces improve student attendance, concentration, teacher motivation, and overall academic performance.
Conversely, deteriorating infrastructure and unsafe conditions undermine learning, increase absenteeism, and weaken community confidence in public education.
With over 60,000 public primary and secondary schools nationwide, many communities continue to face structural barriers that limit access to safe and dignified learning environments. Improving public education requires more than access. It requires quality. It requires standards. It requires environments designed to support learning.
The Ideal School Campaign is GAMSU’s contribution to this national conversation. By identifying and transforming a high-need public school through a structured, transparent process, we aim to demonstrate what is possible and provide a model to inform future interventions.
This initiative is not only about infrastructure. It is about restoring dignity to public education and reinforcing the conditions necessary for long-term educational success.
HOW THE CAMPAIGN WORKS

2
Structured Assessment
(February 16 – March 16)
All nominated schools will be reviewed using a transparent and standardised evaluation framework.
Schools will be assessed based on:
-
Severity of infrastructure condition
-
Safety risks to students and teachers
-
Access to water and sanitation
-
Enrollment size and impact potential
-
Community readiness to support sustainability
Shortlisted schools may undergo additional verification before final selection.
Selection will be based on structured evaluation, not on social media engagement.
3
Selection and Transformation
(February 16 – March 16)
One school will be selected for renovation and infrastructure improvement.
The intervention will focus on:
-
Classroom rehabilitation
-
Water and sanitation facilities
-
Furniture and safe learning spaces
-
Foundational improvements that enhance dignity and safety
The transformation will be documented as a model for future replication.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ADVOCACY
Communities are encouraged to raise awareness by:
-
Sharing stories about nominated schools
-
Posting respectful photos or short videos
-
Tag @onosodefoundation
-
Use the campaign hashtag #AdoptASchoolNG #GAMSUIdealSchool
​
Social media engagement supports awareness and advocacy. However, final selection will be based on structured evaluation criteria.
OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY
The Ideal School Campaign is guided by:
-
Clear eligibility criteria
-
Structured assessment
-
Institutional review
-
Accountability and sustainability
Submission of a nomination does not guarantee selection.
The selected school will be announced after completion of the review process.
