Noah Hunkpoyanwa
Noah is one of the leaders of Makoko. He is a confident man, idealistic, charismatic and energetic. His name means "peace." He creates the Floating Education System (FES) and is the Administrator of the Floating School Network (FSN) in Makoko. He was born in 2000 and has grown up in this place. His father was an Egun carpenter and his mother a Yoruba fisherwoman coming from the Republic of Benin. The Egun and Yoruba tribes are both part of his identity. He feels more African than Nigerian. He received his education in the local School under the guidance of "Mama Makoko". He completed his studies in Lagos and received the degree of Teacher. He believes that Education can transform the world.
On the 16th of July in 2012, his life changed completely when the Government of Lagos began the demolition of the Slum. This day, his brother and best friend, Timothy Hunkpoyanna died. The police shot him. Noah promised to take care of his little nephew, Ajé.
In that year, Makoko was declared as one of the most "unlivable" places to live in Nigeria. Noah was devastated. More than 10,000 people lost their homes. The school was also in ruins.
In 2013, a famous Nigerian Architect, Kunlé Adeyemi, and his team built a prototype for the new Floating School. With 250 plastic barrels, woods, solar panels, and the help of the community, they created a new space for the children. This was one of the turning points of his life. "We can do it; this is only the beginning." The slum continues changing. the transformation was unimaginable. The next step was the cleaning of the Lagoon. In 2014, the Community and an important Instititute prepared "The Regeneration Plan".
When he was only 15 years old, he became a Social activist, and his attempts to found a terrorist cell to make the Resistance against Lagos government, ended when he was imprisoned for disturbing public order. During his months in prison, he asked himself: How can we transform Makoko in a self-sustainable community? How can we preserve Makoko as a community?
In 2035, now almost 35 years old, Noah continues his fight. Makoko is a self-sustainable special city, a Tourist attraction. An attraction for artists, welcoming people from all over the world. Lagos is one of the most powerful cities in the world, and he feels the threats every day; he wants to be prepared. The Resistance Movement is becoming strong. During the last twenty years, he has been building a huge network, inside Makoko, also in Lagos, in Nigeria and other continents. Sometimes he has dealings without any concern for whether the people are good or evil.
Every day he communicates with the Community from his house. Everybody hears his messages from the community speakers. He takes care of the children and the elderly. He is very interested in preserving the identity of Africa, and especially the Makokoan identity. Many people call him "Head Hunter" because he is always looking for Talent in Makoko. He discovers the skills of the students and looks for the best opportunities for them.
He achieves national and international awards. The International Academic Education Community knows about this phenomenon, and Noah receives permanent invitations to participate in academic Congresses and also in social media. The leadership of Noah and his personal exposition in Media give him more power to connect people and receive their support and recognition.
Noah has an individual computer with different screens. That computer interconnects him to the Floating School Network, inside Makoko and with the entire community of Floating Schools in the World. He feels the power of this control monitor. He has a Holographic Necklace that allows him to have a remote connection with his control room monitors.
Sometimes he thinks: What will happen if we leave this city? But he understands “Self-regulation” as a way to became more independent from Lagos. He knows they need a Political reform. The risk is to take the community to isolation. He wants to transform Makoko into a trademark, the Venice of Africa. The loyalties he has are clear: to Egun and Yoruba deities, to the memory of his brother and friend Timothy, his family and the community of Makoko.
Noah has been working for twenty years to obtain that recognition and now he feels he is not alone in this commitment. The community, with his guidance, is making visible this "invisible city".
On the 16th of July in 2012, his life changed completely when the Government of Lagos began the demolition of the Slum. This day, his brother and best friend, Timothy Hunkpoyanna died. The police shot him. Noah promised to take care of his little nephew, Ajé.
In that year, Makoko was declared as one of the most "unlivable" places to live in Nigeria. Noah was devastated. More than 10,000 people lost their homes. The school was also in ruins.
In 2013, a famous Nigerian Architect, Kunlé Adeyemi, and his team built a prototype for the new Floating School. With 250 plastic barrels, woods, solar panels, and the help of the community, they created a new space for the children. This was one of the turning points of his life. "We can do it; this is only the beginning." The slum continues changing. the transformation was unimaginable. The next step was the cleaning of the Lagoon. In 2014, the Community and an important Instititute prepared "The Regeneration Plan".
When he was only 15 years old, he became a Social activist, and his attempts to found a terrorist cell to make the Resistance against Lagos government, ended when he was imprisoned for disturbing public order. During his months in prison, he asked himself: How can we transform Makoko in a self-sustainable community? How can we preserve Makoko as a community?
In 2035, now almost 35 years old, Noah continues his fight. Makoko is a self-sustainable special city, a Tourist attraction. An attraction for artists, welcoming people from all over the world. Lagos is one of the most powerful cities in the world, and he feels the threats every day; he wants to be prepared. The Resistance Movement is becoming strong. During the last twenty years, he has been building a huge network, inside Makoko, also in Lagos, in Nigeria and other continents. Sometimes he has dealings without any concern for whether the people are good or evil.
Every day he communicates with the Community from his house. Everybody hears his messages from the community speakers. He takes care of the children and the elderly. He is very interested in preserving the identity of Africa, and especially the Makokoan identity. Many people call him "Head Hunter" because he is always looking for Talent in Makoko. He discovers the skills of the students and looks for the best opportunities for them.
He achieves national and international awards. The International Academic Education Community knows about this phenomenon, and Noah receives permanent invitations to participate in academic Congresses and also in social media. The leadership of Noah and his personal exposition in Media give him more power to connect people and receive their support and recognition.
Noah has an individual computer with different screens. That computer interconnects him to the Floating School Network, inside Makoko and with the entire community of Floating Schools in the World. He feels the power of this control monitor. He has a Holographic Necklace that allows him to have a remote connection with his control room monitors.
Sometimes he thinks: What will happen if we leave this city? But he understands “Self-regulation” as a way to became more independent from Lagos. He knows they need a Political reform. The risk is to take the community to isolation. He wants to transform Makoko into a trademark, the Venice of Africa. The loyalties he has are clear: to Egun and Yoruba deities, to the memory of his brother and friend Timothy, his family and the community of Makoko.
Noah has been working for twenty years to obtain that recognition and now he feels he is not alone in this commitment. The community, with his guidance, is making visible this "invisible city".