Abibakr As-Sidiq Philanthropic Home Trains, Empowers Orphans in Kwara

The Abibakr As-Sidiq Philanthropic Home has empowered 950 orphans and vulnerable children in Kwara State.

Speaking at the programme in Ilorin, the Chief Operating Officer of the foundation, Barrister Farid Abdulrazaq Salman, who also served as Project Manager, said caring for vulnerable children is a direct investment in national security.

According to him, when children are neglected, society pays the price through rising crime and instability, stressing that the foundation’s intervention is aimed at breaking that cycle through empowerment and skills development.

Delivering a detailed project close-out speech, the Project Manager disclosed that the programme, which began in March last year, has reached about 95 percent completion.

He appreciated the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) for funding the project and described the support as instrumental to its success.

Barrister Salman also commended the President of the foundation, Mallam Abdulrazzaq Ibrahim Salman, for providing visionary leadership that prioritises compassion and human dignity.

Barrister Salman explained that beneficiaries had completed training in tailoring, catering, ICT, computer hardware maintenance, tricycle riding and welding, and would be graduating with certificates and empowerment tools.

He added that training is still ongoing in hairdressing, furniture and cabinet making, and electronic installation, with all equipment already procured.

He further noted that the project also covered food distribution to orphanages, payment of school fees for two academic terms, with the final term scheduled for immediate disbursement, alongside textbooks and exercise books.

Also speaking, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Quazeem Ojiwusi, said the project was designed to address key challenges facing vulnerable children by equipping them with practical skills for self-reliance.

The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and sustained humanitarian intervention in Kwara State.

In her remarks, the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Nnafatima Imam, praised the foundation for its consistent support to orphaned and vulnerable children across the state.

Dr. Imam said the initiative aligns with the ministry’s mandate on child protection, youth empowerment and poverty reduction, assuring the foundation of the state government’s readiness to partner on future programmes including skills acquisition, mentorship and psychosocial support.

She also urged other philanthropists and corporate organisations to support initiatives targeted at uplifting the less privileged in society.

Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Olori Muslimat Dawodu, thanked the foundation for the food supplies and empowerment support, saying the intervention would improve service delivery to over 80 orphans in her care.