Help us level the balance for children in Ogoniland
October 2025
Safe Child Africa is launching a new project to honour the legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigerian writer, environmental activist, and human rights campaigner.
Our founder, Gary Foxcroft was inspired by the life of Ken Saro-Wiwa, to found the organisation that is now Safe Child Africa today. Ken Saro-Wiwa is perhaps best known for leading the nonviolent struggle of the Ogoni people against environmental degradation, caused by oil exploitation.
Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine were wrongfully hanged 30 years ago this year.
As a tribute to their struggle against injustice and environmental destruction, and to celebrate our own 20th Anniversary, we are launching a literacy crusade in Ogoniland.
Why a Literacy Crusade?
Ken Saro-Wiwa saw literacy as a weapon against injustice—not in the form of violence, but in the form of knowledge, expression, and agency. For him, a literate people were a free people—capable of shaping their own future.
A recent UNICEF report stated that only 26% of Nigerian children aged 7–14 have basic reading skills. In Ogoniland decades of oil pollution have destroyed livelihoods and deepened this inequality further.
Our project will:
write and publish and distribute 40,000 reading books based on stories from the life of Ken Saro-Wiwa
provide intensive literacy training and support for 300+ teachers
organise and run a 2-day event to involve and excite the community about how learning can create a better future.
The project is planned to begin on 10 November, Ken Saro-Wiwa Day - the anniversary of his death.
You can see all the details about our plans, and donate to make the project a reality HERE
Safe Child Africa sends many blessings and our gratitude to all the supporters and donors who make our work possible.
Ends
Other References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Saro-Wiwa
