Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has immortalised his late mother, Dr Veronica Adeleke, by commissioning a female hostel in her honour at Clifford University, Abia State.
The ceremony, held during the institution’s 6th convocation on Sunday, was an emotional yet celebratory event that drew applause from students, staff, and guests as the global icon arrived with members of his 30BG crew and celebrity nightlife mogul, Cubana Chief Priest.
The project, named Veronica Adeleke Female Hostel, represents the latest in a series of philanthropic initiatives through which the singer continues to celebrate his mother’s legacy.
Before her passing in 2003, Dr Veronica Adeleke was a university lecturer, philanthropist, and advocate for education.
Davido’s tribute to his mother through education is not new. In previous years, he launched the Veronica Adeleke Education Foundation, which funds tuition for underprivileged students across Nigeria. In 2023, the foundation expanded its reach by sponsoring students at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, an institution founded by Davido’s father, Dr Adedeji Adeleke.
That same year, the artist announced plans to build a female hostel in the Southeast, describing it as a project “closest to his heart.”
Sunday’s unveiling at Clifford University, therefore, marked the fulfilment of that promise, a moment fans had long anticipated.
Over the years, Davido has consistently honoured his mother through public tributes and charitable acts. Every March 6, the anniversary of her death, he donates millions to orphanages and schools across Nigeria, in what has now become a tradition of remembrance.
His ‘We Rise by Lifting Others’ campaign, launched in 2021, also reflects her humanitarian values.
Addressing graduates and guests at the convocation ceremony, Davido said the hostel was more than just a building but a continuation of his mother’s mission.
“Today, I had the honour of inaugurating a hostel at Clifford University named after my mother. Walking through that building and seeing the smiles of the students who will live there, I realised this was more than a tribute, it was a continuation of her purpose, turning love into legacy, one life at a time,” he said.
The artist, who also delivered the convocation’s keynote address, urged the graduands to pursue their goals with determination and empathy.
“When I looked into their faces, I saw the same fire that built me, the hunger to make something out of nothing. Talent might open the door, but purpose gives it meaning. True greatness is not measured only in numbers, but in impact,” he said.
The singer’s wife, Chioma Adeleke, known as Chef Chi, reacted emotionally to the unveiling, describing it on Instagram as “so beautiful.” The moment quickly went viral, with thousands of fans praising the artist for turning grief into purpose.
Cubana Chief Priest, who joined Davido at the event, also announced a pledge to pay the school fees of 50 students from different departments in support of the initiative, a donation estimated at over N40 million.
The ceremony ended with a standing ovation as students chanted “Mama Veronica lives on,” capturing the emotional weight of the day.
