Nigeria is about the most populated countries in Africa and receives a considerable amount of aid to tackle the significant inequality of wealth across its varied population.
However, charities and non-profit organizations play integral role in supporting underserved members of society in any country.
The charities listed below are picked out based on their mission, goal, and impact in the country.
They are mainly indigenous charities that primarily work in Nigeria to create a more equitable, just, and healthy future for local communities.
Many of the charities on this list focus on improving education and advancing children’s rights across Nigeria to help them improve their lives.
Others focus on ensuring that every individual has access to nutritious food and quality healthcare. However, they all share the same goal which is to help the people in their society and invest in the future of Nigerian communities and sustainability.
- Sterling One Foundation
Sterling One Foundation was established in 2018 by Sterling Bank Plc as a vehicle for positive social impact across critical sectors in the Nigerian economy.
The foundation is driven by the unique challenges facing millions of Africans, and its keen on contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), harnessing demographic dividends and improving the lives and livelihoods of people in under-served communities.
Through innovative programs and integrated approach, the foundation engage in stakeholder driven interventions, that are geared towards socio-economic development, wealth creation, employability, sustainability and national development.
The Foundation is headed by Peju Ibekwe, a thorough-bred nonprofit specialist who has continued to steer the wheels of the organisation to achieve monumental success across Nigeria and Africa.
The foundation focuses on tackling the root causes of poverty in Nigeria through social interventions.
The organization’s, culture is shaped by people who are driven, passionate and committed to the Foundation’s mission.
Sterling One Foundation focuses on education, health, climate action, gender equality and food security which are all critical areas that require urgent attention for progress to happen.
2. Lagos Food Bank Initiative
Michael Sunbola founded The Lagos Food Initiative in 2015. This foundation was launched in order to fight hunger, reduce food waste, and solve the problem of malnutrition through targeted programs in Nigeria.
The charity has gone a long way and today it has been able to focus on making food more sustainable through livestock and crop farming initiatives, alongside their food bank system.
Since its founding, the Lagos Food Bank Initiative has reached over 2 million beneficiaries across 160 communities in Lagos State, Nigeria. For example, in 2021, they distributed 432,839 kg of food (an increase of 189% over the previous year) to 294,855 beneficiaries at a net income of about 114 million Naira (about $275,000).
3. Bisi Alimi Foundation
Bisi Alimi founded his foundation called “The Bisi Alimi Foundation” on 2015.
It was founded to promote equality irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity and reduce homophobia in Nigeria. Today, the charity uses research, training, community engagement, and business to achieve this.
The Bisi Alimi Foundation conducts studies on the social perception of LGBTQ+ people and the impact of homophobia in Nigeria. They create awareness of their goals through public advocacy, campaigns, and engagement with businesses and institutions in the country.
They also provide Media Justice Fellowships for lawyers and journalists to train them on these issues that will contribute to the change movement. Additionally, they host the Rainbow Academy program to train LGBTQ+ people with the skills to challenge homophobia in Nigeria.
Since the founding, the Bisi Alimi Foundation has engaged and trained over 40 scholars in their Academy program and held four annual media justice fellowships
4. Land of Hope
The Land of Hope was founded in 2012 by Anja Ringgreen Loven to fight against the idea that children are witches (which still causes thousands of children in Nigeria to be shamed, tortured, abandoned, or killed).
Today, the charity is about strengthening small communities and getting education action to some of the country’s poorest places.
The Land of Hope saves innocent children accused of witchcraft from being cast out, tortured, and killed. In addition, they teach the kids about their rights and what to do if those rights are violated (in case they are wrongly accused of witchcraft).
5. GEANCO Foundation
The GEANCO Foundation was founded in 2005 by Dr. Godwin Onyema and his family to save and transform the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria. Today, the charity provides surgical missions, prenatal services, and education for children.
The GEANCO Foundation runs programs to help mothers and babies stay healthy through anemia screenings and treatments and leads special surgical missions.
Since its launch, the GEANCO Foundation has screened and treated over 47,000 mothers and children for anemia. They have helped over 14,000 women deliver healthy babies.
