Makoko Floating School - A Renewed Hope For This Water Community


Passing through the third mainland bridge in Lagos almost on a daily basis...to work and to church, this slum built on water have never ceased to amaze me, the homes, and of course the floating school...three storey 'building' floating on water
     Nicknamed the Venice of Lagos, Nigeria's Makoko slum is home to about 100,000 people. The residents who are mostly fishermen live on stilts in the lagoon and move between their houses by canoe...and this is also exactly how the children who attend the Makoko floating school, arrive for their classes every day.
     The floating school was constructed by a young Nigerian architect who was inspired by the need to chart a new path for people who live in water communities. The movable building is a pyramid structure with a capacity to safely support 100 teachers and students even in extreme weather conditions. Built with recycled empty plastic barrels, locally sourced bamboo and wood, the schools triangular frame can adapt to changing tides and water levels, making it better suited to survive floods and storms. The floating school project began in 2012 but was officially launched in 2015. It offers free education but receives funding from donors. It currently has 47 students.
     Makoko was designated for demolition in 2013 which would have left many homeless. Most residents in the slum are migrants from other West African countries trying to make a living in Nigeria. With the unique architecture, the floating school has brought global attention to the plight of the residents. Now the local government says it wants to incorporate the floating school's design into its own urban planning...whenever this happens, it will be an awesome sight to behold.
     For now, the exciting thing for me is that kids who would have preferred to go fishing are attracted to school because they have never seen a school that floats on water...a good way to spread education.


Video link

Picture Credit: Sharon Ogunleye








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