By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
Nigerian music star Davido shared a heartfelt story about how his father’s wisdom inspired him to make annual donations to orphanages across the country.
Speaking on The Morning Hustle podcast, the Grammy-nominated artist recounted how a spontaneous social media act transformed into a philanthropic movement.
In 2021, Davido tweeted his account number on his birthday, receiving close to $400,000 from fans. Initially, he planned to keep the funds but reconsidered after his father’s advice.
“My dad called and said, ‘You know you can’t keep that money, right?’ I was like, ‘What do you mean? It’s my money,'” Davido said.
Heeding his father’s counsel, he donated the entire amount to motherless babies’ homes, sparking a tradition of annual giving. The following year, Davido continued the initiative with his own funds and has sustained it ever since.
“We’ve been doing this every year with the foundation, and we hope for it to get bigger. There are about 500 orphanages. I met people who told me they were beneficiaries. Imagine all those people praying for you,” he reflected.
Since the inception of his charity efforts, Davido’s foundation has donated significant sums: ₦251 million in 2021, ₦237 million in 2023, and ₦300 million twice in 2024.
He expressed immense gratitude for being able to positively impact lives, stating, “It’s something we hope to continue growing.”
This philanthropic legacy has earned Davido praise for his generosity and commitment to supporting vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
