A Nigerian boy, Hope, who was abandoned by his family in 2016 after being branded a witch, has graduated from primary school and is set to begin secondary education in September.
Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Lovén, who rescued him nearly a decade ago in Akwa Ibom State, shared the update in a Facebook post on Monday, August 25, 2025.
According to Lovén, Hope, who is deaf but communicates through sign language, completed primary school with one of the highest grades in his class.
“Hope survived. He graduated this year and starts secondary school next month. His story is world famous and every day I look at him and feel so grateful for his incredible development,” she wrote.
She added: “If you get to know Hope you are lucky because he is so very unique. Hope is deaf but despite that he is able to communicate using sign language. Hope graduated primary school with one of the highest grades. Not only is he very intelligent, he is a talented artist, an excellent dancer, he is very warm and caring and on top of that he has a great sense of humor.”
While celebrating his progress, Lovén also reflected on the plight of countless other children facing similar accusations.
“All the above makes me happy but some days it makes me think about the thousands of ‘Hope’s’ out there who we will never get to know. Never get to know because their lives are short. Once a child is accused of being a witch it’s the end. But we will never give up. It’s an uphill battle but with your support to Land of Hope we will continue to save lives,” she said.
Hope’s story first drew international attention in January 2016, when a viral photograph showed Lovén giving water to the then two-year-old, severely malnourished after being abandoned for months.
Following his rescue, he was taken to Land of Hope, a foundation Lovén co-founded with her husband, Nigerian lawyer David Emmanuel Umem. The organization provides education, healthcare, and shelter for children accused of witchcraft in Nigeria.
Nearly a decade later, Hope has now grown into a bright and talented boy under the foundation’s care, and is now preparing to take the next step in his education.
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