Maryam Dauda, a former roadside food hawker, is now a scholarship student at Federal Government College, Kaduna, one of Nigeria's most competitive secondary schools. She aspires to become a medical doctor, a dream that seemed impossible when she was helping her family sell food to survive. Her transformation began at the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School, an institution established through a partnership between Access Bank, Fifth Chukker, and UNICEF.
Partnership Provides Quality Education for Vulnerable Children
For nearly two decades, the Access Bank-Fifth Chukker-UNICEF partnership has provided vulnerable children with access to quality education, helping them overcome barriers that often trap young people in cycles of poverty. Maryam quickly distinguished herself as an eager pupil committed to excellence, earning a place among the school's brightest graduates admitted into leading secondary schools.
Broader Impact: Thousands of Children Benefiting
Since its establishment, the school has helped hundreds of children access quality education while addressing social and economic barriers. The initiative has raised over US$3 million and delivered 120 classroom blocks in Kaduna State. More than 14,000 children across underserved communities have benefited from the school and its related programmes.
International Exposure and Family Transformation
In 2026, Maryam was selected as part of the school's delegation to the Access Bank UK Polo Day in Windsor, United Kingdom, providing international exposure. Her success has inspired her siblings to take education seriously, and her father has returned to adult education classes to improve his literacy. This ripple effect is a key outcome of educational investment.
Impressive Statistics: Graduates and Gender Parity
Between 2018 and 2026, the school produced 2,538 graduates, with over 1,000 pupils benefiting annually from foundational learning support. Girls account for more than 54 per cent of all graduates, reflecting a commitment to reaching those most in need.
Conclusion: Talent Exists Everywhere, Opportunity Must Follow
Maryam's journey from vulnerability to opportunity demonstrates that when quality education is provided, lives can change in extraordinary ways. Her story serves as proof that circumstances do not have to determine destiny.
