Nadia Zakaria, daughter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has built and fully furnished an orphanage home in Okene, Kogi State, after raising funds with support from family, friends and members of the public.

A 16-year-old girl, Nadia Zakaria, has turned a childhood idea into a major humanitarian project after building and commissioning a fully furnished orphanage home in Etahi Community, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Nadia, the daughter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, commissioned the Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home on Saturday in the presence of community members, religious leaders, children and other well-wishers.

The project, which Nadia said began as an idea when she was 15, was inspired by her desire to provide a safe and supportive environment for children who do not have access to the opportunities many others enjoy.

Speaking at the commissioning, Nadia described the occasion as an emotional moment and reflected on the journey that led to the completion of the project.

According to her, growing up in a supportive family made her think about children whose circumstances were very different from hers.

“About a year ago, this was just an idea. I wanted to do something for children who, through no fault of theirs, don’t get the opportunities many of us take for granted,” she said.

Nadia said she often wondered whether children without such opportunities deserved the same sense of safety, love and care.

“Don’t they deserve to feel safe, loved and cared for too?” she asked.

‘I Raised the Money With Help From Others’

Turning the idea into reality, however, was not easy.

Nadia said she had never undertaken a project of such magnitude before but decided to seek support from people around her.

“At 15, I had never done anything like this. But I decided to try. With help from family, friends and even strangers, we raised enough to build the house and furnish every room,” she said.

The teenager urged other young people not to underestimate what they can accomplish simply because of their age or financial circumstances.

“You don’t have to be older, richer or more powerful to make a difference. You just have to care enough to start,” she said.

Addressing the children who will live in the facility, Nadia told them that the new home should remind them of their worth and potential.

“I hope you know you are loved. You matter and your dreams matter. May this be a place where you feel safe, where you laugh and where you grow,” she said.

Senator Natasha: ‘I Did Not Contribute One Kobo’

Senator Natasha, who attended the event, said she did not finance the construction of the orphanage.

“My daughter raised the money for this building herself. I did not contribute one kobo,” the senator said.

She described the project as an example of what young people can accomplish when they are motivated by compassion and determination.

According to her, Nadia is already looking beyond the orphanage project and is planning another initiative—a care home for pregnant women in Kogi Central.

The senator's comments were contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by her media aide, Sam Idoko.

‘The Children Were Sleeping on the Ground’

For Pastor Kisito Adomu Zuberu, the founder of the Oyiza-Salem Divine Orphanage Home, the new building represents a dramatic change in the lives of the children under his care.

Overcome with emotion, Zuberu recalled the difficult conditions in which some of the children previously lived.

“When they came last year, the children were sleeping on the ground. Today Miss Nadia has given us a fully equipped mansion,” he said.

Despite operating with limited resources, Zuberu said the orphanage had continued to invest in the education and skills development of the children.

He disclosed that two of the children are currently in university, while another is studying at the School of Nursing in Obangede.

One child has graduated from the University of Abuja, another is at Kwara State University, while another is awaiting the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He added that eight children are in primary school, while two others are learning vocational skills, including tailoring.

‘More Than a Building’

The management and children of the orphanage expressed appreciation to Nadia and Senator Natasha, describing the project as an “extraordinary act of love.”

They said the new facility represents more than a physical structure, offering the children “hope, security, dignity and a home we can be proud of.”

The commissioning attracted considerable attention in the community, with several participants describing Nadia's initiative as an inspiring example of youth-led philanthropy in Kogi State.

At just 16, Nadia has demonstrated that meaningful community impact can begin with an idea—and the determination to turn that idea into reality.