In a quiet corner of Lagos, Anthony Nwachukwu Isiani is doing something extraordinary. A mechanical engineer by training, Isiani has found his true purpose not in the oil and gas fields, but in Nigerian classrooms. Nearly 30 years ago, he founded School Development Support International (SDS) to bring engineering solutions into education.
It all began during his NYSC service, when he taught mathematics at a secondary school. “Many students hated maths,” he said, “but it was fulfilling to watch them improve. That changed everything for me.” Despite lucrative offers in the oil sector, Isiani followed his heart. “I wanted to create a fun and exciting learning experience,” he explained. Furthermore, he did just that—merging his engineering skills with a love for education.
Through SDS, Isiani has built over nine teaching and learning innovations, these range from custom-designed desks and chairs to remote-controlled visual monitors and specialised lab kits. There is even a mini table tennis court for toddlers. What makes SDS different is its refusal to copy foreign models. “We do not import. We design tools tailored for Nigerian classrooms,” Isiani said. Experts say his “seamless teaching method”, a system that starts with the unique needs of each subject, is making a real difference. Moreover, schools that adopt his tools rarely look elsewhere.
“We may not be competing with anyone, but we are solving real problems,” Isiani said. For him, it is simple: “If one child enjoys learning because of what we built, then we have succeeded.”
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