Talent Is Everywhere. Opportunity Is Not.
Every year, we welcome students from public secondary schools into an immersive world of vocational skills, technology, creativity, exploration, and discovery. What begins as a summer programme often becomes a turning point in a young person’s life.
Summer School @ Twim Institute is a 5–8 week intensive holiday programme. While it is open to all secondary school students, it primarily targets students in public secondary schools, who are typically in need of academic reinforcement and financially and educationally disadvantaged compared to their peers in private schools.
Twim Institute offers it completely free of charge.
The programme combines academic reinforcement, vocational exposure, structured play, and project-based learning to create measurable educational and personal growth within a short period of time.
The first edition of Summer School @ Twim Institute was held in 2014, while Twim Institute (then known as Twim Academy) hosted about 20 students in its premises—a couple of flats in Akobo, Ibadan. Seeing the excitement and transformation the program brought to the students, the institute has held it every year since then, with the exception of 2024, when we moved to our new campus. Numbers climbed from around 20 in 2014 to around 200 by 2022 and 2023. After moving to our campus, we averaged about 26 students in 2025 and 2026 (due to ongoing construction) and envisage that we will be able to host hundreds of students again by 2027.
A Different Response to School Dropout
Across Nigeria, many young people gradually disengage from education. Some struggle with confidence. Others struggle with English, mathematics, or learning environments that fail to connect with their interests. Many begin to believe they are not intelligent enough to succeed.
We created Summer School @ Twim Institute to challenge that belief.
Instead of focusing on what students cannot do, we help them discover what they can do.
Students learn to use technology. They watch inspiring movies. They learn and collaborate on vocational skills such as media production, fashion, and culinary arts. They work together on creative projects. They compete in different games. They go on excursions outside the city. The result? Students begin to see themselves differently. They discover talents they never knew they possessed. They begin to believe in their future again. They gain renewed interest in formal education and become determined to make it in life. Many report significantly better grades in school after the program. Most further their education—exploring university and trade institutions such as polytechnics.
The Twim Integrated Stimulation Model
At the heart of Summer School is a simple but powerful idea:
Vocational Skills + Play + Academic Stimulation = Educational Re-engagement
Rather than teaching through lectures and textbooks, we create experiences that inspire curiosity and confidence.
Students learn digital media production, explore technology and coding, learn fashion and design, Participate in culinary challenges, play strategic board games, compete in debates and quizzes, visit inspiring places beyond their communities, produce television-style news programmes, watch inspiring movies…
As confidence grows, academic performance often follows. Students begin communicating more effectively, thinking more critically, and taking greater ownership of their education.
This highlights video from the 2021 edition of Summer School @ Twim Institute, which had about 60 participants, gives a comprehensive overview of the experience.
This news broadcast, shot and edited by Summer School students, depicts one of the key learning methodologies used for the summer school—project-based learning.
Twim Institute hosted close to 200 students for the 2022 edition of Summer School @ Twim Institute. Omu Resort in Lagos hosted a hundred of them as the program wrapped up. Here are memories.
This video, from the 2017 edition of Summer School @ Twim Institute (then known as Twim Academy), was made by one of the student teams. Their task was to make a video reteaching the concepts they had learned.
Summer School @ Twim Institute 2026 wrapped up with a trip to the city of Abeokuta where students explored Olumo Rock and the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
This video, from the 2017 edition of Summer School @ Twim Institute (then known as Twim Academy), was made by another of the student teams. Their task was to make a video reteaching the concepts they had learned.
More Than Skills. We Change Trajectories.
Since 2014, Summer School @ Twim Institute has provided immersive learning experiences for hundreds of young people from underserved communities. What started with around twenty students has grown into a programme that has touched several hundreds of students.
What Success Looks Like
- Students return to school with greater confidence.
- Students improve their communication skills.
- Students develop stronger aspirations for their future.
- Students discover talents they never knew they had.
- Students stay engaged with education.
Our most significant measure of success is simple:
Nearly 100% of participants return to complete secondary school.
Many former participants have gone on to universities, polytechnics, and vocational careers.
Built to Last
Summer School @ Twim Institute is completely free for participants.
Unlike many programmes that depend entirely on grants, Summer School is funded through a social venture model. Revenue generated from Twim Institute’s professional training programmes helps subsidise opportunities for underserved young people.
This allows us to provide high-quality learning experiences year after year while remaining accessible to those who need them most.
We are also grateful for support from individuals and organizations who, impressed by our work and impact, decide to sponsor specific parts of Summer School. For instance, Omu Resort graciously hosted 100 of our students free of charge in 2022. The Adeola Azeez Community Foundation has supported us over the years by awarding cash prizes to winners of our cooking competitions. We have also enjoyed support from organizations like Funmi Roberts & Co. and individuals who have helped to offset costs relating to trips for our students. Many other organizations have also availed us discounted pricing over the years.
