Prikkle Academy Makerspace

Application Open: Digital Sparks Teachers' Fellowship Program.

If you're a Primary 4, 5, or 6 teacher in a rural or peri-urban school in Nigeria or Rwanda, this is for you.

Eight weeks. Online. Free.

You'll spend two weeks figuring out what you already do well, the kind of teacher you've quietly become while nobody was clapping.

Then you'll take two lessons from the government curriculum and redesign them using materials your class already has.

Then we'll spend two weeks on the digital part, looking at what AI can actually do for your lesson planning, what it shouldn't touch, and how to keep your students safe online.

The last two weeks, you'll run something small in your classroom, it can be a simple project, a club or an educational campaign, and you'll teach your colleagues how to do the same.

Apply: bit.ly/digitalsparks-apply

Deadline: 27th May, 2026.

If you know a teacher who should see this, send it to them directly. Don't just like the post.

Afiz Ramat Idowu is preparing for her secondary school final exams, just like many other students. The pressure to do well is real, and so is the frustration when topics refuse to make sense.

She is in the science department, yet some of what she had been taught felt distant.

Atoms existed mostly as definitions in her notes, not as ideas she could picture or apply. She shared this honestly at the start of STEM in Action.

Then the learning shifted.

Instead of memorising, Ramat began to build. Using simple materials, she created an atom model that showed how protons, neutrons, electrons, and the nucleus relate to one another and how they work together.

As the model took shape, understanding followed. The idea was no longer abstract. It became something she could explain, adjust, and share.

What made it even stronger was the group around her.

She worked with others, listened to their ideas, and explained her own. When parts did not work, she stayed patient. When someone struggled, she helped.

Through the process, she practiced collaboration, leadership, and empathy, learning how to move forward together when things felt unclear.

This is the gap our program bridges.

We move ideas from notebooks into real life. We help learners solve their own problems while building confidence, teamwork, and emotional awareness along the way.

Prikkle Academy...inspiring community builders!

This week, Prikkle Academy officially launches STEMInAction.

Over the years, our makerspace has been a place where children, teenagers, and adults come together to explore science, build ideas, and co-create practical solutions using simple, local materials.

From small experiments to community-focused projects, we have seen how hands-on learning can spark confidence, creativity, and purpose.

Now, we are taking that work further.

STEMInAction builds on everything we have learned so far, with a stronger focus on how young people grow, not only in technical skills, but also in collaboration, empathy, communication, and problem-solving.

This shift has been shaped by the support of , through the Social Emotional Learning program our team participated in earlier this year, and the co-learning experience shared with other African organisations working in similar contexts.

Through that experience, we gained clearer tools to understand how learning happens, how emotional skills develop, and how to better support learners as they turn ideas into action.

These lessons are now deeply woven into how we design and run our makerspace programs.

As we launch STEMInAction, we will be sharing stories and images from the projects already happening in the space. This journey reflects not just a new program, but a growing commitment to thoughtful, community-rooted learning.

We are grateful for the partnership, the learning, and the opportunity to keep building alongside young people.

Prikkle Academy...inspiring community builders!

Help Us Put Nigeria on the Map in Thailand

At Prikkle Academy, we believe in turning local challenges into global opportunities. This November, our Makerspace Lead, Jamiu Balogun, has been invited to represent Nigeria at the Ecoversities Planetary Gathering in Thailand, a global meeting of educators, dreamers, and changemakers designing fresh pathways for learning and community transformation.

For years, Jamiu has walked alongside young people in rural communities, sparking innovation, resilience, and creativity. Now, he has the chance to bring these stories to the world stage and return with fresh insights to strengthen our work here at home.

The organizers are supporting with part of the travel cost, but Jamiu still needs to raise the remaining ₦2,082,536 (approx. $1,390) to cover flight, visa, local transport, and essential travel items.

This is where we humbly invite you to journey with him. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps make this dream a reality.

Support Jamiu here:
https://selar.com/showlove/jamiu-thailand-travel

Prikkle Academy... inspiring community builders!

Learning Without Walls: How a Tree Became Our Classroom

At Prikkle Academy, we have always believed that learning is not confined to four walls, a blackboard, or a rigid curriculum. True learning happens when curiosity meets freedom, and sometimes, when people gather under the shade of a tree.

During the last Afrika Ecoversities Regional Gathering hosted at our grassroots makerspace, we experienced this truth once again. Participants came from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique stories, skills, and energy. Instead of staying indoors, we spread mats under the trees, letting the forest floor and open sky become our classroom.

It wasn’t just about the sessions. It was about connection, with each other and with nature. Ideas flowed as easily as the breeze. Laughter blended with deep reflections. The forest reminded us that knowledge doesn’t have to feel heavy; it can be light, playful, and alive.

The most surprising moment? The security officer who was sent to oversee the event didn’t just stand at a distance. He joined us, participating in activities, asking questions, and sharing his perspectives. By the end of the day, uniforms and titles didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was the joy of shared learning.

This is the heart of what we do at Prikkle Academy.

We create spaces where everyone, regardless of age, origin, or role, can learn, laugh, and share ideas freely. Because when learning steps outside the walls, it doesn’t just inform minds; it transforms hearts.

So, what if more classrooms looked like this?

What if schools everywhere remembered that the world itself is our greatest teacher?

Prikkle Academy…inspiring the community builders

What if your biggest mistakes held the seeds of your greatest masterpiece?

Last week at Prikkle Academy, we turned a failed butterfly into a bold new creation and watched a community come alive through shared stories, laughter, and learning.

Read through our latest blog to see how curiosity and connection can transform ordinary moments into powerful lessons.

Read the full story here: https://prikkleacademy.org/when-mistakes-bloom-into-masterpieces/

Can One Assignment Really Change Everything?

For Emmanuel, it did, and it was in a way he never imagined.

Emmanuel had always believed he couldn’t write more than 100 words. Not because he lacked skill —academically, he shines. But deep down, he believed he had nothing worth sharing.

The weight of that belief can be heavier than any textbook.

At Prikkle Academy, we see learning as more than memorizing facts or ticking off boxes of skills acquired.

Our practical sessions and conversations are designed to awaken confidence, spark curiosity, and reveal the quiet gifts each person carries within.

We believe every young person holds invisible tools, just waiting for the right moment to emerge.

During one of our recent sessions, Emmanuel was tasked with documenting the journey of his peers to capture their reflections, dreams, and the subtle breakthroughs happening around the table. At first, he almost declined. It felt too big, too vulnerable.

But something shifted.

With gentle nudges from the team, Emmanuel chose to lean in instead of stepping back. He grabbed his notebook, took a deep breath, and began to listen, really listen.

He watched how one girl’s eyes lit up when she described her dream of studying nursing. He noticed the thoughtful pause in another student as they realized they loved science more than they ever admitted.

Every small detail, every laugh, every quiet nod found a home on his page.

Line by line, his fear transformed into curiosity. Word by word, his hesitation turned into discovery. And at the end, Emmanuel didn't just write a report; he wrote his way back to himself.

From doubting he could write 100 words to creating nearly 1,000 words of heartfelt storytelling, this wasn’t merely about writing. It was about uncovering an inner asset, a voice waiting to be heard.

At Prikkle Academy, we believe breakthroughs aren’t always loud.

Sometimes, they look like a young man bent over a notebook, realizing for the first time that his thoughts matter, that his words carry weight, and that he can inspire others simply by sharing what’s inside him.

Every young person carries hidden tools, waiting for the right moment to be sharpened and shared.

Sometimes, it takes a simple assignment. Sometimes, it takes a community that believes in you before you believe in yourself.

Now to you: What hidden gifts are you carrying that you haven’t dared to unfold yet?

Prikkle Academy… inspiring community builders, one hidden gift at a time.

Let the Story of Abdulwakeel Inspire You!

Curious to know who Abdulwakeel is? Keep reading.

Abdulwakeel is one of our remarkable participants at Prikkle Academy. Since as far back as 2017, he has actively taken part in our creative projects, developing a keen interest in craft-making.

But then, as time went on, Abdulwakeel suddenly disappeared. Where did he go? That might be the question on your mind. Well, read on to find out.

After several years of being absent from the Makerspace, a lot had changed in Abdulwakeel’s life. He graduated from secondary school and is now pursuing a degree at the university.

In the university environment, he recognized the growing need to acquire digital skills to stay relevant in the tech ecosystem. Recalling his time at the Makerspace, he knew he had a foundation, but he wasn’t quite sure where to begin.

Around October last year, Abdulwakeel returned to the Makerspace and reunited with other members, fellow community members who welcomed him warmly. He shared his renewed interest in digital skills but expressed uncertainty about which path to follow.

At Prikkle Academy, we believe every individual has innate talents and abilities. Rather than dictating what they should pursue, we guide them through a process of self-discovery to uncover their unique gifts.

Abdulwakeel underwent a self-discovery session with our Makerspace Lead and realized that his artistic talent and love for drawing aligned with graphic design. However, he had no prior experience with computers, meaning he had to start from scratch.

Just a week after, Abdulwakeel began his journey by learning Microsoft Word. It may sound simple, but that was the beginning of his transformation.

Using this basic tool, he designed three book covers and mastered several special features of the application. This small step marks the start of his journey towards achieving his dreams.

Now, Abdulwakeel has moved from Microsoft Word to Photoshop; editing pictures, designing graphics and lots more…

This is how we are transforming education in Africa, one individual at a time. At Prikkle Academy, we open doors for autonomy and personalized learning, empowering community builders to discover their potential.

Wait! Have you learned something so far? Here are some key takeaways from Abdulwakeel’s story:

1. Your past or present experiences are not a waste; they could open you up to endless possibilities.

2. The right opportunity might be closer than you think. Leverage your strengths to build up your weaknesses.

3. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you start working on your dreams; sometimes, the tools you have right now could be a game-changer.

Prikkle Academy…inspiring community builders!