From Hawking at Night to a Future Restored​

July 2025

 

​Some encounters stay with you forever.

It was just another late night—or so I thought. I was heading home after a casual outing when something caught my eye. A young boy, his name was Daniel, no older than 12 years old, a large tray on his head, hawking groundnuts in the midst of traffic. It was 10pm! Most children his age would be asleep by that time. But here he was, standing by the window of the car I was in, trying to sell what he could before he could go home.

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Something about his eyes wouldn't allow me to just ignore him! I offered to pay for the remaining stock and encouraged him to go home immediately, while I asked him, "don't you go to school?"

His response surprised me, "I go to school."
That left me confused, as traffic continued and we drove off—why was a school-going child still hawking this late at night?

But something didn’t sit right. I felt a strong nudge in my spirit. So I turned around and went back to where I saw him, after about 10 minutes. He was still there.

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This time, I asked my driver to park up and invited him into the car so he could be dropped home. He was hesitant—rightfully cautious. But after a little reassurance, he got in. As we drove, I asked questions. He answered softly, respectfully—but with a weight far beyond his years.

When we got there, I asked to speak with his parents. What they shared next was both heartbreaking and revealing.

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Yes, Daniel was enrolled in school—but he wasn’t attending regularly. Financial constraints meant education had taken a back seat. His school attendance was patchy at best. They were doing what they could, but survival was hard.

In that moment, it became clear—this was no coincidence. This was a divine appointment. I wanted to do more. I knew I had to. I left them with ₦30,000 to support immediate household needs and gave my word, "I’ll be back to help however I can."

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A Timeline of Hope

Day 1 – A Shocking Discovery

• Met Daniel hawking groundnuts at 10pm despite claiming he went to school.

• Gave his family ₦30,000 to relieve urgent needs.

• Promised to return and support his education.

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Day 3 – A Glimmer of Progress

• Returned to visit Daniel’s family.

• His mother said he had been invited back to school—a government school nearby.

• We visited the school together to see what support was needed.

• Discovered he had two brothers who were also in school

 

Learning More

• There weren’t many fees to cover at the government school.

• But Daniel quietly admitted he preferred his former private school, where he once learned alongside his two brothers.

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Restoring What Was Lost

The next day, we visited their former private school to see what it would take to bring them back.

By the grace of God and with support from donors, we paid a total of ₦175,000, which covered:

• Full registration fees for all three brothers

• Common Entrance Exam fees for the two eldest boys, who will be moving into Primary 6 in September 2025

We also committed to covering future termly school fees to ensure they remain in school for the long haul.

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This Was More Than School! This was about restoring a sense of normalcy. About giving a mother peace of mind. About helping three boys dream again.

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Thanks to the generous support of those who gave to my THIRTY FIVE Birthday Donation, we were able to respond swiftly and meaningfully.

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This Is Just the Beginning

At The Tolaoluwa Foundation, we believe no child should be forced to choose between surviving and learning. We exist to stand in that gap—to offer practical support, compassion, and a future filled with possibility.

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This is Daniel’s story, and there are many more waiting to be told.

Thank you for choosing hope.

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Let’s Do More — Together

There are countless children like Daniel across Nigeria—bright, full of potential, but trapped in cycles of poverty that rob them of opportunity. We can't reach them all at once, but we can reach them one by one.

 

What you can do?

Partner with us today to provide food, education, and shelter to families in need.
Your donation—no matter the size—can change the course of a life.

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To donate now, click here
Or email us at info@thetolaoluwafoundation.org to find out how you can get involved.

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Damisola Tolaoluwa

The Tolaoluwa Foundation
“Wealth of God. Hope for the People.”