SOS Children’s Villages (Nigeria)

In 1970, after three years of civil war, Hermann Gmeiner visited Nigeria on the invitation of the “National Council of Women Society” (NCWS) and gained an insight on the needs of the population, particularly those of the children. After several meetings with concerned individuals of the country, the SOS Children’s Village Committee under the leadership of Mrs. Awoliyi was founded; this made it possible to raise the necessary funds for the construction of an SOS Children’s Village in Nigeria. The Lagos State Government provided a piece of land in Isolo, a suburb of Lagos. Construction of the first SOS Children’s Village in Nigeria was started in 1970. In early 1973, the building work was completed and the first set of children moved in. In August 1980, the SOS Children’s Village Association of Nigeria was founded as a legal entity, overseeing its activities in the country.
 
In subsequent years, more SOS Children’s Village facilities were added especially in the area of education: kindergarten, primary school and vocational training centre that offers courses in various educational and vocational skills. For the most populated country in Africa with over 140 million inhabitants and illiteracy rate of approx. 43 % education is of utmost importance. After the first set of children were admitted and had out grown the SOS families, youth housing facilities with integration programmes started. Due to the limited capacity of the SOS Children’s Village Isolo, the need for a second SOS Children’s Village in Nigeria became apparent. Consequently in 1993, the SOS Children’s Village Owu-Ijebu consisting of 12 family houses, a clinic, a kindergarten and a primary school was built.