How one student is putting shoes on the feet of Kwara’s children

By Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho

Education is often seen as the key to a better future. But for many students in Kwara State, Nigeria, even the most basic necessities—school uniforms, footwear, and learning materials—remain out of reach. Olayiwola Kerimat, a 400-level student at the University of Ilorin, journalist, peace advocate, and feminist, has made it her mission to bridge this gap through her initiative, Shoe a Child with Kerimat.

In 2024, while volunteering with an NGO focused on education and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kerimat visited several government and private schools across Kwara State. What she witnessed was deeply troubling: children attending school in torn sandals and worn-out uniforms, visibly affected by their families’ financial struggles.

“I saw young children coming to school with damaged shoes, and I couldn’t ignore it,” Kerimat recalled in a recent interview with Western Post. “When I asked one of them why they wore such shoes, the response left me speechless. It was painful to witness, but at that moment, I had no immediate resources to help.”

Initially, her visit was intended only to educate the students—not to provide donations. But the desperate condition of many children moved her to take action.
“Although I didn’t plan to donate shoes or books initially, seeing those students in such terrible situations made me find a way to help, even with the little I had and contributions from others,” she explained.

While determined to make a difference, Kerimat marked the schools she visited in her diary, vowing to return. Back home, she spoke with her siblings—also products of the public school system—who confirmed that many students lacked even the most basic essentials. This realization sparked a sense of urgency in her to do more.

What began as a personal commitment quickly evolved into a movement. In early 2025, Kerimat officially launched Shoe a Child with Kerimat, an initiative dedicated to providing students with footwear and learning materials, using her own birthday each year as a time to give back.
“When I saw where the government had fallen short, I knew I had to step in,” she said. “I sought support to provide at least 50 students with new sandals. Seeing their joy and gratitude made it one of the happiest birthdays of my life.”

Determined to expand her reach, Kerimat designed flyers and promoted her initiative on social media, hoping to attract support. At first, she could only afford to purchase 20 pairs of shoes but set a target of 50. Thanks to the online campaign, a few kind-hearted individuals stepped forward to help her meet her goal.

Her breakthrough came unexpectedly when the University of Ilorin organized a competition for student entrepreneurs and changemakers to present their proposals. Kerimat entered and presented her initiative to a panel of judges.
“I was shaking while presenting in front of the school senators,” she admitted. “Those I was competing against were my seniors who had trained me since my first year. I didn’t expect to win, but when they announced my name as the second-place winner, I was shocked—and extremely grateful.” She was awarded ₦100,000, which provided a significant boost to her project.

The impact of her initiative was immediately felt. Teachers, parents, and students alike expressed their gratitude. For many parents, the timely support felt like a miracle.

“At some point, I couldn’t even answer all the calls because parents kept reaching out to thank me,” Kerimat said. “I am glad I was able to put things together to bless them through this initiative.”