In a world where success is often measured by titles, wealth, or accolades, Augusta Anyanwu-Egbom chooses a different yardstick: impact. Balancing a thriving corporate career, multiple advocacy initiatives, and a passion for community development, she embodies the rare blend of ambition and altruism.
From her roots in Communication Arts to her current role as Regional Bank Head, one of Nigeria’s Tier 1 Banks. Augusta has carved a path defined not just by personal achievement but by the lives she touches through her foundation and projects. Her work spans the critical domains of child welfare, education, and mentorship, aiming to shape a future where children are not merely surviving but thriving.
In this interview with Rita Oyiboka, Augusta opens up about the journey from her academic beginnings to founding the Duke’s Infant and Child Foundation, the transformative impact of the Train the Trainer Summit, and the vision that drives her tireless advocacy for children’s futures.
Can we meet you, ma?
My name is Augusta Anyanwu-Egbom. First, I am the founder of the Duke’s Infant and Child Foundation. I am also the convener of the Train the Trainer Summit. By virtue of my career, I work with one of Nigeria’s Tier 1 Banks as a regional bank head.
As a career person, you have an advocacy group, a charity organisation. I want to know how that trajectory started, from your Communication Arts degree to where you are now.
I studied Communication Arts at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and completed a Master’s in Mass Communication, majoring in Public Relations. I have also undergone several career certification programmes and executive business programmes, from Lagos Business School to other Universities outside the country, as well as leadership programmes for women.
Communication is eclectic in nature; it covers a little bit of everything. By design, giving is not taught; it is innate. I naturally believe that success is measured by the impact you make, especially on those who cannot repay you. For me, that is success: being blessed to bless others.
You do not need to be wealthy to impact your community or forge a purposeful life for the younger generation, which is precisely what we aim for with the Duke’s Infant and Child Foundation, advocating for a brighter future for children.
As the day goes by, it is not only about children; it is about their future. Many leaders fail to invest in the future. Investing in the future requires faith, believing in something even when the results are not immediately visible. One must have faith to understand that purpose drives investment in the future.
We are investing in something we may not live to see, but I am a daughter of faith. It is like taking a chance and investing in something you will not have the immediate reward or even live to see the impact. I believe we will witness the impact in our time. The Nigeria of our dreams will happen in our generation, for our children, our nation, and leaders who wish to make a difference.
When was your Foundation founded?
It was founded in 2016.
You speak so much about impact, especially for children’s future. What has your Foundation accomplished so far as it concerns them?
Delta State has benefited tremendously. During the Train the Trainer Summit, we flagged off (the maiden edition) in Delta, which is the only state where we are conducting it at two locations. The Summit is an offshoot of a programme under the foundation. Every year, we select a project guided by the Spirit.
For 2025, the vision was very strong. Initially, I was hesitant due to the scale of the project and the nature of my job, but the vision was loud, and I knew we had to start. To God be the glory, He brought volunteers who supported this major event. I cannot take all the credit. Glory goes to God and to the volunteers, especially Uche Elue-Monu, the founder of Explore Foundation and daughter of the Former Governor of Delta State, who is also a trustee. She embraced the vision immediately, organised logistics, and piloted most of the organisation of the project. She has also made an impact in rural education, starting in her father’s community.
We had like-minded people collaborating for a common purpose. Most of the volunteers are called and have expressed a desire to continue to work for the foundation, drawn from across borders, including bankers, teachers, and other professionals. I must also acknowledge my drivers, personal and business staff, and colleagues. Their contributions were vital to the success of the Summit.
For Delta, the Train the Trainer Summit is a huge project. However, it will extend across all 36 states and the FCT. Already, six additional states have been activated, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Rivers, for events in January. We have three states in the South-East and three in the South-South region. These will happen concurrently, each on a different date.
Before now, we have carried out numerous projects quietly, yet the impact has been significant. During the COVID period, for example, we ran a medical mission for children aged 12 and below. We used radio jingles, WhatsApp messages, and SMS to reach families who might not have mobile access. We noted that some of these families might have children with health issues and have no support. In the jingle broadcast around the state, we said all children from vulnerable homes with health issues would receive free medical treatment in a pediatric hospital in Asaba, courtesy of the Foundation. People thought it was a scam.
Our WhatsApp number did not rest throughout the lockdown. Over 40 families received free medical attention and treatment. Some cases were complex, including a baby with a brain-related issue, which we covered entirely. All this was done without sponsorship. We sent our driver and team members with a police escort to pick them up from wherever and return them home afterwards, just like paramedics do abroad.
Previously, we conducted orphanage visits. It comes with a lot of impact for the children in the home. In one orphanage, over 60 children attended school. The home manager and her husband would carry them to different schools multiple times a day. We provided a school bus to ease their commute. Again, all this was achieved without sponsorship.
For our national event, sponsors are welcome.
What does the Train the Trainer Summit hope to achieve with these outreaches?
It is a convergence call for all moulders of children’s destiny. The Summit calls for parents, guardians, educators, and community leaders to understand that training children in 2025 is not the same as in 2005. It requires preparing them for a 21st-century future. We are in a time when children can be influenced by screens before their parents or teachers can intervene. The theme is “Raising Children to Thrive and Lead. Future proofing yourself as a Parent or Teacher, what you need to do NOW.” We focus on Generation Alpha, guiding them away from harmful influences, such as the “get-rich-quick” syndrome, exposure to organ harvesting, and ritual tendencies we are seeing the Gen Zs doing now. We need to go back to Proverbs 22:6 that says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
You have your faith, entrepreneurship, corporate work, and advocacy. How do you balance all this? Does it ever get overwhelming?
Yes, it can be overwhelming at times, but I thank God for surrounding me with supportive people, from domestic staff to colleagues. Their contributions make it manageable. When I look around, I see a lot of reasons to push further.
What are some of the challenges you face in your advocacy?
Budgeting is always a challenge. We appointed a National Coordinator with certain expectations, which I needed to fund initially. He also helps drive sponsorship because, by virtue of my work, I may not be able to do such. The Delta event cost was high, and for other states, we must moderate expenses. We welcome well-meaning institutions to partner with us, recognising that investing in children’s future benefits everyone.
Beyond the summit, what are some of the goals regarding your advocacy?
The testimonies from our outreaches speak for themselves. Teachers have said that in over a decade of teaching, they have never experienced such training. The programme shifts mindsets on raising children, guiding them safely in the Internet age, educating them on drug abuse, and how to connect with children appropriately. Our programme was balanced. Many registered way beyond the takeoff and stayed till the end.
Several parents reached out to us with the realisation that they must step up. Some reflected on their roles in failing their boys or shaping generations poorly. Growing up, some parents would threaten their children with conscription into the police if they behaved badly. In that case, if all ill-behaved children join the police force and the police end up not meeting expectations, what do you have to blame? Some of the issues we are seeing today, immoral and unprintable, are perpetuated by the parents. We saw a situation where a mother was molesting her daughter. What about the countless cases of fathers molesting their female children?
The Summit acts as an awakening, and we will continue on that path.
As we go into 2026, what New Year’s resolution would you encourage parents to make concerning their children’s future and parenting?
For 2026, we urge parents and educators to step up and actively guide children. Fathers must be present and accountable in their sons’ lives. Guardians must understand the digital realities their children face and guide them with informed empathy. Schools and parents must partner to ensure progress.
