Our Story Begins Here
About Us
From a Village School
to a Global Vision.
Spora Network’s journey began in 2020, after my second visit home to Nigeria, more than 15 years after leaving for the United States. I returned to the last place that held my fondest memories before I left: my village on the outskirts of Lagos, in Ado-Ota Local Government.
That village was always a special place. It was simple yet full of life with 1 church, 1 mosque, 1 clinic, 1 river, and 1 small school that served fewer than a thousand people. I loved its closeness to nature, from the scent of cocoa trees to the sweetness of bananas and my favorite fruit, agbalumo.
But on that visit, I saw something that changed me.
The same school I remembered as the heart of the community was now crumbling. Its walls were cracked, the roof leaked, and the chalkboard carried faint marks of lessons from months past. Still, children were there learning, dreaming, and smiling through it all.
My father, Mr. Lukman Lere, along with other dedicated stakeholders had already been doing what they could, building boreholes for clean water and constructing latrines for the school. Their quiet commitment inspired me to take action too. When I returned to the U.S., I shared the story of the school and the images from my trip, launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for its renovation.
That was in 2020.
It was the moment Spora Network was born, not as a large organization, but as a shared belief: that the African diaspora could come together to rebuild, reimagine, and empower education back home.
Fast forward to 2025, and Akoore Primary School now serves over 100 elementary students, all attending free of charge, thanks to the dedication of community members, local stakeholders, and diaspora donors.
The impact didn’t stop there. The local government, inspired by this progress, has now approved the construction of a secondary school, bringing learning even closer to children who once walked over 10 miles just to attend class.
The success of Akoore has sparked hope across neighboring communities, many of which are now reaching out to bring similar opportunities to their own children.
What started as a small act of giving has grown into Spora Network, a movement powered by the diaspora, local leaders, and educators working together to ensure every child in Africa has access to quality, life-changing education.
In 2019, a visit to my hometown revealed a school on the brink of collapse. Broken classrooms. One teacher. Just 10 students. What happened next would inspire the creation of SPORA Network and transform educational opportunities for hundreds of children. This is where our story begins. 🎥 Part 1: How It Started
What began an effort to save one struggling school became something much bigger. After seeing the conditions at St. Paul's Primary School, we launched a fundraising campaign with a simple goal: give children in this community access to quality education. That effort became Spora Network. With support from donors, stakeholders, and community leaders, St. Paul Primary was transformed from a school with just 10 students into a thriving tuition-free public school serving more than 120 students. This is the power of community-driven change.
🎥 Part 2: The Beginning of Spora Network But as enrollment grew, a new challenge emerged...
Follow along for Part 3.
enovating St. Paul Primary School was just the beginning. As more students graduated, many faced a difficult reality—the nearest public secondary school was over 10 miles away.
In response, the community and Spora Network established Akoore Secondary School, providing tuition-free education closer to home.
Today, the school serves over 230 students and continues to grow.
Watch Part 4: We're Just Getting Started!
From one struggling school to two thriving schools serving nearly 400 students tuition-free.
The impact continues to grow.
In 2026, Spora Network supported the establishment of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics laboratories at Akoore Secondary School, expanding access to quality STEAM education in rural Nigeria.
We've also:
✅ Installed clean water and sanitation facilities
✅ Provided desks and chairs for growing student populations
✅ Added solar lighting to improve safety and learning
✅ Built a digital library with high-speed internet access
What began as a mission to save one school has grown into a movement to expand educational opportunities across underserved rural communities in Nigeria and beyond.
And we're just getting started.
Thank you to every donor, volunteer, partner, community leader, and Spora Network staff member who has made this journey possible.
Together, we're investing in the next generation.