Across Nigeria, conversations about improving education often focus on teaching quality and curriculum reform. These are important priorities because they shape what and how children learn.
Yet, I have observed an equally critical factor that continues to receive far less attention: the design and psychological impact of the spaces where learning takes place. Classrooms influence how children absorb information, how they interact with their peers, how they express ideas, and how confident they feel in their ability to learn.
This past November, when we commissioned the newly renovated solar-powered classrooms at Sari-Iganmu Inclusive School, this truth, alongside the importance of facilitating meaningful changes, became more glaring.
For the children at this school who live with physical, sensory, developmental, or cognitive challenges, we saw the immediate effect of the renovations. With stable electricity powering lights, fans, and learning tools, and visually stimulating murals brightening their space, the classrooms were seen to spark creativity, reinforce cognitive connections, and create a stimulating environment that encouraged expressions.
This experience reinforced a conviction I have held for many years: purpose-designed classrooms are not a luxury. They are a foundational element for inclusive and effective learning.
Why creativity and expression are essential in learning
Global studies on learning psychology increasingly show that the emotional and creative character of a classroom plays a powerful role in shaping student motivation, cognitive development, and engagement. Environments that fail to stimulate curiosity, imagination, or expression can reduce enthusiasm, narrow attention, and limit how children explore ideas. These effects are particularly pronounced for differently abled learners, who may be cognitively hindered by a lack of visual, tactile, or structured cues in lessons.
Spaces enriched with bright colours, visual prompts, artwork, interactive materials, and technological tools create an atmosphere where children feel motivated to explore, experiment, and engage in learning activities. The potential of a child is, therefore, in many respects, greatly proportional to the classroom environment in which they learn.
BIC’s long-term commitment to improving learning conditions
At BIC, our philosophy of education is built on a simple belief: learning is most effective when children can express ideas, explore possibilities, and develop skills in environments that encourage imagination. Spurred by this belief, we have committed to improving learning conditions for 250 million students globally by the end of 2025. Ensuring that every child can reach their full potential regardless of ability, while also promoting a culture of learning that is dynamic, engaging, and empowering.
Our education interventions have evolved to address both immediate and systemic challenges. Over the years, BIC has partnered with schools such as Igando Inclusive School, Let It Shine Academy (LISA), and Morit International School to transform classrooms into environments that support meaningful learning. These engagements focused on equipping classrooms with essential materials, improving the physical learning environment through renovations and better organisation, and providing accessible tools that enable children to participate fully in academic activities.
Beyond physical improvements, BIC has invested in the people who shape learning outcomes. Through the Canvas of Change initiative in 2023, more than two hundred teachers were trained in modern instructional approaches that emphasise critical thinking, collaborative learning, student-led engagement, and creative teaching techniques. These combined efforts established the foundation for interventions that address both the emotional and cognitive dimensions of learning.
Our recent intervention at the Sari-Iganmu Inclusive School highlighted the positive impact a purposefully designed learning environment can have on both teaching delivery and student engagement. By powering the classrooms with a solar system, we eliminated disruptions caused by unreliable electricity, allowing lessons to run consistently and enabling the uninterrupted use of modern learning tools. The installation of inverter-powered fans significantly improved classroom comfort, helping students remain focused for longer periods and actively participate in lessons. The visual transformation of the space through bright, colourful murals and engaging artwork further enhanced the learning experience by stimulating curiosity, reinforcing cognitive engagement, and creating an atmosphere where students felt inspired to learn.
We also focused on strengthening the functionality of the classrooms. This included upgrading furniture to support proper posture and better organisation, installing new white marker boards and a smart projector board to elevate interactive learning for all, and providing age-appropriate charts, vocabulary aids, and educational materials to deepen literacy, comprehension, and expressive skills. Each of these additions was designed to ensure that every child benefits from a space that is both stimulating and supportive.
The results were evident almost immediately, with noticeable improvements in classroom organisation, lesson flow, and student responsiveness. Teachers observed increased enthusiasm, longer attention spans, and more active participation from students, underscoring the lasting value of the intervention.
Read also: Boost for inclusive education as BIC Nigeria unveils solar-powered classrooms in Lagos
A collective responsibility
Improving learning conditions requires collaboration across multiple stakeholders:
Government agencies set policies and invest in infrastructure to ensure safe and accessible learning environments; school leaders manage classrooms and programmes to meet the academic, emotional, and physical needs of students.
Communities support schools by providing resources and fostering a culture that values education; caretakers and parents support students by providing them with a comfortable environment for learning and self-expression.
Private organisations, such as BIC, provide materials, technology, and technical expertise to enhance learning and support inclusivity.
When all parties work together, classrooms become engaging, stimulating, and empowering spaces where every child can thrive academically, socially, and creatively.
The Nigerian education landscape demonstrates that coordinated effort yields lasting impact. When resources, expertise, and commitment come together, classrooms are not only functional but also dynamic environments where learning can flourish. Sustained collaboration lays the groundwork for systems that support ongoing development, ensuring that improvements benefit students now and into the future.
A vision for the future of inclusive learning in Nigeria
Every child deserves a learning environment that ignites curiosity, encourages self-expression, and meets individual learning needs. When classrooms are intentionally designed, they become portals to expanded possibilities for all students regardless of physical, social or cognitive differences.
At BIC, our commitments remain clear: to shape educational experiences that reflect our core values of creativity, self-expression and empowerment. By contributing our quota to transforming these learning spaces and working alongside educators and communities, we are empowering a generation of young Nigerians equipped to solve challenges and shape the Nigeria we envision.
Amahwe is the general manager of BIC Nigeria and writes from Lagos.
