By Ibrahim Adeyemo
AIESEC in Ibadan on Saturday, August 22, 2026, embarked on its first orphanage visitation of the year, visiting two orphanage homes in Ibadan as part of its community outreach activities.
AIESEC is a youth-led, non-profit organisation that develops leadership potential among young people through international volunteer exchanges and professional internships. Founded in 1948, the organisation operates in over 120 countries, empowering students and recent graduates to gain practical experience and leadership skills.
The Ibadan branch, which is primarily based around the University of Ibadan, had 15 AIESEC officers and organisers participate in the visitation. The Local Committee President and Branch Director of AIESEC Ibadan, OKOH Daniel Kelechi, was also present during the visitation.
The team, led by Damilola Adeoyolanu, Business Development and Engage With AIESEC Manager, and Oreoluwa Sewo, Engage With AIESEC Team Lead, converged at Joke Plaza, Bodija, shortly after 9:00 a.m. to assemble the items donated for the outreach. The team also took photographs with the donated items before loading them into the bus.
At 10:13 a.m., the team departed for the first destination, Children of Promise Ministry (CHIPROMS) Orphanage, located around Ashi Police Station, Bodija New Extension, Ibadan.
Visit to Children of Promise Ministry
The Children of Promise Ministry, which is an orphanage founded in 2005 and is government-owned, received the AIESEC team, who introduced themselves before the children also introduced themselves.
Damilola Adeoyoluna, who also serves as the Engage With AIESEC Manager, addressed the children and explained the purpose of the visit as well as the work of AIESEC.
The children and AIESEC members subsequently engaged in a number of recreational and educational activities.
These included games such as “Last Guy Standing,” where the children were instructed to touch different parts of their bodies before quickly picking up a book placed on a table. The slower participants were eliminated until a winner emerged.
The children were also engaged in activities based on age groups. Those aged 13 and below were introduced to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on good health and well-being.
Through storytelling and interactive activities, the children were taught about healthy living and personal hygiene. They also participated in colouring activities involving drawings of fruits and animals.
The older children were also engaged in a session on science and environmental protection, where they were taught ways of protecting the earth. This was followed by a vision-board activity, where they created representations of their future careers using cut-out pictures of professions such as law, medicine, science, art, music and politics.
Other activities included face painting, games and songs prepared by the AIESEC team for the children.
AIESEC also donated foodstuffs such as a bag of rice, as well as tissue paper and writing materials such as jotters to the orphanage.
Speaking during an interview, one of the workers disclosed that the home currently has more than 20 children, although some of those who were previously under its care are now in higher institutions.
The children also expressed their happiness about the visit, describing the experience as great.
Visit to Oyiza and Foster Foundation
In the afternoon, the team proceeded to its second destination, Oyiza and Foster Foundation, located on Likoyi Street, Felele, Ibadan.
Oyiza and Foster Foundation is a privately owned orphanage. The team was received by the Director of the home, Miss Joy Taiwo, who introduced the organisation and highlighted some of its achievements.
According to Miss Taiwo, the foundation has seven graduates currently serving across the country, nine children in universities, four children awaiting admission, while others are in primary and secondary schools. The foundation also provides skills acquisition programmes and other special programmes for the children.
She further disclosed that many children have been reunited with their families. The foundation also works with agencies including the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities for security and proper recognition.
Miss Taiwo explained that the home is managed by her and her brother, Mr Ige Idris, who studied Psychology at the University of Ibadan.
She also stated that the foundation moved to its new and permanent location in Felele in February 2026, having previously operated from Ado, Ibadan.
The children receive education outside the premises, including at private schools, and some of those who have progressed to higher institutions currently study at institutions such as the University of Ilorin, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, FUNAB and LAUTECH.
During an interview, Miss Taiwo explained that the foundation was duly registered in June 2006 with the Ministry of Women Affairs and also registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). She added that the new Felele site was commissioned by Oba Rasheed Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, on February 28, 2026.
According to her, the foundation was founded by the late Miss Oyiza, whom she described as their mother. Following her death, Miss Taiwo and her brother took over the management of the home about 20 years ago.
Miss Taiwo, who is currently studying Nursing at the University of Ibadan and works at the University College Hospital (UCH) as an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, also explained that children come into the care of the foundation through different channels.
She said some are brought by individuals, including parents or guardians who may be unable to cater for them financially, while others come through government agencies, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, the Civil Defence and other relevant bodies.
The AIESEC team subsequently engaged the children in recreational and interactive activities, with the older and younger children participating in different games suited to them. The team also spent time interacting with the children and presented donated foodstuffs such as a bag of rice, noodles, cooking oil and seasonings, as well as stationery and other materials.
Also present during the visitation was Marc Bakpe, a volunteer from the Republic of Benin. Bakpe, who teaches French at Agbowo, joined the team as part of AIESEC’s cross-cultural exchange activities.
The visit provided an opportunity for the AIESEC members to interact with the children, share experiences and support the homes through donations and recreational activities.
The team departed Oyiza and Foster Foundation at about 2:35 p.m., bringing the day’s visitation to an end.
