About Shield City Empowerment Initiative

Shield City Empowerment Initiative (SCEI) is a non-profit located in the city of Kano in Northern Nigeria. The center offers tutoring and physical therapy to more than 50 special needs children each week. We are the only resource in northern Nigeria for special needs children, who are often kept at home in sub-Saharan Africa. The center is staffed by American executive director Laura Sharpe and her three children, along with a lively staff of Nigerians. Additionally, the center sponsors the famous Shield City Football Academy of 26 athletes, which is ranked number one in the youth league in our region. Athletes also volunteer their time to work with the special needs children. SCEI also runs a small infant support program in the neighboring country of Niger, where we supply milking goats for newborn orphans that need milk. 

 

At SCEI, we see the value in everyone! We want to be a catalyst for positive change, and since our beginnings in 2000, we’ve been driven by the same ideas we initially founded our non-profit on: support, empowerment and progress.

Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. Shield City Empowerment Initiative emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words.