By Nkechi Eze
The Hajiya Hadiza Foundation has unveiled prominent Nigerian entertainment personalities, including veteran actor Prince Jide Kosoko, comedian Julius Agwu and Chief Zebrudaya as ambassadors to promote its humanitarian activities and strengthen support for vulnerable individuals and communities across the country.
The personalities were unveiled at a special gathering attended by notable figures from the entertainment and sports industries, who commended the founder of the foundation, Ambassador Dr Hajiya Hadiza M. Umar, for her commitment to humanitarian service and called for greater support for her interventions.
The event featured the official presentation of the foundation’s brochure to the personalities and their investiture as ambassadors, following their acceptance to identify with its humanitarian vision.
Speaking at the event, veteran actor Prince Jide Kosoko described Ambassador Hadiza’s commitment to philanthropy as exceptional, noting that her personal experiences and difficult childhood may have influenced her passion for helping disadvantaged people.
He said her ability to identify with the challenges of vulnerable individuals had continued to inspire her humanitarian activities, adding that her contributions deserved greater recognition and encouragement.
Kosoko said, “Nigeria will continue to appreciate you. The generality of the people will continue to pray for you. I think there are reasons why God kept you.”
He further observed that many wealthy Nigerians were not doing enough to support the less privileged, urging the public to recognise and encourage individuals making meaningful contributions to society.
Also speaking, comedian Julius Agwu commended the foundation’s interventions, particularly its efforts to support victims of terrorism and other vulnerable groups.
He expressed the readiness of members of the entertainment industry to support the foundation’s humanitarian objectives, noting the importance of collective efforts in addressing insecurity and promoting peace.
Former international footballer Emmanuel Babayaro also expressed his commitment to the foundation’s humanitarian vision, particularly its plans to use football as a tool for empowering children affected by terrorism.
Babayaro’s involvement is expected to strengthen the foundation’s proposed sports-based interventions aimed at engaging vulnerable children, discovering young talents and creating opportunities for personal development and economic empowerment.
In his remarks, Chief Zebrudaya, who also serves as a United Nations Peace Ambassador, urged the foundation to publicise its humanitarian activities to encourage more Nigerians to embrace philanthropy.
He also appealed to Ambassador Hadiza to extend the foundation’s interventions to ageing and incapacitated veterans in the entertainment industry, noting that many individuals who had spent their lives entertaining and educating Nigerians were now facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, Ambassador Hadiza said her passion for giving back to society was rooted in her personal experiences, having grown up without the support of close family members.
She explained that helping others remained her greatest source of fulfilment, describing humanitarian service as a calling she intended to sustain throughout her lifetime.
“The only thing I can do to make myself happy is to give back to humanity. When I give, I feel fulfilled. That is what God has deposited in my life, and that is my calling,” she said.
She assured that the foundation would continue its interventions, adding that her children would sustain the humanitarian vision beyond her lifetime.
The foundation’s founder also urged wealthy Nigerians and members of the public to cultivate the habit of giving, stressing that philanthropy should not be left exclusively to government.
She particularly advocated empowerment rather than handouts, explaining that providing people with practical skills and opportunities to earn a living offered more sustainable solutions to poverty.
“I don’t pity people; I empower them. When you give empowerment, you give people the opportunity to make a living and become useful members of society,” she said.
On the relationship between poverty, social vulnerability and insecurity, she maintained that security was a collective responsibility requiring deliberate efforts by families, communities and government.
She disclosed that the foundation had established a centre in Maiduguri, Borno State, to rehabilitate and equip women displaced by Boko Haram activities with vocational skills, including soap and oil production, to enable them to become economically independent.
According to her, the centre is designed to accommodate about 1,500 beneficiaries for skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.
“You cannot just leave security for government alone. Security is everybody’s business. We have to train our children well and ensure that people have opportunities to become productive members of society,” she said.
In his remarks, the Director of the foundation, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, expressed appreciation to the entertainment personalities for accepting to collaborate with the organisation, describing their involvement as an opportunity to expand its humanitarian reach.
He said the foundation was looking forward to a robust partnership with members of the creative industry, noting that their influence could help promote its activities, mobilise support and inspire more Nigerians to contribute to humanitarian causes.
Jimoh explained that the foundation was exploring collaborations across different sectors, including sports and entertainment, to advance its empowerment programmes.
He disclosed that Babayaro, as the foundation’s football ambassador, would help drive initiatives aimed at engaging children affected by terrorism through football, taking them away from the streets and creating pathways for talent development and economic empowerment.
He added that the creative industry had evolved beyond entertainment into a viable economic sector capable of contributing meaningfully to humanitarian development.
The Hajiya Hadiza Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to restoring dignity and improving the living conditions of vulnerable women, widows, persons living with disabilities, internally displaced persons, victims of terrorism, children and underserved communities across Nigeria and beyond.
Its interventions include vocational skills acquisition, educational scholarships, healthcare assistance, financial support, food distribution and economic empowerment programmes.
Among its interventions are the provision of N3 million for the upkeep and medical bills of incapacitated soldiers at a military hospital in Maiduguri, the distribution of mobility aids to victims of terrorism at a Nigerian Army medical facility, and the award of scholarships to 65 students of the University of Abuja.
The foundation has also supported widows and vulnerable communities in Borno, Benue, Niger and other states through the distribution of sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdressing equipment, generators, food items and financial assistance.
Through its Rise Again Initiative, launched at an internally displaced persons’ camp in Abuja, the foundation provided vocational training and empowerment materials, including sewing machines, bead-making equipment, grinding machines and generators, alongside food support and scholarships for 56 children.
The initiative recorded a total of 3,835 beneficiaries across its various empowerment programmes.
Beyond Nigeria, the foundation has extended its humanitarian activities to Kenya, supporting orphaned children with educational scholarships and providing assistance to underserved communities in Samburu County.
It has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese and Cuban medical professionals towards establishing a hospital to provide healthcare services to less privileged persons, vulnerable youths, women and children.
The foundation expressed optimism that the involvement of prominent personalities from the entertainment and sports industries would strengthen its partnerships, broaden public awareness and advance its mission of restoring hope, promoting self-reliance and improving the lives of disadvantaged people.
