Hope, the little boy once branded a witch and left to starve in Akwa Ibom, has reached a remarkable milestone—he has graduated from primary school.
In January 2016, the world was shocked by photos of the then two-year-old, severely malnourished and abandoned by his family. He was rescued by Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Lovén and her husband, David Emmanuel Umem, who took him into their foundation, the Children’s Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF), also known as Land of Hope.
Now nine years later, Hope has not only survived but thrived against all odds, including living with deafness. In July 2025, he graduated with one of the highest grades in his class and is set to begin secondary school in September.
Sharing the news on Facebook on Monday, August 25, Anja wrote:
“Hope survived. He graduated this year and starts secondary school next month. His story is world famous and every day I look at him and feel so grateful for his incredible development.”
She went on to describe him as a unique child with remarkable talents:
“Hope is deaf but despite that he is able to communicate using sign language. Not only is he very intelligent, he is a talented artist, an excellent dancer, very warm and caring, and on top of that he has a great sense of humor.”
Lovén also reflected on the thousands of children in Nigeria accused of witchcraft, many of whom are not as fortunate as Hope.
“Some days it makes me think about the thousands of ‘Hope’s’ out there who we will never get to know… Once a child is accused of being a witch, it’s the end. But we will never give up. It’s an uphill battle but with your support to Land of Hope we will continue to save lives.”
Hope’s journey from abandonment to achievement is now a global symbol of resilience, hope, and second chances.
