The Story of Onilemo Community

Far into the bush in Nigeria is a rural community called Onilemo, where there is a lack of access to basic government services such as health-care facilities and schools. There is a clinic in a neighbouring community but it is a long walk. In the rainy season the river floods, making it dangerous and near impossible to cross. Many people find work growing and harvesting the natural resources in their community like oil from palm trees, cassava and pepper. While people try to sell their goods in the local market, this rarely provides enough for their families.

Within Onilemo, idol worship runs deep and many people participate in the practice of witchcraft and ancestral worship. Additionally, there are many Muslim families living there and the good news of Jesus is not commonly heard.

50 Children currently supported

5 Care Workers coordinated by mama bolE

Basic Services Started in 2023 

In 2022, the local Hands at Work team in Lagos was looking to expand their work in Nigeria, committed to their care of the most vulnerable children. When Toyin, a member of the Lagos team, shared this dream with her mother, she mentioned other places around the Ibadan area that were incredibly vulnerable. As they walked, they went through a series of communities, but none of them felt like the place where God was leading, but upon entering Onilemo, the vulnerability was obvious. This was where God was calling them to start caring for children.

In Onilemo, they connected with Mama Bole, who was already active in her community, visiting people in their homes, praying over them and starting a community school. It was clear that she had a heart to serve. As Toyin shared the vision of Hands at Work, she was eager to be involved and introduced Toyin and the team to the local chief and a number of key people in Onilemo. From there, they began mobilising other ladies within the community who, although vulnerable themselves, expressed a desire to do something to help the children in the community. As they visited their homes and shared about Jesus in this predominantly Muslim community, the team of Care Workers began to grow. It so happens that many of the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children being cared for.

Once a team of Care Workers was mobilised, the Onilemo Community Based Organisation began officially serving 50 of the most vulnerable children in April 2023. 

Meet Peter and Samuel

Peter* and Samuel* are twins who were only 1 year old when their mother abandoned them and their three siblings. The children were left with their father who struggles to care for his children because of his addiction to alcohol. With no one to rely on, the twins would often roam the community alone and without any clothes on. Around that time, Mama Bola, a dedicated Care Worker in Onilemo, found the twins and immediately started to care for them. Since then, she has ensured that they are bathed, have brushed their teeth, and have clothes on every day. She also brought the children to the Care Point, where they are under the watchful eye of Mama Bola and the other Care Workers. Today, the boys are four years old. Because of their situation, they live with Mama Bola and the other Care Workers in the community. Mama Bola says that, “to see them healthy and young playing at the Care Point is such a joy.”

The local Hands at Work team in Ibadan currently supports three Community Based Organisations, which exist to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. The office provides training, networking, and encouragement to those Community Based Organisations like Apatuku. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.

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