Grammy-nominated Nigerian singer David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has shared how his father’s advice transformed what he initially considered a one-time act of charity into an annual tradition of donating to orphanages. In a recent interview with The Morning Hustle, an American music podcast, Davido revealed the personal story behind his philanthropic journey and the pivotal role his father played in shaping his approach to giving.
Davido explained that his annual donation to orphanages began in a rather unexpected way. During a birthday celebration a few years ago, the artist tweeted his account details, inviting fans to send him money in celebration of his special day. “On my birthday two years ago, I tweeted my account number randomly on Twitter, like ‘yo, it’s my birthday, send me money.’ And then my fans ended up sending me up to like $400,000, it was a big story,” Davido recalled.
As the donations poured in, Davido was faced with the question of what to do with the substantial amount of money. “So I’m thinking, like, what should I do, then my pops called me like, ‘you know you can’t keep that money right,'” he said, recalling his father’s words. This conversation led to a decision that would change Davido’s approach to giving back.
The musician’s father encouraged him to give the money away, prompting the singer to donate the funds to a cause he deeply cared about. “Then we decided to just give it all away, to a cause, which was the motherless babies, so we did that the first year, we did that the second year back to back,” Davido shared. This marked the beginning of his annual tradition of donating to orphanages in celebration of his birthday.
In 2024, Davido continued his commitment to helping those in need by announcing a ₦300 million donation to orphanages across Nigeria. The generous contribution was made in February, further solidifying his dedication to supporting vulnerable children in the country. The singer followed this up with another ₦300 million donation in commemoration of his 32nd birthday on November 21, 2024. This time, his donation not only supported orphanages but also included funding for a charity aimed at combating drug abuse among young people in Nigeria.
“Every year now, I do it. I’ve done it for like three years now,” Davido said, emphasizing that his philanthropic efforts have become a key part of his annual routine.
