About us

Grundtvig Movement of Nigeria (GMN) is a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) registered by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act Cap. 98. It is committed to the practice, propagation and development of “Education for Life” in Nigeria. This is education that seeks to equip students not only to make a living but to live lives useful and satisfactory to themselves, to their communities, and to the nation.

It thus facilitates enlightenment, self-discovery, cultural awareness and active citizenship, among other values; and differs from the one-sidedly bookish and examination/certificate-oriented education prevalent in our society today. This approach to education is based on our rich tradition and the philosophy of the Danish educational reformer, N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783-1872). Grundtvig's ideas have also given rise to the Danish folk high school and efterskole movements and have influenced and given rise to many other similar educational movements across the world, including the Highlander Folk School in the USA which influenced Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.

This educational philosophy was extolled by then US President Barack Obama at the 2016 Nordic State Dinner. Grundtvig’s work “ended up having a ripple effect on the civil rights movement,” Obama said, adding he “might not be standing here” were it not for his teachings.

The Grundtvig Movement was founded in Nigeria in 1990 by late Dr. Kachi E. Ozumba (1942-2011). Its activities and projects are overseen and controlled by a Board of Trustees.

Currently, the movement has established and runs the following schools:

• The Grundtvig Institute - 1984.
• Grundtvig International Secondary School - 1998.
• The Grundtvig Polytechnic - 2019.