our history
Africa Education Partnership, Inc. was started in 2009. The very concept first started as a friendship between founding president Don Ghostlaw and Bishop John Danbinta. Recently appointed as bishop of Gusau, Zamfara, Nigeria, John Danbinta was sent to Connecticut to pursue his Master's Degree in Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary. Christian-Muslim relations are highly volatile and strained in Nigeria, especially in the northern regions of the country.
Nearby, at the adjoining University of Connecticut satellite campus, Don was teaching a law course. Bishop John, needing help with the editing of his thesis, was given Don's name as an editor. It was during their study sessions that Bishop John shared his vision of creating a school where children from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds could grow and learn together, having equal opportunities for a quality education. This encounter forged the first bond between our countries.
After Bishop graduated and returned home, he sent an invitation to Don to come and visit. The folks who would later become founding board members put together a fact-finding group. They embarked on a trip to the capital city of Gusau, Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria to explore the possibilities of making the dream come to life. After looking at property, exploring costs and investigating the logistics involved, they began work on the first school block funded by AEP.
Through the ensuing years, Graceland International School has become an accredited 4-building campus, home to over 400 students. It continues to thrive and has changed the face of the community, with positive support of the education provided at the school and a blended school board working cooperatively.
Since that time, AEP's efforts have expanded into Kaduna State, forming another partnership with Bishop Markus Dogo of Kafanchan. Since 2018, this collaboration has produced improvements in Kafanchan, Jagindi Tasha, Kogum River, and Godogodo. The work is ongoing in these areas.
The future hope is to expand even further with educational improvements and to honor the requests that AEP has received for new school buildings in other areas of Nigeria.
Africa Education Partnership, Inc. was formally recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2012.
Nearby, at the adjoining University of Connecticut satellite campus, Don was teaching a law course. Bishop John, needing help with the editing of his thesis, was given Don's name as an editor. It was during their study sessions that Bishop John shared his vision of creating a school where children from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds could grow and learn together, having equal opportunities for a quality education. This encounter forged the first bond between our countries.
After Bishop graduated and returned home, he sent an invitation to Don to come and visit. The folks who would later become founding board members put together a fact-finding group. They embarked on a trip to the capital city of Gusau, Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria to explore the possibilities of making the dream come to life. After looking at property, exploring costs and investigating the logistics involved, they began work on the first school block funded by AEP.
Through the ensuing years, Graceland International School has become an accredited 4-building campus, home to over 400 students. It continues to thrive and has changed the face of the community, with positive support of the education provided at the school and a blended school board working cooperatively.
Since that time, AEP's efforts have expanded into Kaduna State, forming another partnership with Bishop Markus Dogo of Kafanchan. Since 2018, this collaboration has produced improvements in Kafanchan, Jagindi Tasha, Kogum River, and Godogodo. The work is ongoing in these areas.
The future hope is to expand even further with educational improvements and to honor the requests that AEP has received for new school buildings in other areas of Nigeria.
Africa Education Partnership, Inc. was formally recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2012.