Education advocate and Chief Executive Officer of Educare, Alex Onyia, has announced the formal registration of ISEE as the Initiative for School Excellence and Education Foundation.
Onyia, who made the announcement via his official X handle @winexviv, said the move marks a major milestone in institutionalizing an intervention that started as a regional response to learning gaps in the South East.
ISEE was previously known and widely referenced as the Intervention for South East Education and the Intervention for Southeast Education Initiative. Under that banner, it became nationally recognized for organizing the South East Maths Olympiad, a computer-based competition that drew 11,520 children in its recent edition, as well as for driving campaigns to get out-of-school children back to school and for championing STEM excellence.
According to Onyia, the formal registration as the Initiative for School Excellence and Education Foundation preserves the popular acronym ISEE while reflecting an expanded mandate.
From Regional Intervention to National Foundation
When Onyia launched the 12-month education plan for the South East in 2024, he framed it as a community-driven effort to upscale learning outcomes at the basic and secondary school levels, anchored around community leaders, town unions and church leaders.
Since then, through Educare and ISEE, Onyia has championed initiatives that make education the most accessible path out of stagnation, including:
• Sponsoring Nigerian students to represent the country at the International STEM Olympiad in Rome
• Funding scholarships for high-scoring JAMB students
• Pushing for CBT, transparency, and global partnerships for academic competitions
The founder has consistently argued that the South East can become Nigeria's STEM hub, drawing inspiration from countries like Singapore and China whose education investments have produced globally competitive workforces.
What the Registration Means
The formal incorporation as a foundation gives ISEE a legal personality to:
1. Scale nationally: While retaining its strong South East base, the Foundation can now operate as the Initiative for School Excellence and Education across all states.
2. Attract structured partnership: Onyia has previously disclosed plans to institutionalize ISEE as an annual programme, with commitments such as Sterling Bank's N60 million toward prizes for the 2027 edition. A registered foundation provides a transparent vehicle for such corporate, government and international partnerships.
3. Sustain long-term programmes: From the South East Maths Olympiad to teacher training and out-of-school interventions, registration ensures continuity beyond ad-hoc advocacy.
In a post announcing the development, Onyia noted that ISEE started as an intervention but the vision was always bigger - to build an institution that enforces excellence in Nigerian schools.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the move, noting that Onyia's personal sponsorship of students and his consistent advocacy have filled a critical gap where government support has been limited.
With its new status, the Initiative for School Excellence and Education Foundation is expected to unveil its formal board, strategic pillars, and its 2026/2027 calendar in the coming weeks, including the next edition of the Maths Olympiad, STEM curriculum partnerships scouted from Switzerland and Eindhoven, and expanded school intervention programs.
For many who have followed ISEE's journey, the registration is not just a name change - it is the formalization of a movement to restore merit, rigor, and excellence to Nigerian education.
Prof. Barth Nnaji will serve as Chairman, while Alex Onyia continues to lead the vision alongside Nathan Nwachuku, Eke Urum and Tony Udeani.
According to Onyia, the goal is to build a vision that will outlive their generation and contribute to Africa’s advancement.