U.S.-Based NGO Urges Nigerian Elite, Organisations to Support Struggling Families
…Says giving is about what we refuse to withhold in times of need
A United States-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Africa’s Children’s Fund (ACF), has called on Nigeria’s elite, corporate bodies, religious institutions, and wealthy individuals to support struggling families across Nigeria and Africa through donations and sponsorship programmes.
Founder and CEO of the Metro Atlanta-based organisation, Mr. Victor Mbaba, made the appeal during an online chat with Niger Delta Herald from the United States. He said that after decades of witnessing the hardships faced by families across the world, he could no longer remain silent.
“I have seen too much to stay silent,” Mbaba stated. “For more than 30 years, I’ve listened to the pain in the voices of struggling families—here in Metro Atlanta, across Africa, and throughout the Caribbean. I’ve seen children who want to learn but have no books. Mothers who work full-time but sleep in their cars. Fathers who feel like failures because they can’t feed their families.”
He described the situation as increasingly dire, especially in developing nations like Nigeria, where basic necessities remain out of reach for many. “Children are missing school, not out of unwillingness, but due to lack of books, uniforms, or transport. Some go to bed hungry every night, and illnesses that could be easily treated are left unchecked. These aren’t just statistics. These are our children. This is our shared humanity.”
Mbaba called on Nigerian businesses, churches, philanthropic foundations, and everyday people not to look away during these trying times. “Inflation, job losses, and rising living costs have made life harder for everyone. But for some, ‘hard’ means choosing between food and shelter, or medicine and school fees. We cannot look away.”
While highlighting the work ACF has done over the years—including helping children stay in school, assisting families through housing and food insecurity, and supporting parents to rebuild their lives—Mbaba noted that the organisation cannot do it alone.
“This is my call to action. Whether you are a CEO, a pastor, a retiree, or a student—there is something you can give. Your time. Your resources. Your influence. Giving is not about abundance, it is about compassion. We need partners who see our mission not as charity but as justice.”
As part of its continuing efforts, ACF will host the annual ‘Evening of Hope for Children Gala’ on November 1 at the Evergreen Lakeside Resort in Stone Mountain, Georgia. According to Mbaba, funds raised during the event will help keep roofs over children’s heads, ensure single mothers don’t have to choose between paying the electricity bill and feeding their families, and provide education and healthcare access to vulnerable children across continents.
He added that more than 230 families in Nigeria have already been empowered through ACF’s initiatives, but much more remains to be done.
“I speak not just as a founder or educator, but as a father and someone who has lived through both hardship and hope. This is a collective responsibility. If you are wondering what difference you can make, I want to tell you this—you are the difference.”
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