GPMS Celebrates Historic First as Laure Tijani Rises from Street Hawker to First Class Graduate

Segun Atanda/

In a heartwarming tale of resilience, transformation, and divine providence, Laure Tijani—a once-homeless child who never stepped into a classroom until age nine—has emerged as the first student from GEMS Preparatory Mission Schools (GPMS) to bag a First Class degree.

Laure, who will graduate this June from the African Leadership University (ALU) in Rwanda with a First Class Degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership, has set a historic milestone for GPMS, a tuition-free institution dedicated to educating children of blind beggars and indigent families.

Her academic journey, which began in 2009 in the living room of GPMS’ founder, Evangelist Oluwafunmilayo David, is nothing short of miraculous. Before joining GPMS, Laure spent her days hawking on the streets and serving as a guide for a visually impaired beggar. Thanks to the vision of the mission school and generous scholarships, she overcame those odds to attend Redeemer’s International Secondary School in Lagos—also on full scholarship—where she won multiple awards, including the prestigious Council of British International Schools Student Achievement Award in 2017.

At ALU, Laure continued to excel academically and professionally. She interned remotely with the Australian-based Xtreme Fuel Agency, where her entrepreneurial flair first came to light.

GPMS, founded in 2009, remains entirely free and is run as a faith-based initiative. Students are educated, clothed, and fed at no cost. The school’s leadership attributes this milestone to divine intervention and the unwavering support of benefactors moved by the vision.

“This is a testament to what God can do through ordinary people given extraordinary opportunities,” the school stated in its press release. “We give all the glory to God and invite more partners to help us build customized school facilities so that many more Laure Tijanis can fulfill their divine destiny.”

For support or partnership inquiries, GPMS can be contacted at gemsevangelicalmission@gmail.com.

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