The village behind you®
Orphaned before his first birthday, Virgil Akama was raised by a small village in Nigeria.
- His determination to get an education and raw talent saw him successfully apply for a scholarship which changed the course of his life.
- He went on to fund the education of the next generation from his village.
- Our hope is to scale Akama’s legacy of generosity and that of the village that raised him. Akama originates from the saying: The village is behind you.
Meet the Founder
Thelma Onyeka
Founder & Chair, Board of Trustees
Global Strategy & Operations, Meta
“The challenge for so many students who don’t have financial backing, is finding the time to get support. If the problem statement is that it takes a village, Akama is the village behind millions of students who will contribute to our society for future generations.”
Data-driven funding
At Akama Fund, we understand that data is a powerful tool in identifying the areas of greatest need and determining how best to allocate resources.
Our platform analyzes data on areas where there are not enough students registered, we work to raise awareness and encourage participation through targeted outreach and education initiatives.
Additionally, we use data to identify disparities in representation and allocate resources to underrepresented groups.
Our commitment to data-driven decision making enables us to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives and contribute to building a more equitable society.
Thank you for your interest in our work.
Why it Matters
- Globally, the total number of students in higher education is expected to reach nearly 380 million by 2030.
- 41% of students in the UK have considered dropping out due to money worries.
- Dropping out of university after taking a student loan has increased by 28% in the last five years for UK students.
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