Nadia Zakaria, the 16-year-old daughter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has built, equipped and handed over an orphanage home to the Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home in Etahi Community, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The facility was commissioned on Sunday at a ceremony attended by community members, religious leaders, children and other well-wishers.
Nadia said she conceived the project at the age of 15 after reflecting on the circumstances of children who did not have the same opportunities and support she had growing up.
She explained that although raising enough money for the project initially appeared difficult, she was able to mobilise funds through donations and support from family members, friends and members of the public. The facility was subsequently furnished and handed over to the management of the Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home.
Speaking during the commissioning, Nadia said the project was driven by her desire to provide vulnerable children with a safe and supportive environment.
She also encouraged other young Nigerians to contribute to their communities regardless of their age or financial circumstances, saying meaningful change could begin with individual acts of compassion.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who attended the commissioning, said her daughter independently sourced the funds for the project and that she did not make any financial contribution to the construction.
The senator also disclosed that Nadia was already developing plans for another humanitarian project, a fully equipped care home for pregnant women in Kogi Central.
The founder of Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home, Pastor Kisito Adomu Zuberu, described the intervention as a major improvement in the living conditions of the children under the organisation’s care.
Zuberu recalled that some of the children had previously been sleeping on the floor, saying the new facility had provided them with improved accommodation and a more dignified environment.
He said the orphanage had continued to support the children’s education and development despite financial challenges. According to him, some of the children have progressed to higher institutions, while others are receiving primary education and vocational training.
The commissioning of the facility has drawn attention to youth-led philanthropy and the role young Nigerians can play in addressing social challenges affecting vulnerable members of society.
The new orphanage is expected to provide shelter and a safer living environment for children under the care of Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home in the Kogi community.
