Kai Cenat has updated fans about his plans to build a school in Nigeria during his latest Mafiathon livestream. He confirmed the project is underway and that it requires at least two years to complete and additional funding.
Kai Cenat is using his popularity on Twitch to fund building a school in Nigeria
In March 2024, Cenat visited Nigeria and a local school. He pledged to help after seeing hundreds of students in a single classroom and observing the state of the building.
“Whatever they tell me you guys need, we’re gonna make sure you guys have [it],” he said at the time, according to AfroTech.
Upon his return to the U.S., he brought up the idea again and announced plans to build a new school in the country. Fans have been asking about an update since then, which he delivered during Mafiathon 3, an annual streaming event he hosted this September on his platform.
As Cenat reached over 1 million active subscribers on Twitch (and became the first streamer to reach the milestone), he announced he would use 15% of the revenue generated towards building the school. This means roughly $750,000 would go toward the project.
“If I didn’t have Jesus in my life, none of this would be possible … to do this a third time is crazy,” Cenat said about being able to run such a successful event on Twitch, according to Black Enterprise.
Kai Cenat is seeking a $5 million investment through his own foundation
On the stream, Cenat invited two representatives who are working with him on the project and flew in from South Africa and Nigeria for the occasion. Fanny Moral and Chinedum Umeche both work for Banwo & Ighodalo, a Nigerian law firm, and Enko Education, a network of international schools across Africa.
They said it would take at least two years to build a brand new school. Cenat said he wants it “to last for a long time” and “beyond me, beyond streaming.”
The group detailed specifics about the project, including delays due to topography, as “it’s difficult to build a school in that community.”
“From land purchase and approvals to construction, staffing, and curriculum,” they detailed in a slideshow.
The team decided to move the project to Yaba, Lagos, which is located near Makoko. Students from the area will receive free education, while those coming from other parts of the country will be required to pay for the program.
Cenat has established his own nonprofit, the Kai Cenat Foundation Inc., in order to oversee the project and finances. He already donated $128,579 to cover the costs of computers while the project is ongoing. They are seeking $5 million in investment to “get us to the first day of class,” Cenat said. “That’s what we’re aiming for.”