The Victor Tulutu Briggs Foundation has capped off its groundbreaking 2025 Back-2-School Project with resounding success, a nationwide endeavor that first touched down in Northern Nigeria before unleashing a massive 11-day surge in Rivers State. Under the visionary leadership of the Founder/President, Hon. Victor Tubotamuno Briggs, the initiative spanned over 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the South and key communities across four Northern states, reaching more than 25 communities and over 40 institutions in total. With over 3,000 beneficiaries – 1,000 in the North and over 2,000 in Rivers State: the project distributed essential kits to underprivileged pupils in government, community, faith-based, and security-affiliated schools, easing economic pressures and fueling academic aspirations in diverse regions of Nigeria.
The project kicked off with a collaborative Northern phase in partnership with the Arewa Youth Advocacy for Good Governance (AYAGG), targeting vulnerable learners in Jigawa, Abuja (FCT), Niger, and Kano states. Over 1,000 pupils smiled home with school bags, exercise books, and PTA levy coverage for select low-income and orphaned families, ensuring no child was barred from school by fees. Key Northern institutions included Local Education Authority (L.E.A) Garki Primary School (Jigawa State), L.E.A Primary School Dukpa (Gwagwalada Council, FCT), Government Secondary School Suleja (Niger State), and L.E.A Doguwa Primary School (Kano State), where distributions sparked waves of joy and reinforced education as a unifying force across Nigeria’s cultural mosaic.
Building on this Northern foundation, the Rivers State phase exploded into action with an 11-day rollout (nine weekdays plus two culminating days), blanketing over 15 LGAs and empowering 2,000+ pupils and students with quality school bags, exercise books, and stationery tailored for primary and secondary levels. Teachers at every stop received umbrellas as tokens of appreciation for their frontline efforts in Rivers State’s rainy climes. The phase wove through urban hubs, rural heartlands, riverine outposts, and security barracks, fostering partnerships with police, navy, and army commands while prioritizing public and community schools serving at-risk youth.
The Southern journey unfolded progressively:
Day 1 (Port Harcourt City LGA): Courtesy visit to Rivers State Police Command (CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole), with back-2-school items for Police Children School (distribution pending); full handover at Nigerian Navy Primary School (Pathfinder, Port Harcourt).
Day 2 (Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, & Ikwerre LGAs): St. Andrews State School (Diobu, Port Harcourt City); Government Girls Secondary School (Rumueme, Obio/Akpor); Community Primary School & Community Secondary School (Omuigwe, Aluu, Ikwerre).
Day 3 (Emohua & Abua/Odual LGAs): Baptist Nursery, Primary, & Secondary School (Rumuche, Emohua); UBE Primary School (Aminiowere, Emughan, Abua, Abua/Odual); Government Secondary School Egbolom (Abua, Abua/Odual).
Day 4 (Eleme, Gokana, & Khana LGAs): State School 1 (Ogale, Eleme); Community Secondary School (K/Dere, Gokana); Bua-Nama Community Secondary School (UBE Section, Gwara), Community Primary School 1 (Gwara), & Community Primary School 2 (Gwara – all Khana).
Day 5 (Asari-Toru & Akuku-Toru LGAs): Kalabari High School (Buguma), Kalabari National College (Senior & Junior, Buguma), Asalga Nursery/Primary School, & UPE City Model School (Asari-Toru); Nyemoni Grammar School, St. Augustine Anglican School, Bishop Crowther Memorial School, Nyemoni State School, Community Junior Secondary School, & Fruitful Educational Centre (Akuku-Toru).
Day 6 (Port Harcourt City LGA): Command Children School, Army Day Primary School, & NAOWA Primary School (Port Harcourt Barracks, 6 Division Nigerian Army); Police Primary School (Rivers State Police Command).
Day 7 (Etche & Oyigbo LGAs): Community Secondary School (Ulakwo) & State School Okomoko Egwi (Umuanyagu, Etche); Government Junior Secondary School & Government Community Primary Umusia (Oyigbo).
Day 8 (Port Harcourt City & Okrika LGAs): Police Comprehensive Secondary School (Port Harcourt City); Community Secondary School (Ogbogbo Town, UBE) & Community Primary School (Ogbogbo Town, Okrika).
Day 9 (Akuku-Toru LGA): State School Tombia & Community Secondary School Tombia (UBE Section, Tombia community).
Day 10 (Akuku-Toru & Degema LGAs): State School & Community Secondary School (Kula, Akuku-Toru); Community Secondary School Obuama (UBE) & Harry Memorial State School (Obuama/Harry’s Town, Degema);
Day 11 (Final Day): Universal Basic Education (UBE) Bille, State School Krikama (Bille), State School 1 (Bille), State School Jike-Ama (Bille), State School 2 (Bille), & Early Childcare Development Education (Bille – all Degema).
Communities illuminated by the Rivers phase included Diobu, Rumueme, Omuigwe (Aluu), Rumuche, Aminiowere (Emughan), Egbolom, Ogale, K/Dere, Gwara, Buguma, Abonnema, Obonoma, Ulakwo, Umuanyagu, Umusia, Ogbogbo Town, Tombia, Kula, Obuama (Harry’s Town), Bille, etc. – over 25 locales where assemblies brimmed with cheers.
This seamless arc from Northern primaries in Suleja and Doguwa to Rivers’ riverine reaches in Bille and Kula exemplifies education’s transcendent power; over 3,000 lives transformed, barriers dismantled, and futures fortified.
With the Victor Tulutu Briggs Foundation’s 2025 Back-2-School Project now etched in Rivers State and the Northern Nigeria’s story of progress, the foundation extends profound thanks to our Founder/President and sole sponsor, Hon. Victor Tubotamuno Briggs, the leadership of VTBF, volunteers, media practitioners, and partners who made it possible. Horizons for 2026 expansions beckon, and contributions are welcomed to keep the flame alive.
The VTBF Team
November 17, 2025.
