Dorian Home, Africa’s largest orphanage home located in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, which was commissioned by Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in 2021 recently celebrated it’s one year anniversary in grand style.
The Home, committed to redefining charity and social welfare in Nigeria and Africa has been at the forefront of offering hope to the hopeless, giving orphaned and vulnerable children as well as less-privileged women a support system towards a better life.
The Home’s first year anniversary, which was graced by many dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria had the theme: Harnessing the Potentials of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children for National Development.
The Special Guest of Honour at the anniversary and the wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, Hajia Aisha Gambo poured encomiums on the Home’s founder, Dr Lola for her large heart for the less-privileged.
The home’s first year anniversary also attracted special guests like the former governor of Ondo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs Folashade Ojo, the President of Carribean and African Faith-based Leadership organization based in the United States, Rev. Dr Agorom Chigozie, among others.
Unlike many orphanage homes across Africa where poor facilities and management plague the welfare of the orphans, Dorian Home is laying the foundation for the redefinition of Charity and social welfare in Africa.
As a first time visitor, when you step into Dorian home, there’s an air of intentional excellence that greets you right from the entrance. Without knowing that you’re within an orphanage, you would probably think you’re within the four walls of a five star hotel.
According to the Founder and President of the Home, Dr Lola Bayode, orphaned and less-privileged children also deserve the best of facilities and the best of welfare. Yet beyond the excellence that is evident at Dorian Home, the structures put together for the smooth running of the home differentiates the home as one that truly wants to redefine charity and social welfare.
The Home, built with state-of-the-arts facilities that can contain about 750 children is currently home to 55 children while supporting the education of more than 200 indigent children who do not presently live at the home. The serenity and ambience of the home gives off the commitment, passion and competence in the heart of the visionary behind the home, Dr Lola Bayode.
With Nigeria’s out of school children soaring at over 20 million children – the highest in sub-saharan Africa, Dorian Home’s vision of giving hope to the hopeless and offering safe spaces to orphaned and less-privileged children is a mission deserving of commendation.
The founder of the Home, the calm and composed Dr Tolulola Bayode is someone with an uncommon grace for excellence who has mastered the art of doing the impossible with an air of simplicity. Meeting Dr Lola for the first time, the most striking thing is perhaps her low-cut hair and the stylish parting that has since become a fashion statement.
Engaging her in a conversation, you would find a young woman with a passion to redefine charity and social welfare in Africa. Unassuming as she is, you would often find her strategizing on ways to cater for the children or about her numerous businesses through which she supports the welfare of the children at Dorian Home.
For many people who may not know, Dorian Home did not just start as a beautiful edifice. The home started about ten years ago. According to her, “From supporting the education and feeding of children at various Orphanages, we saw first hand, the bad state of welfare in these orphanages and decided to build a befitting and safe space for them. Ten years ago when we started, it was improbable that we would come this far in this short time. Today, we have built the largest Orphanage in Africa with no external funding.”
Further more, she stated that: “At Dorian Home, we place premium on our children’s safety, education, feeding and overall welfare. Today, when you look at the faces of our children, you see smiles that would lighten up your world but these smiles were not there when they first joined us at Dorian Home.”
After singlehandedly building the home, Dr. Lola currently invites well-meaning person’s with a heart for charity known as Vision Partners who would support the home with their time and financial resources to share in her joy of impacting the lives of the less-privileged in our society.
Partaining to the future of Dorian Home, Dr Lola said that her vision is to continuously give hope to the hopeless, plant the seeds of hope, love and joy in the hearts of orphaned and vulnerable children as well as to empower less-privileged widows through Dorian Home.
Furthermore, she stated that her mission is to raise children who would be nationally and internationally relevant, equipped to positively impact our world.
To reach out to Dorian Home, please call
Tel: +234 906 377 7777
Email: info@dorianhomeafrica.org
Web: www.dorianhomeafrica.org