Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has called on Nigerians to support initiatives that uplift vulnerable groups, including disadvantaged youths, victims of domestic abuse, persons living with disabilities, and children in need.
This appeal came as she unveiled a newly completed N70 million halfway home in Abuja.
The structure, developed through her non-profit organisation, DashMe Foundation, was launched on Friday in Abuja as part of the foundation’s fourth anniversary celebration. The facility is designed to serve as a transitional home for young adults who have aged out of orphanages and need support as they begin independent living.
“We celebrate a major milestone with the completion of the N70m DashMe Foundation House for the Sought After Women and Children Foundation. This halfway home offers maturing young adults between 18 to 25 years a safe and dignified space to begin adulthood,” Adeosun stated.
She highlighted the challenges many orphans face after turning 18, noting that the new facility will help bridge the legal and social void by providing vocational training, mentorship, education, and temporary shelter.
“The house was completed in eight months and represents more than just a building; it is a symbol of hope and transformation,” she added.
Adeosun expressed gratitude to donors, volunteers, and supporters, describing them as “saints who serve without a spotlight.” She also explained that the DashMe Foundation operates by collecting and reselling donated items, with proceeds going towards social welfare interventions.
Carol Silver-Oyaide, the Founder of the Sought After Women and Children Foundation, commended Adeosun and her team for the initiative, describing it as transformative.
“Our vision is to restore hope to the abused, hurting and abandoned. This halfway house will change the trajectory for some of the most resilient young people,” Silver-Oyaide said.
In addition to the halfway home, DashMe Foundation also inaugurated a new charity store in Wuse 2, Abuja—its third outlet after similar stores in Surulere and Lekki, Lagos. These stores sell new and gently used donated items to raise funds for humanitarian projects.
“DashMe Store is four years old, and the new outlet in the heart of Abuja is another big step. People can declutter and donate quality items, handbags, shoes, toys, furniture, which we sell to support orphanages, the physically challenged, and the needy,” Adeosun noted.
She recalled that what began as a modest initiative in 2021 has expanded across Nigeria and even into the United Kingdom and United States, reaching communities in Lagos, Cross River, and Borno States.
In Lagos, the foundation donated N7 million to the Last Hope Faith Orphanage to build a permanent home for children. In Ogun State, it funded a N20 million home for the YAOCH Orphanage, equipped with a solar-powered water system, kitchen, and safe sleeping quarters.
Other interventions include the provision of N2.5 million worth of anti-epileptic drugs and a sensory therapy room at Peculiar Saints Orphanage, as well as the complete rebuilding of the Save the Children Home in Owerri.
The foundation has also assisted survivors of domestic violence with start-up capital to help them begin small businesses and rebuild their lives.
“Every item fuels hope. Every sale transforms a life. That’s the heart of DashMe, bringing people together through simple acts of kindness to create lasting change,” Adeosun affirmed.
She revealed plans to expand the foundation’s reach by opening more stores, forming new partnerships, and launching additional initiatives to serve underserved communities.
“Whether it’s a toy or a piece of furniture, if it’s in good condition, bring it to a DashMe Store. It could be the very thing that brings relief to someone in desperate need,” she concluded.
