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Country information

Isolo/Lagos Owu-Ijebu Capital: Abuja Area: 923,768 km² Population: 110 million (December 2000 est.) Ethnic groups: 75% Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo Official language(s): English Religion(s): 47% Muslims, 35% Christians, rest traditional religions Currency: 1 naira = 100 kobo Our Facilities Following the three year civil war visited Nigeria in 1970 on the invitation of the "National Council of Women's Societies. When he saw the misery of the people of Nigeria, especially the children, he decided to have an SOS Children's Village built there. He met various leading figures of the country to discuss his idea. Eventually, a SOS Children's Village Committee was founded - under the leadership of Mrs Awoliyi - whose purpose was to raise funds and provide technical assistance in order to realize the construction of an SOS Children's Village in Nigeria. When the local government of "Lagos State" donated a site in Isolo (a part of Lagos) the construction of the first SOS Children's Village was begun. Due to its limited capacity the plan to construct a second SOS Children's Village in Nigeria was put into practice in 1993. The building site - which was again donated by the local government - is situated in Owu-Ijebu, about 145 km east of Lagos. In January 1996, the first six children together with their future SOS mothers, aunts and the Village Director were able to move into "their" new home. Contact: SOS Children's Villages Nigeria Ref. Isolo/Owu Ijebu P.O. Box 660 Shomolu Lagos Nigeria tel. +234-1-497 42 65 fax +234-1-497 56 73