InnerCity Mission for Children

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InnerCity Mission for Children
AbbreviationICM or ICM4C
FormationDecember 2005 (2005-12)
Founder Chris Oyakhilome
TypeFaith-based non-governmental organization (NGO)
Legal statusActive
PurposeChild welfare, poverty alleviation, education, nutrition, and humanitarian aid
HeadquartersIkeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Location
  • Global (operations in over 100 countries)
Region served
Worldwide, with focus on inner cities and deprived communities in Africa, South-east Asia, South and Central America
Key people
Chris Oyakhilome (Founder) Omoh Alabi (Executive Director)
Website theinnercitymission.ngo

The InnerCity Mission for Children (ICM) is a Christian, faith-based humanitarian non-governmental organization dedicated to addressing child poverty and vulnerabilities by operating with a child-centered approach, emphasizing sustainable interventions in education, health, nutrition, family strengthening, and spiritual development. [1] Since it was established with the slogan, 'Every Child is Your Child' in December 2005, the organization has grown from one orphanage home to having nineteen 100% free schools for indigent children in 7 countries, 6 food banks in Nigeria, USA and United Kingdom, [2] over a thousand food pantries, women empowerment centres and learning centres, establishing footprints in 132 countries. [3] In 2014, it achieved consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, enabling it to engage in global policy discussions on child rights and poverty eradication. [4]

In 2010, the InnerCity Mission launched her first 100% free school in Ikeja, Lagos where Children are given 100% basic education, two free meals daily, free medical care, free uniforms and bags, free books, access to library, enrolled in skill acquisition programs without a single payment. In April 2025, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf commissioned the InnerCity Missions' 100% free school in Paynesville, Liberia. The following month, President Faustin-Archange of the Central Africa Republic flagged off InnerCity Missions' construction of the largest free school in Central Africa Republic, to address the rising numbers of out-of-school children in the Country. By September 2025, the Innercity began constructing the first free school in Fiji Island which will give 400 children access to 100% tuition free education, making it the 19th tuition free school with over 5,000 pupils who are given two free meals daily, free medical care, free books and access to library, and skill acquisition in Africa, Asia and South America. [5]

100% Free Schools

The InnerCity Mission for Children runs a 100% free school program for indigent children which has 14 built schools with 5 more under construction in Nigeria, Uganda, Central African Republic and Fiji Islands, where children are given primary education and are fed twice a day, free. The children transported daily to and fro school, and are also given school supplies such as uniforms, shoes, school bags textbooks and books every session free. The 12th School in Ibeju-Lekki was launched by the chairman of Parallex Bank, Dr. Adeola Phillips alongside Oba Muideen Balogun, the Onisolu of Solu-Alade Kingdom of Ibeju-Lekki.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Pastor Ambrose Isesele and the Director of InnerCity Missions for Children President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Pastor Ambrose Isesele and the Director of InnerCity Missions for Children.webp
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Pastor Ambrose Isesele and the Director of InnerCity Missions for Children

The 100% free school initiative began with the launch of the first school in Ikeja, Lagos in 2010. The first in Africa outside Nigeria was launched in 2025 by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf alongside Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gbemie Horace-Kollie in Liberia. Three months later, the InnerCity Missions launched her 14th completed free school in Malawi. The ceremony was attended by Malawi's Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima Pastor Mrs Ose Oyakhilome, representing the founder's faith based institution, Loveworld.

President Fautin-Archange at the InnerCity Mission School groundbreaking ceremony in Libi President Fautin-Archange laying the foundation stone of the InnerCity Mission school in Libi.jpg
President Fautin-Archange at the InnerCity Mission School groundbreaking ceremony in Libi

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic supervised the ground breaking in Libi of the 1,500 capacity InnerCity Mission 100% free school which upon completion, will be the largest in the Country. The President who personally laid the first stone to signal the commencement of construction of the school highlighted the InnerCity Mission's approach addresses the education crisis at its structural pressure points- providing 100 per cent free education, eliminating tuition costs that exclude the poorest households, providing free books, meals, healthcare, directly confronting poverty, hunger, and poor child health, the initiative would be attacking directly the key drivers of dropout and absenteeism in CAR, and by combining education with nutrition and health, the initiative stabilizes children's capacity to remain in school and learn effectively. [6]

In Fiji the Innercity Missions for Children held a ground breaking ceremony in Nadawa for a 400 capacity 100% free school, first in Oceania and also the Country, costed at 2 million dollars, the project was sponsored by Biodun Lawal and the land was donated by a citizen. Nasinu Town Council Special Administrator Chair, Felix Magnus was present to launch it. [7]

No.ContinentCountryCity / LocationYear Commissioned
1AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Ikeja, Lagos2010
2AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Festac, LagosUnspecified
3AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Aba, Abia StateUnspecified
4AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Owerri, Imo StateUnspecified
5AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Badagry, LagosUnspecified
6AsiaFlag of India.svg India Pune2019 [8]
7AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Sabongari, Yola, Adamawa State2019
8AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Simawa, Ogun State2021 [9]
9AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Murbai, Taraba StateMay 2022 [10] [11]
10AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Ewu, Edo StateSeptember 2022 [12]
11AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Iguobazuwa, Edo StateOctober 2023 [13]
12AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos StateSeptember 2022 [14]
13AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Atali, Rivers State2026 (under construction) [15]
14AfricaFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Warri, Delta State2026 (under construction) [16]
15AfricaFlag of Uganda.svg Uganda Kampala2026 (under construction) [17]
16AfricaFlag of Malawi.svg Malawi Lilongwe (Chisikwa, Nsudwe community)2025 [18]
17AfricaFlag of Liberia.svg Liberia Monrovia (Paynesville)May 2025 [19]
18AfricaFlag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic Bangui2026 (under construction) [6] [1]
19OceaniaFlag of Fiji.svg Fiji Nadawa, Suva2026 (under construction) [5]


References

  1. 1 2 "Rt. Hon. Dekor Endorses InnerCity Mission as Model for Community Development Initiatives – THISDAYLIVE" . Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  2. ↑ Akinsanmi, 'Sola (2025-10-16). "World Food Day & Poverty Eradication Day: InnerCity Mission leads talks on local solutions". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  3. ↑ Joseph, Titilope (2025-12-18). "Inner City Mission Marks 20 Years Of Humanitarian Impact Across 132 Countries". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  4. ↑ "United Nations Civil Society Participation – Consultative status". esango.un.org. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  5. 1 2 fijivillage. "Free education, free meals, and students will not pay a cent- Magnus". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  6. 1 2 "Beyond Aid: How a 1,500-seat school is confronting the education emergency in the Central African Republic". Businessday NG. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  7. ↑ fijivillage. "Free education, free meals, and students will not pay a cent- Magnus". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  8. ↑ "Watch The InnerCity Mission School, India Impact Report". colouringdreams.tv. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  9. ↑ Owope, Seun (2021-10-07). "InnerCity Mission launches another school at Simawa". National Daily Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  10. ↑ MUST WATCH - A TUITION-FREE SCHOOL IN TARABA STATE 🇳🇬 Click to sponsor scholastic materials and educational resources for children and teachers in Murbai community! . Retrieved 2025-12-03– via www.facebook.com.
  11. ↑ "Ceflix Tv". ceflix.org. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  12. ↑ Rapheal (2022-09-14). "Pastor Chris Foundation inaugurates largest 100% free". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  13. ↑ Obazee, Precious (2023-10-30). "Innercity Missions Commissions Charity School In Iguobazuwa, Edo State | LN247" . Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  14. ↑ Publisher (2022-09-19). "Pastor Chris donates 10th free school in Nigeria". National Daily Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  15. ↑ Amos (2024-05-07). "Christ Embassy begins construction of free mission school in Rivers community". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  16. ↑ "Oyakhilome Foundation Establishes 13th InnerCity Mission School – THISDAYLIVE" . Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  17. ↑ "Watch Ground Breaking Ceremony of the InnerCity Mission School, Uganda". colouringdreams.tv. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  18. ↑ LN24 (2025-07-31). "Malawi Celebrates Completion of 100% Free InnerCity Mission School". LN24. Retrieved 2025-12-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Weedee-Conway, Emmanuel (2025-05-01). "Liberia: Ex-President Sirleaf Commissions Tuition-Free InnerCity Mission School in Paynesville". FrontPageAfrica. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
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