Sixteen-year-old Nigerian, Nadia Zakaria, has built, furnished and handed over a fully equipped orphanage home to Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home in Etahi Community, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Nadia, daughter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, reportedly conceived the humanitarian project at the age of 15 and raised funds through donations and support from family, friends and members of the public.
The completed facility was formally commissioned and handed over to the orphanage at a ceremony attended by community leaders, religious figures, residents, children and other well-wishers.
The intervention has significantly improved the living conditions of children at the orphanage. Its founder, Adomu Zuberu, disclosed that some of the children previously slept on bare floors due to the facility’s financial challenges.
Despite the difficulties, Zuberu said the orphanage had continued to provide educational opportunities for the children.
He disclosed that two of the children had proceeded to university, with one studying at the School of Nursing, Obangede, while another, Alhassan, had graduated from the University of Abuja.
Another child is currently studying at Kwara State University, while another is awaiting mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“Eight children are currently in primary school, while two others are learning vocational trades, one in tailoring and another in a different skill acquisition programme,” Zuberu said.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Nadia said the project was inspired by her desire to give vulnerable children the opportunities, comfort and security she had experienced while growing up in a loving family.
In a notable disclosure, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said she did not provide financial support for the construction of the orphanage, stressing that her daughter independently mobilised the resources required for the project.
“My daughter, Nadia, sourced the money spent on the building by herself without me contributing one kobo to the project,” the senator said.
She further disclosed that Nadia was already developing another humanitarian initiative aimed at improving maternal healthcare in Kogi Central.
“She is already developing a plan to build a heavily equipped care home for pregnant women in Kogi Central,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said.
The senator commended her daughter’s initiative and determination, saying the project demonstrated the ability of young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to society when driven by compassion and a sense of responsibility.
The management, staff and children of Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home expressed appreciation to Nadia and everyone who supported the project.
They described the intervention as an exceptional demonstration of compassion, noting that the new facility would provide the children with greater security, dignity and a safe environment they could proudly call home.
