In the spirit of giving back to the society which is one of the groups objectives, and to commemorate its 5 Years Anniversary, MLM donated 100 desks (attached table and chair) and repainted a block of classroom (4 classrooms) at Betharbel All Inclusive Academy located inside the Internally Displaced People’s Camp at Area 1, Abuja.
MLM has a tradition of showing love to the less privileged during every anniversary celebration.
This year, that tradition took the shape of a school. Where earlier anniversaries brought food, clothing, gifts and medical supplies, our fifth set out to leave something that would be used every single school day: somewhere for children to sit, and bright, freshly painted rooms to learn in.
A gift built to last
Each of the 100 desks is a single, sturdy unit with the table and chair joined together, the kind of classroom furniture that can take years of daily use. Every one carries a stencilled mark on its frame: “Donated by: Matured Like Minds · 5th anniversary”, a small reminder to every child who sits there that a group of friends was thinking of them.
Alongside the desks, MLM repainted an entire block of four classrooms. Inside, the walls now carry a clean two-tone finish of pale sky blue above and deep blue below; outside, the block is bright blue and white. Before the pupils moved in, the refreshed block was formally handed over with a ribbon-cutting, the doorway dressed in blue and white balloons.
Why Betharbel?
Betharbel All Inclusive Academy sits inside the Internally Displaced People’s Camp at Area 1, in the Durumi area of Abuja. Many of its pupils are children whose families have had to leave their homes behind. For them, school is about far more than lessons: it is routine, safety and a reason to look forward to tomorrow.
Good furniture matters more than it might seem. A proper desk gives a child a place to sit upright, to write neatly, to keep their books off the floor and to concentrate. Multiply that by a hundred, across four classrooms, and it changes what an ordinary school day can feel like.
Durumi is also familiar ground for us. In December 2024, MLM hosted the children of the IDP camp in Durumi to a Christmas party, and it meant a great deal to return, this time with something the children could keep.
A day of celebration
Members turned out in their white MLM polos and black caps to tour the refreshed classrooms, meet teachers and pupils, and share the moment with the Betharbel community. There were addresses in the classroom, plenty of smiles, and group photographs with children in their blue checked uniforms.
The day was covered by NTA News 24. In the report above, MLM President Thomas Aleburu, Secretary-General Ebere Chukwu and Tunde Olajide, Chairman of the 5 Years Anniversary Committee, speak on behalf of the group, alongside Kanyinsola Aiyekueshin of Betharbel Inclusive Academy and some of the pupils themselves. Press play at the top of this page to hear from them.
Five years, one tradition
Showing love to the less privileged has been part of every MLM celebration since our very first birthday. Some of the moments that brought us here:
- February 2022 · 1st AnniversaryFood stuff and gift items for the children of Destined Children’s Orphanage Home, Kado Estate, Abuja.
- February 2023 · 2nd AnniversaryFood, clothing and toiletries donated to Treasure Home Orphanage, Karu, Abuja.
- February 2024 · 3rd AnniversaryWheelchairs and other medical supplies donated to Karshi General Hospital.
- December 2024 · Christmas PartyChildren at the Internally Displaced Peoples Camp, Durumi, hosted to a Christmas party.
- 2026 · 5th Anniversary100 desks and four repainted classrooms for Betharbel All Inclusive Academy.
…cultivate friendships that enrich their lives and contribute positively to society.
From the MLM Vision Statement
From “Like Minds” to five years strong
MLM began on February 8, 2021, as a small group called “Like Minds”, created out of a simple desire: a space where friends and people of like minds could come together and promote genuine friendship. A few months later the group became Matured Like Minds, restrategised and reorganised for the long haul.
Five years on, the friendships are still at the heart of everything we do. But the anniversaries show what those friendships make possible. When people who care about each other pool their time, resources and goodwill, they can reach well beyond their own circle. Giving back is not an add-on to MLM; it is one of the reasons we exist.
Thank you
An outreach like this only happens when many hands pull together. Our heartfelt thanks go to:
- Every MLM member whose contributions, time and energy made this donation possible.
- The 5 Years Anniversary Committee, chaired by Tunde Olajide, for planning and delivering the project.
- The management, staff and pupils of Betharbel All Inclusive Academy, for welcoming us so warmly.
- NTA News 24, for telling the story.
Here’s to the next five years of friendship, growth and giving back. If you share these values and would like to be part of what comes next, we’d love to hear from you.
