Evang. (Mrs.) Grace Bakare has dedicated her life to lifting up the down-trodden, offering a helping hand to the hopeless, being a mother to the orphans and caring for the handicapped.

She is the Founder of Dewdrops Care Development Foundation which is a non-profit, non-denominational, non-religious and non-political registered charitable organization in Nigeria. She is also a volunteer at the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria.

Born February 7, 1970, Grace attended Odofin Secondary School, Mile 2, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos from 1983 to 1989. She proceeded to the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State in 1992 to study Secretarial Administration. She bagged her National Diploma in 1995 and a Higher National Diploma in 1999.

Grace’s journey into charitable work began on an emotional note on a certain day after her Youth Service in Lagos. She watched on TV, a fund-raising appeal for a child who needed to undergo a corrective heart surgery abroad. She was deeply touched by the plight of the child. There and then, she decided to be part of the process of saving the lives of people who needed heart surgery but could not afford the cost.

She joined the Kanu Heart Foundation in April 2004 as a Marketing Executive. Her duty was to raise funds for heart surgeries and her first assignment was to raise funds for the child she had watched on television. The job suited her interest but it was extremely difficult and challenging particularly because she had to work at the airport where she had to contend with all shades of over-zealous security details daily.

Two years after, in June, 2006 she joined the Family Vocational Institute for the Disabled. A few days after signing up with the institute, she discovered that she was pregnant. Nine months later, she was delivered of a baby girl but the child was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

Grace’s husband and family were very supportive but at first, she was completely confused, shocked and depressed. After series of visits to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where the daughter went through paediatric and physiotherapy treatment, a doctor introduced her to the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria. There she met the Founder, Mrs. Rose Mordi. It became clear to her that God wanted to establish her in her own area of calling.

Mrs. Grace Bakare soon joined the Down Syndrome Foundation as a Fund Raising Officer. Today, even after the establishment of Dewdrops Care Development Foundation, she remains a Volunteer at Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria.

Dewdrops Care Development Foundation which is located on 47, Owoseni Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos also runs an orphanage. It has a cardinal objective of working to ensure that the living standard of orphans is better. It hopes to build these children spiritually, morally, materially and financially.

Of her work these several years, Evangelist Grace Bakare says: “My vision to continue to raise money for the needy was born out of the drive to get into something to affect humanity. This has really taken a lot of courage, pain, agony, strength and humility which have driven me to learn more about relations and moral uprightness in life.” And of her commitment to orphans through Dewdrops Care Development Foundation, she says: “We take great pleasure in serving forgotten and unloved children by placing them in loving, godly families and giving them every opportunity to not only survive but to thrive in their local communities.”

Grace is married to Mr. Oluwafemi Bakare. Her hobbies are going to parties, meeting people, travelling and making friends.

It is in recognition of her contribution to national development in the sphere of Philanthropy and Humanitarian Work that Evang. (Mrs.) Grace Bakare is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Woman of Merit Gold Award which is part of the 2017 PSR National Awards.