Aisha Ogieriakhi is the founder of Bluebaby Support Initiative (BBSI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to empowering vulnerable children, widows, and underprivileged families in Nigeria. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE-KORIEOCHA, she spoke about her passion for the BBSI, explaining that it was established out of her desire to make life better for vulnerable children, widows and struggling families especially in Nigeria. She also informed that over the years, BBSI has organised impactful outreach programmes focused on education, health, welfare and empowerment. Excerpts:
May we know some of your biggest projects under BBSI?
One of our biggest efforts is the Back to School Project, where we support children from less privileged backgrounds with school supplies, uniforms, and other essentials to help them start the academic year with confidence. It’s always so fulfilling to see their joy!
During festive seasons, we shift focus to welfare outreaches. For instance, last Christmas, instead of our usual children’s party, we launched “Christmas in a Box”, aimed at supporting widows and widowers with food boxes amidst Nigeria’s current economic hardship. Similarly, during Ramadan, we host Iftar and Salah celebrations to feed the needy and share in the blessings of the season. We also host events like The Kiddies’ Corner, a fun and inspiring event where children showcase their talents and compete in exciting activities.
What really inspired your passion for humanity?
My passion for humanity is personal and rooted in my life’s journey. Growing up, I watched my parents, especially my mother open our home to strangers, feeding and sheltering them from the little we had. Despite their struggles, my parents ensured we were educated and taught us the value of giving, even in times of lack. Those early lessons shaped my understanding of compassion, selflessness, and community. But one of the most defining moments came with the birth of my daughter. She was born with a condition known as Blue Baby Syndrome, and it was a very emotional and challenging period for us. During our time in the hospital, I witnessed heartbreaking realities as many children died not because their conditions were untreatable, but because their families couldn’t afford proper medical care. That experience changed me forever. It gave birth to Bluebaby Support Initiative (BBSI). I made a commitment that day to dedicate my efforts to supporting vulnerable children and families, especially those battling poverty and preventable struggles. My daughter’s survival became a symbol of hope, and the work we do through BBSI is an extension of that hope.
How has it been combining your normal job routine with your charity organisation?
Honestly, it has been challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Balancing a full-time job abroad while running a charity back home in Nigeria requires a lot of commitment, planning, and emotional energy. There are times when it feels overwhelming, but God has been faithful. However, what has truly made it possible is the amazing team of reliable, trustworthy, and hardworking volunteers I’m blessed to work with. They are the heartbeat of the Bluebaby Support Initiative. Despite the distance, they’ve made it easy for me to coordinate activities, organise events, and stay connected with the communities we serve. Their loyalty and shared passion for our cause have kept the vision alive and thriving, even from afar.
Tell us, what has been your greatest challenge thus far running your NGO?
The greatest challenge by far has been funding. As much as the passion and vision are there, carrying out meaningful charitable activities consistently requires financial resources and that has not always been easy.
We rely heavily on the generous support of family, friends, and kind-hearted individuals who believe in what we do. Their contributions, big or small have gone a long way in helping us organise our outreach programmes, provide school supplies, feed widows, and host community events.
However, the need on the ground is often greater than the resources available, and it can be heartbreaking. We have had to scale down or postpone events due to lack of funds. Despite this, we remain committed and hopeful, trusting that more people and organisations will partner with us as they see the impact we’re making.
So, how do you get funds to run your NGO? Any donors or fundraising activities?
Funding our NGO has been a journey of faith, support, and creativity. We do not yet have major corporate sponsors, so most of our funds come from the generous support of family, friends, and well-meaning individuals who believe in our mission. These are people who have seen the work we do and choose to partner with us by donating what they can. We also leverage social media, word of mouth, and personal networks to raise awareness and gather support. Over the years, a few passionate individuals have consistently supported our causes, especially during key events like our Back-to-School programme, Iftar outreaches, and Christmas in a Box initiative.
While we are still growing and trusting God for more structured partnerships and sponsorships, we remain very grateful for the people who stand with us. Their support has kept us going and enabled us to make meaningful impact, even with limited resources.
For how long have you been doing this humanitarian work?
June 16 this year will make it seven years that I have been actively involved in humanitarian work .What began as small acts of kindness and informal giving gradually evolved into something more structured and impactful, leading to the birth of Bluebaby Support Initiative (BBSI).
Can you take us through some of the charity activities you’ve done this year?
2025 has been a fulfilling year so far for Bluebaby Support Initiative, and we are grateful for the impact we’ve been able to make, despite the usual challenges.
We kicked off the year with “The Kiddies’ Corner”, a new initiative to create a fun and engaging platform for children to showcase their talents, compete intellectually, and win prizes. It is all about boosting confidence, encouraging creativity, and making children feel seen and celebrated.
During Ramadan, we hosted our Annual Iftar Outreach, every week for the four weeks of Ramadan, providing meals to vulnerable families fasting during the holy month. This was followed by a Salah Celebration at the Central Mosque in Oja-Oba, Ibadan, where we served nutritious meals to those in need, thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors.
During Christmas, we launched “Christmas in a Box”, a special initiative aimed at supporting widows and widowers with essential food items to ease their burdens during the festive season.
I also had the privilege to represent BBSI in a radio interview at 32 FM in Ibadan, where I shared our challenges, achievements and plans with a wider audience, helping to raise awareness and encourage more community support.
We’ve also been actively preparing for our 2025 Back-to-School Project, scheduled for later in the year. Details will be shared as we progress.
I know you’re based abroad; how do you manage to run your foundation in Nigeria without any issues?
Running Bluebaby Support Initiative from abroad certainly has its challenges, but thanks to the incredible team of volunteers I have in Nigeria. They are reliable and deeply committed to our mission, which means I can confidently delegate tasks and trust that everything will be handled with professionalism.
We maintain regular communication through phone calls and video meetings, which keeps us all aligned and able to respond quickly to any needs or changes on the ground. Technology has been a huge enabler in bridging the distance. Additionally, we’ve built strong relationships within the local communities and with partners who support our activities. This local presence ensures smooth coordination and execution of our programmes.
While being abroad means I cannot always be physically present, my team’s dedication and our shared passion help me bridge the gap and ensure that our work continues seamlessly and effectively.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Compassionate, Determined, and Resilient.
I am compassionate because I genuinely care about people and their wellbeing. I am determined because once I commit to a cause or goal, I pursue it to the end and I am resilient because I have learned to overcome challenges and setbacks, always finding ways to keep moving forward.
It is almost the second half of the year 2025, what are your goals for the rest of this year 2025?
One of our major upcoming events is the 2025 Back-to-School Project scheduled for later in the year. This remains a core focus as we seek to support education and empower the next generation. Details will be provided as we progress.
We are also preparing to launch the BBSI Magazine before the end of this year by God’s grace. This publication will highlight our work, share inspiring stories from the communities we serve, and raise awareness about key social issues.
Of course, alongside these new initiatives, we will continue to carry out our usual outreach programmes, supporting children, widows, and other vulnerable groups through education, empowerment, and welfare activities.
Looking beyond 2025, we have two significant projects in the pipeline: the BBSI App – “Our Voice”, which has been stalled due to some unforeseen circumstances. It aims to provide a safe platform for survivors of sexual violence across Africa. The 2nd project in the pipeline is the establishment of a BBSI Orphanage to offer shelter and care for vulnerable children.
