The Campaign for Students’ and Youths’ Rights (CSYR), under the platform of the Students and Youths’ Rights for Education (SYRE), successfully concluded its five-week free summer lessons in the Ajegunle community. The program, from August 4 to September 4, 2025, was organised to support working-class families who cannot afford private holiday tutoring and demonstrate that free and quality education is possible when driven by collective effort and solidarity.

Ajegunle, known for its underdeveloped infrastructure and high concentration of working-class families, has long suffered from neglect by the government. Against this backdrop, CSYR stepped in to ensure that young people were constructively engaged during the long vacation and prepared for the resumption of the new academic session. The program was powered by 15 volunteer teachers who gave their time and expertise, providing quality instruction to over 50 participating students.

Structure of the Program

The lessons covered key subjects such as Mathematics, English, and core areas across the Sciences, Commerce, and Arts. Beyond academics, CSYR introduced weekly career counselling sessions every Friday, giving students guidance on possible career paths and motivating them to see education as a tool for liberation and self-development.

Additionally, members of the Aj House of Poetry visited the program, inspiring students to cultivate a reading culture and to express themselves creatively through poetry and writing. This added dimension helped broaden the students’ worldview and encouraged them to become critical thinkers.

Closing Ceremony Highlights

The closing ceremony marked the achievements of both students and teachers. Six outstanding students were recognised with academic excellence awards for their performance during the program. These awards served not only as motivation for the recipients but also as encouragement to all students to remain diligent in their studies.

Volunteer teachers also offered words of advice, urging the students to focus on both their academics and moral development, while remaining connected with the CSYR and their peers. They reminded the students that their hard work should go beyond the classroom by becoming ambassadors of free and quality education in their communities.

Comrade Dagga, speaking at the event, placed the summer lessons within a broader context. He highlighted the history of struggles for education rights in Nigeria, exposing how successive governments have abandoned public schools while the children of the elites study abroad. He called on both students and teachers to join hands with the CSYR in the fight for adequate funding, improved facilities, and truly free education for all.

The ceremony concluded with a strong call to action. Students were encouraged to maintain good character, work hard, and link their academic progress with the broader struggle for a better society. The CSYR reaffirmed its commitment to using education as a weapon to fight inequality and pledged to continue organising similar programs in the future to empower young people from working-class communities.