A heartwarming story of sacrifice and resilience has captured the attention of thousands across social media, after an elderly woman who sold her chickens to pay her grandchildren’s school fees was rewarded with overwhelming public support, including full university scholarships for the children and capital to start her own business.
The woman, identified as Mama Grace, hails from a rural community in Nigeria’s North Central region. Her story went viral after a school teacher shared on Facebook how she turned up at the school gate carrying two live chickens — pleading to use them as payment after her grandchildren were sent home over unpaid fees. The emotional scene reportedly happened on May 13, 2025, at a government secondary school in Benue State.
Moved by her determination, the teacher took photos and posted them online, sparking an outpouring of support. Within 48 hours, netizens rallied around Mama Grace’s family, raising over ₦3.5 million. Some donors pledged to cover the children’s education through university, while others contributed to help her start a poultry business of her own.
Mama Grace, a widow in her 70s, has been caring for her late daughter’s three children since 2018. She makes a living raising chickens, selling firewood, and doing petty trading. Speaking through a translator, she expressed disbelief at the overwhelming kindness from strangers. “I was just trying to keep my grandchildren in school. I never imagined help would come like this,” she said.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by youth volunteers has since drawn support from Nigerians in the diaspora and across Africa. Several local NGOs and education-focused charities have also stepped in, with one group confirming that they will build Mama Grace a new two-bedroom home before the end of the year.
The principal of the school described Mama Grace as an embodiment of sacrifice and love. “This is a woman who refused to let poverty stop education. She deserves all the help she can get,” he said, calling on the government to invest more in support systems for caregivers like her.
As the story continues to inspire, many Nigerians online are calling it a powerful reminder of the struggles families face to access education — and the transformative impact of communal kindness. Mama Grace’s life has changed, but her legacy of love and sacrifice will echo far beyond the classroom.
