The Türkiye Old Boys Association, a body comprising Nigerian graduates of universities in Türkiye, has unveiled plans to expand the scope of its annual philanthropic interventions to include scholarships and structured skills acquisition programmes for disadvantaged students and young people across Nigeria.
Over the years, the association has sustained a culture of charitable outreach, providing financial assistance, food supplies, and essential materials to orphanages and vulnerable communities.
What began as exclusive year-end gatherings for members gradually evolved into broader Christmas and New Year celebrations shared with underprivileged groups, a tradition consistently upheld, including during the 2025/2026 festive season in Imo and Anambra states.
In a statement issued in Asaba, the association’s initiator and international coordinator, Germany-based journalist Friday Agbonlahor, who writes under the pen name Frisky Larr, described the outreach as an expression of compassion and civic responsibility that complements the efforts of other socially conscious Nigerians.
He affirmed that members both within Nigeria and in the diaspora are aligned in transforming the seasonal charity model into a more comprehensive empowerment framework.
“Our guiding philosophy reflects a core Nigerian value: ‘None is too poor to give a helping hand,’” Agbonlahor stated.
“A society in which citizens actively demonstrate empathy and support for the vulnerable is inherently more stable and secure. Our objective is to deepen the reach and sustainability of our interventions beyond festive gestures.”
He emphasized that the association’s motivation is rooted not in public acclaim but in the pressing socio-economic realities confronting the country.
According to him, reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility is critical to mitigating hardship and addressing broader societal concerns, including insecurity.
Under the proposed expansion, the association is considering the introduction of educational scholarships, vocational training schemes, and other empowerment-driven initiatives aimed at fostering long-term impact.
As part of its 2025/2026 charity cycle, the association donated funds and essential supplies to established orphanages in Anambra and Imo states.
Beneficiary institutions included Blessed Nise Community Children’s Home in Ngodo Nise, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, and Nwadinaobi Orphanage Home in Achingali Alike, Obowo Local Government Area, Imo State.
The management of both homes expressed appreciation for the support, noting that the symbolic value of the gesture outweighed its financial dimension.
In previous years, the association’s outreach has extended to orphanages and vulnerable populations in Edo, Delta, Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, and the neonatal unit of the General Hospital, Agulu, in Anambra State.
Established approximately 12 years ago, the Türkiye Old Boys Association maintains an active membership base across Nigeria and internationally.
The institutionalization of philanthropy within its annual calendar, driven by its international coordinator, underscores the group’s sustained commitment to social responsibility and inclusive development.
