Rugby Star Maro Itoje Launches African Education Programme

June 23, 2023 

Saracens and England rugby star, Maro "The Pearl" Itoje, has launched a new education Fund to provide long-term support aimed at transforming the lives of children in Nigeria and other African countries. 'The Pearl Fund, The Maro Itoje African Education Programme' will generate a multi-million-pound charitable investment in quality education to help break cycles of poverty. 

A third of Nigeria’s 70 million population lives in extreme poverty, with 20 million children out of school - 60% of whom are girls; across the continent, 244 million children are out of school. Itoje, a dedicated philanthropist and activist on education and equality, has reportedly put his own money behind the venture in honor of his Nigerian heritage and to creating lasting change across Africa. 

“Nigeria is a country close to my heart. It’s where my family and I originate from, and I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years as my ties remain strong,” he said. “I believe in the potential of the country and its people despite the many challenges they face. The Pearl Fund aims to unlock the boundless potential of Nigerian children, so that access to quality education will give them the opportunity to break the shackles of poverty and create a more prosperous and fulfilling future for themselves and their families.” 

The Fund will work in partnership with international aid organizations, including World Vision UK and CDLi (Community Development Links Initiative), with support from Stewardship. Initial proceeds will go to 40 pre-schoolers from one of Lagos’ most deprived areas, with their entire education financed ‘from cradle to college’. The intention of the approach is to focus on a small number of children, to be able to support them for longer and more significantly. They will then be offered continued support through university or vocational training. The Fund has a particular focus on ensuring orphans and fatherless children complete both primary and secondary school education. 

Believing that education is the greatest equalizer, the Fund will also support those who complete secondary education and want to become entrepreneurs pending approval of their business plan. An additional program will focus on Eku, the town in Nigeria where Itoje’s parents are from, to support those who can’t afford university or vocational training. 

In a conversation with Standard Sport, Itoje said: "To get the first cohort of children through from the start of primary school to the end of secondary school is roughly a 15-year commitment in and of itself. Then that’s without even thinking about university of tertiary education. So, I’m committing to decades of support for these children. I didn’t want a situation where we had 250 children in year one and it gets to year five and I’m struggling to raise the funds. I want it to grow, and as the charity grows we’ll look to influence more children."

The Pearl Fund will also fundraise for World Vision education projects in eight districts across Ghana, supporting 180 communities through programming. These include reading clubs, advocacy classes and mobile libraries. Historically, there has been a 29% increase in children learning to read by those attending reading clubs. Both areas of funding – in Nigeria and Ghana – will also have additional sectoral programs embedded around them, such as economic support for their family, improved nutrition, and access to clean water. 

“When children are denied an education, the odds are already stacked against them. They are less likely to secure a quality job, their earning potential significantly decreases, and it prevents them from lifting themselves, their family, and the wider community out of poverty. They are also at greater risk from harmful practices such as child labor and early marriage,” said Mark Sheard, CEO of World Vision UK. 

The Fund’s proceeds will be split with 70% going to CDLi, a charity that supports education in Nigeria, and 30% going towards World Vision UK's education projects in Africa. 

Photos: Lions Rugby