A non-governmental organisation, Funmilayo Charity Foundation, has enrolled 60 children into schools and empowered 20 women with business support in Lagos.

Its founder, Olanrewaju Hakeem, said this during an interview, stating that the foundation aims to help the needy, support education and reduce the number of people, especially children living on the streets.

According to him, the foundation enrolled 60 children in school two years ago and has repeated the gesture this year by sponsoring another 60 pupils, providing them with school uniforms and learning materials while paying their fees.

“We don’t want children roaming the streets. Two years ago, we enrolled 60 children into primary schools, fully supporting them with uniforms, materials and school fees. This year, we have enrolled another 60,” he said.

Hakeem explained that the organisation also empowers both men and women with food, healthcare and business support, adding that 20 women across Lagos are currently being assisted with tools to sustain their market activities.

“We have some people we want to empower today about 20 of them. We want to go there and give them support.

“What we notice is when passing on the road going to the market, there are some people who are doing small-scale business who do not have much. During the rainy season, we discovered that market women could not afford a new umbrella to cover their goods simply because there was no money. So now we are supporting them with that umbrella so that when it is raining, they will have the new umbrella to cover themselves,” he said.

Hakeem emphasised that while the government cannot do everything, NGOs like him are stepping in to bridge the gap.

He also revealed the foundation’s five-year vision to reach more vulnerable people, reduce school dropouts and continue empowering communities across Nigeria.