Reggie Alfredo Durugo, fondly called Mama Makoko, the light of Makoko, Mama Yaba, and Mama Nigeria, was an influential figure who strongly advocated for youth outreach and education before her abrupt disappearance in 2021. Durugo entered the Makoko slum as an evangelist in 1987, but quickly realized the strong lack of education among the community’s youth. In 1990 she committed her life to teaching and recruiting children to get an education. In two decades she was estimated to have sent more than 5000 children to school, with many going on to universities or vocational jobs. 

Structure
Mama Makoko and her team used borrowed canoes to charter students to school, and community halls to gather children for lessons and informal learning. 

Edu Slum
As her work in the Makoko community became more well known, people worldwide started volunteering to help teach. The initiative became known as Edu Slum, and was sustained through donations and fundraising. 

Disappearance and Speculation
In 2021, a few years after receiving an award from the 100 Unsung Heroes for her powerful impact on the Makoko community, Mama Makoko disappeared. She was last seen exiting the Makoko Floating School heading east. Some reported to have seen her weeping as she paddled her canoe down.

There have been many theories and urban myths to account for Mama Makoko’s disappearance. Some speculate it was because of stronger prominence of area boys in the Makoko community, the increase in organized crime, or the growing tension between mainland Lagos and the rapidly growing Makoko slum. Many have suggested that she just retired in hiding, and still others point to foul play.

Legacy
Small memorials for Mama Makoko can be found throughout Makoko. They are marked notably with green headscarves. Atrubi Olandi, a close confidant of Mama Makoko, published the book 'The Word' in 2025 with the help of Straightway Gate Publishers in Ibadan. The text serves as a collation of Mama Makoko's beliefs and teachings.