On Friday, 29 May 2026, NextGem Foundation officially entered into a formal partnership with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development.
The partnership provides NextGem with institutional guidance and government endorsement within Bayelsa State. Thereby establishing a formal relationship between the foundation and the governing body responsible for child welfare in the state.
IMAGE L-R: Agnes Oloye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Bayelsa State · Victoria Abiye Kiolawson, Founder, NextGem Foundation · Director for Disabled Children, Bayelsa State
What Was Said
The Permanent Secretary, Agnes Oloye, commended NextGem Foundation for its work in the development of orphaned children across Bayelsa State. She cited the December 2025 Orphanage Games — which she attended — as evidence of the organisational competence, transparency, and authenticity that NextGem brings to its mission.
She assured the foundation that her office would do all within its power to support NextGem’s programmes and ensure they succeed within the state.
NextGem Foundation, represented by its founder Victoria Abiye Kiolawson, thanked the Ministry for their continued support and belief in the mission — and committed to upholding NextGem’s standing as a credible, structured, and impactful programme for orphaned children across Nigeria.
Why This Matters
A government endorsement at state level is a signal that the body responsible for child welfare in Bayelsa State has looked at what NextGem is doing ;our orphanage partnerships, our volunteer programme, our competitions, our accountability systems — and determined that it is worth standing behind.
For the orphanages in our network, it means increased visibility and access to state-level institutional support.
For our corporate and individual partners, it means an additional layer of verification that their investment is reaching a credible, government-endorsed programme.
What Comes Next
This partnership is the first of its kind for NextGem , but it will not be the last.
NextGem Foundation is building toward a national presence across all 36 states of Nigeria. Part of that expansion means establishing formal relationships with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at the state level, so that as we enter new states, we enter with institutional backing, not just goodwill.
If You Can Help Facilitate a Partnership in Your State
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is the governing body for child welfare in each state, with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs operating at the national level.
If you have a connection with — or are affiliated with — the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in any Nigerian state and would like to help facilitate a NextGem partnership, please reach out.
📧 nextgemfoundation@gmail.com
Subject line: Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Partnership
Every state-level partnership we establish brings us closer to a future where every orphaned child in Nigeria has a structured, supported, opportunity-filled path forward.
Thank you for your contribution to that mission.
A future for every orphan.
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NextGem Foundation is a registered Nigerian non-profit building structured platforms and pipelines for orphaned children across all 36 states of Nigeria. Our programmes include NextGem Spotlight, NextGem Support, and NextGem Refiners.
🌐 nextgemfoundation.com
📧 nextgemfoundation@gmail.com
📱 @nextgemfoundation
