In the heart of Nigeria, stories of compassion and courage unfold daily, often led by quiet changemakers who turn empathy into action. One of such women is Clare, the founder of Clare Cares Foundation — a dynamic nonprofit focused on addressing hunger, education gaps, girl-child empowerment, and humanitarian aid across underserved communities.

As part of our Humanitarians of Africa series, we spoke with Clare about her personal journey, the passion that drives her, and the real impact of grassroots advocacy in Nigeria. Her story is a powerful reminder that lasting change begins with genuine care.

Meet Clare: The Woman Behind Clare Cares Foundation

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to start Clare Cares Foundation?

From a young age, I’ve always found joy in helping and sharing with others, which naturally led me to establish an NGO. My passion for storytelling, on the other hand, drew me to filmmaking, where I strive to tell impactful stories that inspire change.

Through Clare Cares Foundation, I have led and participated in various outreach programs, including:

• Educational Support: Purchase of JAMB forms, school outreach programs
• Orphanage Partnerships: Home renovations, supply drives, and mentorship
• Empowerment & Advocacy: Back to School projects, Pad a Girl initiative
• Humanitarian Aid: Feed 1000 program, pep talks, and awareness campaigns, etc.
• B.Sc. in Computer Science – Madonna University
• PGD in Mass Communication – University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
• M.Sc. in Information Technology – National Open University
• Mini MBA in non-profit leadership and management from Lagos Business School (LBS)
  Honorary degree from the African American University.

With a diverse background spanning media and film production, I have worked as:

• A radio host and documentary voice-over artist
• A production manager and producer in film
• Director at Clare Cares Foundation, leading impactful initiatives

I consider myself a lover of humanity, deeply connected to people yet independent in thought. Helping and managing people comes effortlessly to me, and my greatest fulfillment comes from spreading happiness and ensuring those around me thrive.

Above all, I believe that God is the ultimate, guiding my purpose and every step I take.

Was there a specific experience or moment that made you realize, “This is what I’m meant to do”?

Sincerely, it has always been the urge to help and see people smile. From primary school, I will always tell my mum to help sort out fees of anyone sent out of my class or at least ask the proprietor to give some time. The desire to see people smile was the push to make this bigger to get support and make impact.

Your foundation focuses on hunger, education, health, and poverty. Why do these causes mean so much to you?

I have seen people hungry, I have seen intelligent children on the streets, seen people die because they couldn’t afford mosquito net, anti-malaria medicine, vitamin c, panadol, basic first aid care, etc, I have seen and heard people in pain and with empathy you can only wish to get them out of that condition.

Out of all the people you’ve helped, is there a story that has stayed with you, one that reminds you why this work is so important?

I would say the renovation of one orphanage home. Watching the babies get better shelter, no scare of malaria, they could breathe better air, have good hygiene, have a clean environment. The joy that came with that is unexplainable. Walking in to the newly renovated home was a breath of fresh air.

Running a nonprofit comes with challenges. What’s one unexpected obstacle you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?

One major obstacle was getting bad products for a palliative project that was sponsored by one of our big partners. The market women played a fast one, it was one sad day but on the day of packaging to prepare for distribution, we realized some gallons of palm oil was bad (really smelly), half of the bags of beans were filled with weevils, we had to go get new ones on the spot, an unplanned budget but at the end of it all, it was a successful project and it taught us better ways to purchase large items and how to properly ensure we buy quality and good stuff.

You’ve partnered with different organizations over the years. How have these collaborations helped expand your impact?

The interesting thing about partnership is sharing communities, so my community gets to find out more about the NGO we will be working with and vice versa, so we follow each other, thereby expanding our reach. We have fallen victim of a bad partnership, they never reached their bargain but came with sophisticated media to cover the event. So now, we have to scrutinize and ensure we align and see its possibility. It must be a symbiotic one.

Looking back, what’s one project or milestone that makes you feel especially proud?

Very difficult to pick one but for the sake of choosing one, I’ll go for the renovation of the orphanage home. It brought so much fulfillment.

What’s next for Clare Cares Foundation? Any exciting plans on the horizon?

We are hoping to develop an app that will be beneficial to parents for the security of their children/ward. We also hope to have a hub for production where we empower people.

For those who want to support your work, what’s the best way to get involved?

• Join our outreach programs and events to directly impact children and the elderly. Whether it’s mentoring, distributing supplies, or helping with logistics, every helping hand makes a difference!
• You can make a donation because financial contributions help sustain our programs, including Feed 1000, Pad a Girl, Orphanage Partnerships, and more. Donations can go toward school supplies, food, healthcare, and community projects.
• You can partner with us — businesses, organizations, and even individuals can collaborate to sponsor our events, provide resources, or co-host initiatives. Corporate partnerships help us scale our impact.
• You can also spread the word by sharing our work on social media, tell friends and family about our mission, and encourage others to support the cause.

If someone wants to make a real difference in their community but doesn’t know where to start, what advice would you give them?

You don’t need a big platform or resources to make a difference. Begin by helping one person, solving one problem, or supporting an existing cause. Small acts of kindness create ripples of change.

Truth is, you don’t have to start from scratch. Organizations like Clare Cares Foundation and others are already doing great work. Volunteering, donating, or offering your skills can be a powerful way to create change. Then, you can look around your community (identify a need around you), what challenges do people face? Is it education, hunger, health, or something else? Talk to people, observe, and listen to understand what’s needed most.

Stay Connected with Clare Cares Foundation

Instagram: @ClareCaresFoundation
Facebook: Clare Cares Foundation
Website: www.theclarecaresfoundation.org
Email: clarecaresfoundation@gmail.com
Phone: 0806 973 5387

Clare’s story is one of purpose, persistence, and powerful empathy. Through the work of Clare Cares Foundation, she’s creating ripples of impact — one outreach, one renovation, and one child at a time. Her journey shows that doing good doesn’t require perfection — just a willing heart and the courage to begin.

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Photos of the Clare Cares Foundation in action