16-year-old builds orphanage in Nigeria, funded entirely by her own efforts

A 16-year-old girl has demonstrated remarkable initiative by building and fully furnishing a new orphanage in Etahi Community, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Nadia Zakaria, daughter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, commissioned the Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home on Saturday, an event attended by community members, religious leaders, and numerous children.

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My name is Nadia Zakaria, I’m 16 years old, and today is a very emotional day for me. About a year ago, this was just an idea. I wanted to do something for children who, through no fault of theirs, don’t get the opportunities many of us take for granted.

Zakaria, who conceived the project at age 15, was driven by a desire to provide opportunities for children who lack them. Reflecting on her own supportive upbringing, she questioned why other children shouldn't also feel safe, loved, and cared for. "Don't they deserve to feel safe, loved and cared for too?" she asked.

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Don’t they deserve to feel safe, loved and cared for too?

Fundraising for the project presented challenges, as Zakaria relied on her family, friends, and even strangers for support. "At 15, I had never done anything like this. But I decided to try. With help from family, friends and even strangers, we raised enough to build the house and furnish every room," she stated. She encouraged other young people to act on their ideas for making a difference, emphasizing that age and financial capacity are not barriers.

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You don’t have to be older, richer or more powerful to make a difference. You just have to care enough to start.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan proudly announced that her daughter financed the entire project independently, stating, "My daughter raised the money for this building herself. I did not contribute one kobo." The senator also revealed that Nadia is already planning her next project: a care home for pregnant women in Kogi Central. The orphanage's founder, Pastor Kisito Adomu Zuberu, emotionally recounted the children's previous living conditions, noting they slept on the ground before Nadia's intervention provided them with a "fully equipped mansion."

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I hope you know you are loved. You matter and your dreams matter. May this be a place where you feel safe, where you laugh and where you grow.