Is Dr. Umar Johnson School Opening Soon!

Is Dr. Umar Johnson’s School Opening Soon? It appears you’re looking for an update on the long-anticipated Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey (FDMG) Academy. As of February 18, 2026, Dr. Umar Johnson has not officially held a “grand opening” for students to attend classes, though he continues to report significant progress and faces new hurdles.

The Road to FDMG: Is the Grand Opening Finally Here?

For over a decade, we have been hearing about the Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey (FDMG) Academy. However, the school never seemed to materialize. And, it has put Dr. Umar at the center of controversy.

So many of his followers allegedly help him to fundraise for the school. FDMG Academy was supposed to be an independent school for Black boys in Wilmington, Delaware.

But so far, what has been reported was missed deadlines and alleged legal battles. Or so we have been told. Much of the support for Dr. Umar has dwindled.

Especially since there was no hope of seeing the school come into fruition. It appears Dr. Umar may finally be opening the independent boys’ school after all.

Although some people are still skeptical about it.

Current Status: Where Do We Stand in 2026?

While Dr. Umar has teased several opening dates over the years—most notably a push for the 2024-2025 school year—the facility is not yet fully operational. In recent interviews and video updates, Dr. Umar has shifted his language, stating he will not declare the school “almost done” again until he physically holds the Certificate of Occupancy in his hand.

Recent Hurdles And Developments

The timeline has been complicated by several factors over the last year:

• Property Tax & Fee Disputes: In August 2025, the school campus faced a potential sheriff’s sale due to unpaid vacant property registration fees. Dr. Umar argued that the city of Wilmington was unfairly targeting the school and failing to apply a nonprofit waiver.   

• Frozen Finances: Dr. Umar reported that both his personal and the school’s bank accounts were temporarily frozen in mid-2025 following alleged hacking attempts, which he described as “sabotage” intended to derail the project.

• Renovation Progress: Despite the setbacks, recent footage shows that the boards have been removed from the windows, and work on the interior—including flooring and major systems like plumbing and electricity—is reportedly moving forward.

Check out the video below for more commentary.

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