Akwa Ibom, Nigeria – What began with a single hen and a traditional folk song in 2008 has blossomed into one of Ibesikpo’s most respected educational institutions. Eminent Topnotch Schools, Ikot Okubo, Ibesikpo, is marking its 10th anniversary — a testament to resilience, vision, and grassroots entrepreneurship.
The school’s founder, whose journey is as inspiring as it is unconventional, started with no financial capital. During a holiday visit in 2008, a local hen gifted by an aunt planted the seed of a dream. That hen, guided by traditional songs to keep it within the compound, soon laid eggs and hatched six chicks. Though small, it was the beginning of a life-changing venture.
A Hen and a Vision
The early days were marked by both wonder and struggle. A hawk once attacked one of the chicks, pushing the young entrepreneur to think creatively. Using his mother’s utensil basket as a makeshift cage and introducing heat to keep the mother hen calm, he protected the flock and watched it grow.
With time, and under the guidance of his father, a retired school principal, he constructed a small thatch house to house the growing birds. Eventually, he sold the flock for ₦65,000 — his first significant income.
Turning Poultry Profits into Purpose
With renewed confidence, he reinvested the money into acquiring 50 more birds. Business flourished, and soon he had 400 birds and enough funds to begin construction on two 20×16 lock-up stores. Completed with support from his parents, these structures were repurposed into classrooms for vacation lessons — which quickly gained popularity in the community.
In 2015, with demand growing and a newfound sense of purpose, the idea to establish a full-fledged school was born. It wasn’t an easy decision. His father, pragmatic and experienced, asked the hard questions: How will you pay teachers? Are you qualified to run a school? Where will the school operate?
But there were answers.
Funding: The school would pay teachers from the fees collected.
Qualifications: His father’s licence would be used provisionally while he pursued higher education.
Infrastructure: The stores would serve as makeshift classrooms until proper school buildings could be constructed on a piece of land donated by his father.
Ten Years of Impact and Counting
Today, a decade later, Eminent Topnotch Schools stands tall. From vacation lessons to a full academic institution, the school has become a pillar of learning and development in Ikot Okubo. The founder has continued to improve himself academically, earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology (PGDth), and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.).
Reflecting on the journey, the founder shared, “Starting a business with zero capital requires creativity, hard work, and a strong support system. But more importantly, it requires faith in your dream.”
Eminent Topnotch Schools now educates hundreds of pupils annually and stands as a beacon of what is possible when passion meets purpose — even if it begins with something as humble as a hen.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
