Elsie UdohWhy did you leave Nigeria for the diaspora? Was it to escape the economy, provide for your family, seek greener pastures, or simply for a fresh start? Whatever your reason, it’s important to remember the economy you left behind and the countless honest-hearted Nigerians still struggling to make ends meet. For many, the odds are stacked against them, and life remains tough. But there’s a way you can help ease their burden—by giving back.
If you’ve found yourself in a better position abroad, you’ve probably thought about how you can lend a hand to those back home, and your support will really go a long way in helping them survive the challenging economy.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBut the thing about giving back is that it’s often difficult to know whom to trust, especially with rampant scams in Nigeria. You want to be sure that your hard-earned money is going to the right cause, but how do you know the “so-called” charity organisations to trust when you’re very far away?
That’s where Prime Business Africa comes in. We’ve carefully researched and compiled a list of top Nigerian charities diasporans can contribute to, so you can rest assured that your contributions will reach the right people and truly make a difference.
Why You Should Support Nigerian Charities
Truth be told, no matter how hard you or anybody else tries, the many problems that Nigeria is faced with cannot be solved by one person. This is not about to be some article about how to rise as a messiah from somewhere in the diaspora and be the saviour struggling Nigerians have been waiting on. Not at all.
Instead, it takes your contribution along with that of other well-meaning diasporans to provide the needed help that can ease the suffering of many Nigerians. Some well-meaning charity organisations have emerged as a means to offer help to underserved Nigerians, and you can play your part by supporting them with your contributions.
Some other reasons why you should support Nigerian charities are:
- By donating to charities, you will be supporting some poverty alleviation programmes aimed at providing food, comfortable shelter, and other essential services to those in need.
- For millions of children in Nigeria, accessing quality education is a luxury they can only dream of. However, many charities are out to bridge that gap for disadvantaged children, and your donations will help to make that possible and give those children hope for a better future.
- Your donation can also help health-focused charities provide access to medical services for children, nursing mothers, people living with disabilities, and sickle-cell disease carriers.
In essence, there’s always some good that is done when you donate to the right cause, and that’s one of the best uses of money.
Top Nigerian Charities That You Can Donate To From The Diaspora
There are different charity organisations in various sectors that you can contribute to from the diaspora. These organisations have different goals, but one thing among them remains a constant similarity: they are out to help the less privileged, and we’re sure that that’s what you want to do as well.
On that note, here are some top Nigerian charities that Diasporans can contribute to:
1. Charities for Poverty Alleviation
Some charity organisations have the sole aim of relieving millions of Nigeria who are living below the poverty line by providing food, shelter and clothing for vulnerable individuals and communities. If this aligns with your interest, then here are some charities for poverty alleviation that you can donate to:
ActionAid Nigeria
This organisation has a long-standing record of working to eliminate poverty and injustice in Nigeria and other parts of the world. A donation to ActionAid Nigeria means a donation to vulnerable groups in Nigeria, as this organisation is focused on empowering the community, advocating for women’s rights, and reducing hunger in the country.
One of their successful interventions includes introducing a cash transfer procedure to help women whose businesses collapsed because of the flood in 2018 in Kogi, Niger, Kebbi, and Delta States.
You can show your support for this cause by donating here. Donations are not limited to a fixed amount, so you can start your donations from any amount that you have in hand.
SPGN Nigeria
This is an organisation that aims to improve the quality of life through its Operation Feed the Needy project. This project is carried out by distributing food and emergency relief during crises to underprivileged families in Nigeria during festive periods.
With the festive period approaching, this is one of the best gifts that you can give to an underprivileged family. Donating to this cause will help to fill the homes of those who can barely afford to feed, with much excitement during the upcoming festive periods.
Their beneficiaries are targeted toward orphans or vulnerable children, hospital victims who have no access to food, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, emergency disasters that require food provision, and the like.
See details to donate to this cause here.
The Destiny Trust
This charity organisation are set out to ensure that children become what they are truly meant to be—the leaders of tomorrow. They do this by providing rehabilitation facilities and relief to displaced and homeless children, as well as young children in disadvantaged circumstances.
With their help, children on the streets can have a home, access education, and be given a chance to have a new start at life with a secure future free from the conditions that would have held them back.
Donating to their cause is simple, and you can make donations from as low as ₦500. Remember, it’s the thoughts that count. See the steps to making donations to the Destiny Trust here.
2. Charities Focused on Healthcare
Apart from tackling poverty, some other charities in Nigeria are dedicated to providing access to healthcare, which is a major challenge, especially for people in rural areas. Some of these charities include:
Wellbeing Foundation Africa
This charity seeks to improve maternal and child health by providing access to quality healthcare services, education, and support systems. They provide midwifery training and access to healthcare services for pregnant women and children.
Some of their programmes include the WBFA-Dettol Nigeria Hygiene Quest programme which was set up in partnership with Reckitt-Dettol Nigeria in 2022 to introduce the WBFA-Dettol Nigeria Hygiene Quest programme which aims to enhance access to water and sanitation across Lagos, Abuja, and Kwara.
You can read up about their programmes and learn more about how you can support them here.
Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria
Did you know that Nigeria has the highest number of people living with sickle cell globally? This statistic necessitates a foundation to cater to sickle cell disease carriers, and the Sickle Cell Foundation seeks to provide that help.
Sickle cell disorder has been a long menace in Africa that has led to the deaths of many as well as family split-ups. With little access to help for sickle cell carriers, this foundation was set up to provide treatment for those with the disorder as well as educate and advocate for people living with sickle cell disease.
See how you can be a part of this cause through your donations here.
Nigeria Health Watch
This organisation is also focused on improving the health of Nigerians by raising awareness and increasing knowledge on a wide range of health issues in Nigeria.
One of their projects was aimed at raising awareness of policies and strategies that increase access to quality maternal healthcare services for Nigerians.
Learn more about their projects and how you can donate here.
3. Educational Charities
Some charities are also keen on putting the millions of Nigerian children who lack access to quality education in good schools by providing schools as well as other educational materials to underserved communities.
Some of these charities are:
Slum2School
Children in slums and other remote communities in Nigeria often have to bear the brunt of being unable to go to school either because they do not have schools in their area or the means to access it is not available.
Slum2School therefore helps to empower underserved children in slums with quality education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support to enable them to realise their full potential.
Their work includes building schools, providing scholarships, and ensuring that children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have access to education.
You can show your commitment to this cause by investing in their $20 monthly donation to bring two children quality education, health, and psychosocial support every year.
Teach For Nigeria
This charity helps to tackle educational inequality by enlisting Nigeria’s brightest graduates and professionals to teach in underserved schools. Their goal is to find and employ the best hands and groom them on leadership to enable them to provide excellent education to all Nigerian children.
You can donate your quota to this cause in Naira, dollars, or euros here.
Oando Foundation
The Oando Foundation works to improve public education in Nigeria by renovating schools, training teachers, and providing scholarships for students. Like the other charities in this sector, they are focused on ensuring that every child has access to quality primary school education.
To contribute to this cause, you can choose to donate, sponsor a child or volunteer. See the help options available for you to offer from the diaspora here.
READ ALSO: Planning A Trip Back To Nigeria: A Travel Checklist For The Diaspora
4. Environmental and Human Rights Charities
Some charities are concerned about the environment in Nigeria and the degradation caused to it by industrialisation, pollution, and deforestation. For this reason, environmental and human rights charities have emerged to work to protect the environment and uphold human rights. Here are some reliable ones that you can donate to:
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
With oil spillage problems due to urbanisation, vandalising, and other related problems, this organisation focuses on providing “environmental justice” by ensuring that local communities have a say in how their natural resources are used and that they benefit from them.
They also fight against environmental degradation caused by oil companies. Find out more information to volunteer or donate to their cause here.
CLEEN Foundation
The CLEEN Foundation channels its energy to ensure public safety, security, and access to justice in Nigeria. They focus on promoting accountability within the police force, assisting in upholding human rights, and ensuring that Nigerian citizens have access to justice.
Learn how you can donate and be a contributor to this cause here.
5. Community-Based Charities
Other charities focus on the well-being of specific groups within the Nigerian community and provide support where it is most needed. Charities in this category are:
Hope for HIV/AIDS Nigeria
This charity provides support to vulnerable children and people living with HIV/AIDS in the slums of Lagos. They focus on treatment, education, and destigmatization and ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS have access to healthcare services and the support they need.
One of their current projects is the provision of the HFA HIV/AIDS Telephone Hotline to ensure 24/7 access to accurate information on life-saving and timely information about HIV/AIDS to callers, emotional support, and counselling services, among others.
Learn how you can donate to this cause here.
The Mirabel Centre
This is Nigeria’s first sexual assault referral centre that provides medical, legal, and psychosocial support to victims of sexual assault. The centre is one of the few places in Nigeria where survivors can get comprehensive care in a safe and supportive environment.
They provide free forensic medical and psychosocial services to rape and sexual assault survivors.
You can get involved by donating or volunteering. Learn how to do so here.
How to Contribute to Nigerian Charities
You might wonder how possible it might be to contribute to Nigerian charities from the diaspora, and so we have provided a few options for you to see that contributing to Nigerian charities from abroad is easier than you might think:
- Direct Bank Transfers: Many charities have bank accounts set up to receive international donations. Be sure to verify the account details directly from the charity’s website or contact them for more information.
- International Wire Transfers: Alternatively, you can choose to send your donations via platforms like Western Union or MoneyGram.
Frequently Asked Questions About Contributing to Nigerian Charities (FAQs)
How do I verify a charity in Nigeria before donating?
Although the charities provided here are reliable organisations, we advise that you always check the charity’s registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria and look for reviews or testimonials from other donors before donating.
Can I volunteer from abroad?
Yes, some charities allow for remote volunteering, such as providing skills training online or helping with fundraising efforts. Contact the organisation you are interested in supporting to find out how you can volunteer from abroad.
What types of donations can I make?
If you have financial constraints but still want to contribute, then you can also donate items such as clothing, school supplies, or medical equipment. Some charities have specific needs, so check with them directly.
Final Thoughts
Wherever you are in the diaspora, you can feel fulfilled and satisfied knowing that you are lending a hand to the right cause back home by donating your money and other material resources to charities in Nigeria.
As you plan your contributions, remember to:
- Research thoroughly: Ensure that the charity you’re supporting is reputable and that your donations will be used wisely.
- Donate consistently: Regular contributions, no matter how small, have a greater long-term impact than one-time donations.
- Get involved: If you can, consider volunteering or spreading the word about the charity’s work to get others involved.
By contributing to these charities, you’re not just helping those in need; you’re also helping to build a better future for your dear country, Nigeria.
Elsie Udoh is an SEO content writer who specialises in writing engaging stories that resonates with diverse audiences. She studied mass communication at the Lagos State University.
