—l’ve committed 80% of investments to charity

By Dayo Johnson Akure

The Founder of Dorian Home for Charity and Social Development, Dr. Tolulola Bayode, said a lifelong passion for giving and a personal tragedy led her to establish a facility for vulnerable children, women, and youths.

Dr. Bayode said the initiative includes an orphanage with capacity for 850 children and a development centre designed to empower over 1,000 people.

“It was born from a desire to make meaningful impact.

“For me, giving is not an obligation; it is innate. I believe that when the desire to give is absent, then giving itself is absent from the heart.

Bayode explained that her decision to commit 80 percent of her investments to charity came from reflecting on life’s fleeting nature.

According to her “One of the reasons I have committed 80 percent of my investments to charity is rooted in a profound realization.

“We come into this world with nothing, and we will leave with nothing.

Her resolve strengthened after visiting orphanages across Nigeria and other African countries, where she saw conditions that fell short of what children deserved.

“ I often left with a heavy heart, knowing that these homes fell far short of what the children truly deserved. That was when I made a covenant with God to build a home where vulnerable children could truly belong,” she said.

Bayode initially kept the vision within a small circle due to the scale of the project.

“I shared it only with my siblings because I feared discouragement. But I prayed earnestly, asking God to trust me with His blessings,” she added.

She said construction of the home began with the support of her late brother, whom she described as her greatest pillar.

However, the journey took a painful turn with his sudden death.

“Then tragedy struck—my beloved, God-fearing brother passed away suddenly. It felt as though my world had collapsed,” she recounted.

According to her, the loss led to a period of deep grief and reflection that ultimately reshaped her outlook on life.

“Standing by my brother’s grave, I realized how all our plans can end in an instant. In that moment, I made a vow to live my life fully for God and for humanity,” she said.

Despite the setback, Dr. Bayode noted that the vision has continued to thrive, with Dorian Home approaching its fifth anniversary in October.

“To the glory of God, Dorian Home will be five years old this October, and we look ahead with hope, faith and determination to make even greater impact,” she said.

“Construction began with the support of her late brother, whom she described as her greatest pillar. His sudden death nearly derailed the project.

“Then tragedy struck — my beloved, God-fearing brother passed away suddenly. It felt as though my world had collapsed,” she recounted.

Standing by his grave, she said, reshaped her outlook.

“I realized how all our plans can end in an instant. In that moment, I made a vow to live my life fully for God and for humanity,” she said.

“Despite the setback, the vision has endured. Dorian Home will mark its fifth anniversary this October.

“To the glory of God, Dorian Home will be five years old this October, and we look ahead with hope, faith and determination to make even greater impact,” she said.