Bernice Akinwande, founder of Bernice Oasis Outreach spoke with Deputy News Editor, JOSEPH JIBUEZE
Why do you believe the strongest solutions are community-driven?
From experience, I have learned that the most sustainable solutions come from people who live with the problem every day. When communities define their own priorities, solutions reflect real needs rather than external assumptions, and people take ownership of what they help to create.
During BOO’s Secure Our Tomorrow Project, parents and school leaders identified school fees, not lack of supplies, as the main barrier keeping children out of school. That shaped our decision to provide scholarships instead of one-off materials. Community-driven solutions do more than address problems; they restore dignity and create lasting impact.
What examples have you seen where communities created their solutions with support?
One example is Oloya Wellness Project, where community leaders identified malnutrition, not just hunger, as the core issue. Their input helped us design a nutrition-plus-education approach that changed feeding habits rather than simply distributing meals.
Another example is our Fun While Learning project in Lagos. School administrators and pupils co-designed the activities, ensuring the game house reflected their learning needs. These projects succeeded because communities shaped the approach, while BOO provided structure, coordination, and resources.
How does BOO involve community members in identifying needs and shaping interventions?
At BOO, we listen. Every outreach starts with community mapping and conversations with local leaders, mothers, teachers, and young people, with a brief assessment of their social and economic realities.
This approach guided the Tiny Tummies, Big Future Project, where families expressed concerns about infant nutrition and early childhood health. Their input shaped what we provided and how it was delivered. We don’t assume, we ask what would make life better today and in the next five years. Those answers guide us, whether through food drives, school libraries, health screenings, or skills development. Communities are co-creators, not just beneficiaries.
From your work and community engagement, do you see a shift from donations to empowerment?
Absolutely. Many communities are tired of temporary relief; they want real tools, knowledge, and opportunities to build their future. People do not want to depend on aid, they want to grow.
That is why one of our flagship initiatives is Boomerang Project, which gives scholarships and academic support so children can access education that transforms families. The shift from donations to empowerment is happening, and BOO is committed to leading that through programmes that secure long-term change, not just short-term relief.
What long-term changes occur when people are empowered instead of receiving handouts?
Empowerment reshapes how people see themselves and their future. Through initiatives like the Boomerang Project, we have seen how investing in a child’s education creates ripple effects far beyond the individual.
When people gain knowledge and opportunity, they begin to make informed decisions, pursue long-term goals, and uplift others around them. Empowerment builds confidence, independence, and community resilience.
What mistakes do organisations make when they fail to engage communities properly?
The most common mistake is assuming community needs instead of asking. Many organisations design interventions from offices rather than from the field.
Another mistake is imposing solutions rather than building alongside the community. This often leads to poor adoption, wasted resources, and projects that collapse once external support ends. Meaningful community engagement is not optional, it is the foundation of sustainable impact.
What systems or frameworks does BOO use to ensure outreach is impactful and not random?
BOO operates a structured community-impact framework built around four key pillars:
Needs Assessment: Rapid surveys, focus group discussions, and on-ground observation.
Co-Creation: Community members actively participate in designing interventions.
Implementation with Local Partners: Teachers, health workers, community leaders, and youth volunteers.
Monitoring and Follow-Up: Documenting outcomes, measuring reach, and evaluating change.
This framework allows us to move beyond “doing outreach” to building measurable impact. Every project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 1–4 and is designed to deliver lasting value.
What is your vision for a community that solves its own problems?
My vision is a community that no longer waits for external rescue, a community confident enough to design its own solutions and organised enough to implement them.
This is what we work towards through initiatives such as BOOtech in Anambra, which equips young people with technology skills, mentorship, and pathways into sustainable careers, and B.O.O in Boots, which combines sports and scholarships to build discipline, teamwork, and educational opportunity.
Ultimately, I want to see communities move from survival to self-direction, communities that do not just survive, but flourish because they possess the knowledge, networks, and systems to thrive independently.
