The BW Group is the sole corporate sponsor of the new SOS Children’s Village in Gwagwalada, which was officially opened on 8 November 2007, two years after the cornerstone was laid. Her Excellency Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was the special guest of honour at the Opening Ceremony.

The SOS Children’s Village in Gwagwalada will be a permanent home for 120 children. Twelve SOS-mothers and seven SOS-aunts will provide care until the children become independent. In addition to the 12 family houses, the SOS village will include a kindergarten, a primary school, a sports field and a social centre with a medical clinic that will benefit over 12,500 children annually.

“As a company with strong relations in Nigeria, we are keen to contribute in helping the country’s orphaned children and children in need, a challenge of significant proportions in this country. We are pleased to be able to fund this important project. We believe that projects like this are an important part of our corporate social responsibility,” said Andreas Sohmen-Pao of the BW Group.

“We are extremely grateful for this commitment from the BW Group. By channeling this funding through SOS Children’s Villages, the company is forming a powerful coalition to give children in need a new family,” said Svein Grønnern, Secretary General of SOS Children’s Villages Norway.

“BW is looking forward to having an ongoing connection with SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria, and particularly the children of Gwagwalada. BW values long term relationships and hopes to see the children grow and flourish. Therefore we have taken the initiative to involve staff with a variety of fund raising initiatives across the Group,” adds Sohmen-Pao.