Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, has rewritten the story of hundreds of children in Kuje, Abuja, with a groundbreaking intervention that has been hailed as the school’s “most transformative support yet.” The airline has become the first major Nigerian company to back the KNOSK (Knowledge, Skill and Kreativity) 100NairaADay Secondary School – an institution established to ensure that children from low-income homes can access quality education for as little as N100 per day.
Since its founding in 2019 with only 30 learners, KNOSK has grown to accommodate more than 180 students, many of whom come from families unable to pay the symbolic fee.
Despite the financial strain, the school has delivered impressive academic outcomes, including a perfect 100 per cent pass rate in its first WAEC examination and several JAMB scores above 200.
One of its shining stars was once at risk of being married off at age 14, yet graduated as the school’s best science student with distinctions in key WAEC subjects.
For years, KNOSK had reached out to Nigerian organisations for partnership, but without success. That long drought ended when Air Peace stepped in, breaking what the school described as a “longstanding jinx.”
Air Peace’s donation arrived at a crucial period as the country moves decisively towards Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for major examinations.
KNOSK urgently needed laptops to prepare its students for this transition and to establish its own CBT centre. With the airline’s support, the school has acquired the necessary systems and moved closer to full digital readiness.
Air Peace Communications Analyst, Hawa Oyinloye Alege, expressed profound admiration for the students during the donation ceremony: “We are so, so proud to support this project – a place where determination, hope, and hard work are persistent. Despite the challenges the children face, their dreams have not been held back. We look forward to seeing them achieve great and amazing things.”
In addition to the ICT upgrade, Air Peace awarded one-year scholarships to 20 students – providing a lifeline to families who cannot afford the N240,000 annual school fee.
Emotion ran high as students expressed heartfelt gratitude.
SS3 student, Patience Omuata, said: “It really means a lot to us because our parents might not be able to afford the school fees, and you have given it to 20 children with goodness of heart. On behalf of the students here at KNOSK, Mr Allen Onyema, may God continue to bless and keep him. Thank you, sir, for being a father to people like us.”
Another beneficiary, SS1 student Vivian Odizwe, emphasised the urgency of the donation: “Seeing that there is a high probability that next year’s WAEC will be CBT, the school needed 40 laptops. You have helped us reach that number. Now we can practise, write our exams, and learn other digital skills. We appreciate it so much.”
For cofounder, Mr Kingsley Bangwell, Air Peace’s gesture carries a deeper meaning beyond the financial. “We have received support from the embassies of Ireland, Finland, and the United States. But we had never seen a major Nigerian corporate body step forward. Air Peace has broken that notion. Their donation is not only support – it is validation,” he said.
He highlighted the transformational power of education at KNOSK: “These children came in struggling to read and write. Today, we have distinctions, 200+ scores in JAMB, and lives completely transformed. Air Peace has become part of their story.”
Mrs Irene Bangwell, cofounder, praised Air Peace Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema, describing him as a symbol of courage, resilience, and bold leadership – qualities she is eager for the students to emulate. She noted that his story reinforces the school’s message about taking risks, believing in oneself, and daring to rise.
The donation aligns with Air Peace’s long-standing record of humanitarian service. The airline has previously evacuated stranded Nigerians from crisis zones, supported communities after disasters, and provided targeted aid to vulnerable groups.
Earlier this year, on 27 May, Air Peace partnered with Raising Star Africa to support children living with disabilities through the “This Ability” programme – providing educational materials, grants, souvenirs, and emotional support.
This continuous commitment to compassion, inclusion, and nation-building has strengthened Air Peace’s reputation as more than an aviation leader, but a people-centred institution dedicated to uplifting lives.
For the KNOSK students, Air Peace’s intervention is far more than charity – it is hope restored, dignity affirmed, and dreams reignited.
By equipping children with vital digital tools, funding their education, and validating their potential, Air Peace has given them something no price tag can quantify: the confidence to believe that their dreams are valid, and that their futures are bright.
As KNOSK continues its mission to build a generation of skilled and resilient young Nigerians, Air Peace’s support stands as a powerful reminder that when corporate philanthropy meets genuine need, lives are transformed and destinies are rewritten.
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