The IQRA Foundation, a non-profit in Nigeria focused on providing improved access to quality education for marginalised children in Nigeria, is launching a community walk-in library at Bariga, Lagos.

Established on the back of the school closure that denied access to millions of marginalised children, this walk-in community library will prevent a future occurrence as it will ensure children in the community have access to a variety of books to aid literacy, no matter the situation. It will be managed by the community book club and Bright Achievers Academy.

The library was built in partnership with Spazio Ideale, an interior design company in Lagos who ensured it was up to standard and homely enough for the children.

According to the programmes director, The IQRA Foundation, Ayomide Ladipo, “We are providing school supplies to children in low-income communities as they go back to school this September. Covid-19 has done its damage, we must amend.”

RovingHeights, Page Bookstore, Ouidah Books, and Restructure Africa donated suitable books for school aged children. These books along with books from other individual donors will ascertain that the library is well equipped to cater to children of all age groups/ children ages e.g. 4-18. We are grateful to our donors, who provided funding and manpower to ensure the library was constructed to be up to quality child engaging standards.

This is only a step forward in redefining education for the marginalized in Nigeria. There is a lot more to be done and The IQRA Foundation-Access to Books is committed to ensuring that each child gets a fair chance at a quality education.