Nadia Zakaria, the daughter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has built, equipped and handed over an orphanage to Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home in Etahi Community, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The facility was commissioned on Sunday in the presence of community members, religious leaders, children and other guests. The development was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the senator’s media aide, Mike Idoko.

Nadia, who is 16, began the project at the age of 15 and raised funds through donations and support from family members, friends and members of the public.

Speaking at the commissioning, Nadia said the project was inspired by her desire to support children who had not enjoyed the same opportunities she had while growing up.

“At first, raising enough money to build an orphanage seemed almost impossible. I was only 15, and I had never done anything like this before. But I decided to try,” she said.

Nadia said the support she received enabled her to not only construct the facility but also furnish it. She urged young Nigerians to contribute to humanitarian causes regardless of their age or financial capacity.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said she did not contribute financially to the project, stressing that her daughter independently mobilised the funds used for its construction. She also disclosed that Nadia was planning another project to establish an equipped care home for pregnant women in Kogi Central.

The founder of Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home, Pastor Kisito Zuberu, recalled the difficult conditions previously faced by the children. He said they had slept on the floor before Nadia’s intervention but now had access to a fully equipped facility.

Zuberu said the orphanage had continued to support the children’s education and development despite financial difficulties. He described the new facility as an important intervention that would provide the children with safer and more dignified living conditions.