My journey in child advocacy, safeguarding, and support began on a rainy Saturday in Ajah, Lagos. Amid the noise of the market, I met 7-year-old Timi. While others bargained over prices, Timi was searching the ground for glue he could sniff, desperate to dull hunger, fear, and the memories of abuse that had driven him from home.

That day, I didn't see a delinquent. I saw a brilliant child whose mind was being pulled under by an indifferent and broken system. His story pierced my heart and strengthened my resolve: a meal alone could not be enough. Timi needed a future.”

My journey in child advocacy, safeguarding, and support began on a rainy Saturday in Ajah, Lagos. Amid the noise of the market, I met 7-year-old Timi. While others bargained over prices, Timi was searching the ground for glue he could sniff, desperate to dull hunger, fear, and the memories of abuse that had driven him from home.

That day, I didn’t see a delinquent. I saw a brilliant child whose mind was being pulled under by an indifferent and broken system. His story pierced my heart and strengthened my resolve: a meal alone could not be enough. Timi needed a future.

I later ran an early street-schooling pilot, and the truth I encountered was painful. A child struggling with withdrawal, trauma, or ongoing abuse cannot truly learn in a classroom environment without first feeling safe and supported. That experience shaped the way we work today.

Our model now prioritizes prevention, early identification, and recovery, creating awareness in communities and partner schools about abuse and the importance of communication, trust, and protective intervention. Before education can thrive, children must be reached with care.