FirstSteps - Nigeria

In the rural community of Ohullor Obollo-Afor in Enugu State, Nigeria, a school is quietly rewriting what inclusive education can look like in low-resource settings. FirstSteps was founded in 2022 by Noel Ifeanyi Alumona and serves 155 children aged 3 to 10, approximately 28% of whom have been identified with learning challenges ranging from speech and language delays to early indicators of dyslexia, ADHD, and developmental delays.

The school's story begins with its founder's own. After volunteering with over 300 children with disabilities at De Paul Secondary School and St. Joseph Inclusive School between 2018 and 2019, he enrolled at Vanderbilt University, the world's top-ranked Special Education program, with a singular mission: to bring evidence-based early identification and intervention to underserved Nigerian communities.

FirstSteps' core innovation is embedding early identification into everyday classroom practice. Teachers use structured observation checklists to monitor language development, attention, behaviour, and foundational skills. Once a child is identified, they receive an individual learning plan with multisensory instruction, small-group support, and flexible pacing. The results speak volumes: learners receiving targeted support showed an 18% increase in attendance, and over 60% demonstrated measurable gains in early literacy and numeracy within two academic terms.

The school's flagship innovation is IEPForge, an AI-powered digital tool developed by FirstSteps to help teachers in low-resource settings document observations, create individual learning plans, and track progress. Designed to be low-bandwidth and easily replicable, IEPForge has the potential to transform inclusive education across Africa.

Physical spaces are equally intentional. Every classroom contains a Peace Corner with sensory tools, visual feelings charts, and calming materials, while a dedicated Advocacy Center supports children who need structured assistance with emotional regulation, replacing punitive discipline with restorative practice. The FutureReady Pathways Program runs every Thursday, offering handiwork, music, life skills circles, and site visits that expand aspiration for children often sheltered from broader experiences.

FirstSteps has built powerful partnerships with professors at Vanderbilt University, including Dr Nancy Dickson, who trains teachers on social-emotional learning and inclusive classroom strategies. The school also collaborates with Brain Bloom Schools, Therapeutic Day School Enugu, the Udenu Local Government Education Authority, and is supported by HOPE for continuous professional development. All 13 teachers receive ongoing training in inclusive early childhood education, early identification, and positive behaviour support.

If awarded the Global Schools Prize, FirstSteps plans to expand Peace Corners and the Advocacy Center, scale IEPForge as a subscription platform to sustain the school financially, fund formal special education certification for all teachers, and strengthen family and community programs.

FirstSteps proves that inclusive education is achievable in rural, low-resource contexts when early action replaces lifelong regret, and when no child is labelled before they are understood.