The founder of Dolly Children Foundation and Dolly Stars School, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, has been selected among 12 African education leaders for the sixth cohort of the AL for Education School CEO Fellowship & Accelerator Programme.
Osuntuyi's selection followed a competitive continent-wide process and recognises her longstanding efforts to improve access to quality education for children in underserved communities.
She joins 11 other school founders and chief executive officers drawn from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya and South Sudan, all selected for their work in developing innovative approaches to education and improving learning opportunities for children.
A Decade of Grassroots Education Work
Osuntuyi's recognition comes after more than a decade of community-focused work through the Dolly Children Foundation.
The organisation has implemented initiatives focused on educational access, teacher development, mentorship, scholarships and community support, with the aim of reaching children and families who face barriers to formal education.
Through Dolly Stars School in Makogi, Magboro, Ogun State, Osuntuyi provides free, holistic and learner-centred education to children in the community.
Her selection highlights the growing recognition of locally driven interventions that seek to address education challenges through solutions developed around the specific needs of communities.
For Osuntuyi, the fellowship represents recognition not only of her personal leadership but also of the work carried out by teachers, families and community members involved in her education initiatives.
“This selection deeply humbles me. For me, it is not simply about being chosen for a fellowship; it is a reminder that years of quiet work, persistence and commitment to children matter,” she said.
She added that much of the organisation's work had taken place away from public attention, making the continental recognition particularly significant.
“Much of the work we do happens away from the spotlight, so to have that journey recognised alongside remarkable education leaders from across Africa is deeply meaningful.”
Two-Year Leadership Programme
The AL for Education School CEO Fellowship & Accelerator is a two-year leadership development programme designed to support education leaders building innovative and scalable models for quality learning across Africa.
Fellows receive leadership development and operational training, financial support, teacher development opportunities and mentorship, while gaining access to a network of education leaders from across the continent.
The programme is also designed to strengthen the institutions led by the participating fellows, with an emphasis on improving organisational capacity and developing locally driven approaches that can contribute to sustainable improvements in education.
For Osuntuyi, the opportunity will provide an avenue to exchange ideas with education leaders confronting different challenges across the continent.
“I am looking forward to learning, unlearning and building with people who are confronting different realities but share the same conviction that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive,” she said.
She expressed hope that the knowledge and experience gained through the programme would benefit the schools and communities served by her organisations.
“I hope to bring those lessons back to our schools and communities and, ultimately, contribute to a stronger education ecosystem in Africa.”
Spotlight on African-Led Solutions
Osuntuyi's selection comes as education stakeholders increasingly emphasise the importance of African-led approaches to addressing the continent's education challenges.
Rather than relying solely on external models, locally led initiatives are increasingly being positioned as important vehicles for developing interventions that reflect the realities of individual communities.
For Dolly Children Foundation, the fellowship comes at a time when the organisation is seeking to expand its work in educational access and capacity building.
Osuntuyi will now join the other members of Cohort 6 in a two-year journey focused on strengthening schools, empowering educators and improving opportunities for children.
Her participation also places the work of Dolly Children Foundation and Dolly Stars School on a broader continental platform, highlighting the potential of sustained grassroots interventions to contribute to wider education reform.
As the new cohort begins its programme, the fellows share a common objective: developing stronger schools and education systems capable of giving more African children the opportunity to learn, develop their talents and build better futures.