The Literacy Model is a personal mission to directly address the out-of-school crisis in Nigeria — one child, one story, one moment at a time. Started on a birthday. Funded by people who care.
Over 10 million children in Nigeria are out of school. For most of them, it isn't ideology or indifference — it's fees, distance, circumstance. For years, David Odunlami assisted parents and kids on the street here and there. This year, he decided to add structure to that impulse, and push the boundaries of what one person could make possible.
The Literacy Model is named after the approach David has chosen to adopt whenever he hits a block — finding a way to bring education directly to a child, however and wherever that child is.
Read David's monthly updatesDonations started on Jan 30th. Currently, we're at ₦1,220,000. Here is where it has gone so far.
Three children enrolled at ₦150k per child per year through Tsion Academy in Ife, Osun State — an organisation that has helped 80+ children in three years.
Two children found and enrolled directly — one girl on his street who hawks peppered ponmo with her aunt, and a 12-year-old boy whose single mother struggles to keep up with fees.
The remaining funds are actively being used to find the next child, explore the literacy model, and plan the Ife visit. The work does not pause between updates.
She is 11 years old. She hawks peppered ponmo with her aunt, with whom she lives. She used to go to school in the village years ago, but hadn't since they moved to Lagos for a better life. David pressed — every day — for a month. The day after she finally resumed at a small private school close by, he came home to find her, her aunt, and all the women in their circle gathered around her homework. They were so happy to show him.
He is 12. His single mother has been struggling to keep up with his school fees for over a year. David has been quietly filling the gap. He's in school. He stays in school. Sometimes continuity is the whole intervention.
Founded three years ago, Tsion Academy has helped over 80 children in Osun State receive an education. Their annual package per child is realistic, transparent, and consistent. Three children are now enrolled through them. A visit to Ife is planned for early April — to meet the children, hear their stories, and document the work.
Not every story resolves cleanly. Afolabi came to church in March. The conversation was guarded — pre-loaded answers, a poker face. David got through him. He said he still wanted school. He said he lied but didn't know why.
But there were more inconsistencies. And David made peace with it.
"I told him I would just love to see him in church."
Then there is Amina. Ten years old. Lives next door. Her dad earns ₦40k a month — half of which goes to the person who got him the job. David has been trying to get her into school since September. Every time, something blocks it. The latest: they're going back to the village in April. For real this time.
The thing that broke David's heart wasn't the father's answer. It was a conversation he hadn't planned.
He stopped Amina on the street — just to say hello. She had a bucket of water on her head. Before he could ask anything, she said: "My friend is now going to school."
She was talking about the other girl David had helped enrol. She hadn't been asked. It had been on her mind. She just needed a moment to say it out loud.
David asked if she still wanted to go. Her "Yes" was instant.
The story isn't over. April is another chance.
₦150,000 puts one child in school for a full year. Even a fraction of that keeps the work going. Every contribution is tracked, reported on, and attached to a real story.
Or email: thedavidodunlami@gmail.com