About Us

Stepping Stones Nigeria is a young charity, which has come a long way in a short space of time. The idea behind Stepping Stones Nigeria began in 2003 when Gary Foxcroft, the current Programme Director of the charity, spent 3 months in Akwa Ibom State carrying out research in community perceptions of the oil industry as part of the British Council Funded Lancaster University - University of Uyo Link Programme.

During this time Gary visited numerous schools and was shocked at the lack of resources and low teacher morale. He also came across groups of young children, some as young as four or five, sleeping rough on the streets. A head teacher, Grace Udua, who lived in the same compound as Gary during his research visit, offered to donate her family land for a school for disadvantaged children such as orphans and street chidren. Gary vowed to return to Nigeria one day to help such children. After returning to the UK and working to pay off some of his debts, Gary teamed up with Naomi Chapple and decided that they would work together to set up the charity, which was named Stepping Stones Nigeria, in order to help meet the needs of disadvantaged children in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. For more about how this was achieved please see Our History