From Poverty to Opportunity: Nigerian Aid

Since early childhood, I have been tapped into the harshness and cruelty of life. Perhaps because even as a privileged white child, I could feel that I was living in a highly hypocritical and unjust America. I clung onto that feeling and have let it guide, mold, and create the heart that currently beats in my chest. That awareness has pushed me to immerse myself in uncomfortable and unlikely spaces. I have a burning desire to learn, appreciate, and understand what kind of heart and spirit it takes the marginalized and oppressed humans of this world to live as freely and honestly as they do.

I have been inspired by many people throughout my lifetime, but one in particular. And that’s where this fundraiser began.

In April 2025, I visited Lagos, Nigeria, to celebrate my 40th birthday. Three months later and I still can’t quite put my experience into words. Africa and its beautifully diverse people have an enduring place in my heart. After my trip to Lagos, I have added “harsh” and “difficult” when I think about life in Nigeria: a country stuck in a grueling cycle of severe poverty and hardship. Nothing is easy in Nigeria; nothing. Like many African countries, Nigeria has succumbed to the brutal effects of a government so cruel that stable electricity is not seen as a necessity for its citizens.

As I wrapped up my time in Nigeria, I pushed myself to zero in on how I could positively impact the lives of Nigerians after I returned to the United States. One thing that stands out is the sheer lack of jobs and accessibility to job-training opportunities. Nigerians are hungry, literally and figuratively, to work hard and earn money, but the routes there are severely limited and restricted. Many jobs vital to a bustling economy sit vacant because Nigerians aren’t able to come up with the money to take the training courses required for these higher-earning positions.

Tech-training institutes and software engineering academies have highly sought-after courses and can lead to heavily-compensated careers but have huge accessibility barriers. The average tuition for one of these courses in Nigeria is approximately $1,500 USD, while, almost unbelievably, a significant portion of the Nigerian population earns less than $2.15 USD per day.

So today I am using my voice and privilege to give back to people who have changed my life. Every Nigerian deserves access to a way up and a way out. A way to share their brilliance with the world.

My goal is $1,500 USD. Please donate with an open mind and heart. My heart is on fire thinking about the impact we can have on Nigerians’ hopes, dreams, and futures.