In a heartfelt show of solidarity, Julius Modu Ogunti, a US-based Nigerian Afrobeats artist, mixing engineer, and philanthropist, recently extended a helping hand to families displaced by the devastating Alau Dam collapse in Borno State, Nigeria. During his visit to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps on October 1 and 2, 2024—Nigeria’s Independence Day—Ogunti and his team delivered essential supplies through his organization, the Julius Modu Ogunti Foundation (JMOF).

Ogunti’s foundation distributed food, clothing, and school materials to hundreds of displaced families in the camps. Items donated included rice, palm oil, noodles, milk, toilet rolls, and sachets of salt, while children received books and learning materials. The artist expressed his commitment to helping those affected by the tragedy, saying, “As I aim to touch lives with my music, I also want to help people in need whenever, wherever, and however I can. Liberia and Nigeria hold special places in my heart because even though I was born in Ivory Coast, my father is Nigerian, while my mother is Liberian.”

The disaster, which occurred on September 9, 2024, was triggered by heavy rains and structural damage to the Alau Dam in the Konduga area of Borno State. The dam’s collapse led to flash flooding in neighboring Maiduguri and Jere LGAs, displacing thousands of residents and destroying homes, farmland, and infrastructure.

For Ogunti, supporting displaced families is both a mission and a reflection of his own journey. “The joy of giving grows each time I share with others,” he said. “I promised myself that if I ever had the opportunity, I would always give back to those in need. Philanthropy, to me, is about paying it forward, and the smiles on their faces is an added incentive.”

This isn’t Ogunti’s first effort to uplift displaced communities. In 2023, the JMO Foundation extended aid to Buduburam Camp in Ghana, where many Liberian refugees from the civil wars have sought safety since the 1990s. Ogunti’s visit included donations of essential supplies, furthering his mission to support communities facing hardship across West Africa.

In the wake of the Borno flooding, Ogunti called on Nigeria’s private sector to contribute to national welfare amid economic challenges, highlighting the critical role of private support. “In these tough times, it’s crucial for corporate bodies and individuals to step up and fill the gaps wherever the government isn’t able to meet its obligations to citizens,” he emphasized.

Through his music and philanthropy, Julius Ogunti is building a legacy of compassion and resilience, using his platform not only to entertain but to effect meaningful change. He is committed to making his annual outreach an ongoing tradition, pledging, “After my visit to Ghana last year, I promised myself to make this initiative an annual tradition. When I heard about the flooding incident in Borno, I knew I had to help in any way I could.”

Ogunti’s dedication to helping displaced families and vulnerable communities is matched by his rising influence in music, where he is recognized as a leading voice of Afrobeats and Afropop.