Shamies Foundation

What Shamies Foundation does

Shamies Foundation, legally Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation (SUHF), is an Abuja-based non-governmental organization founded in 2019 (with a 2018 reference in one source) that focuses on the rehabilitation, empowerment, and reintegration of ex-convicts and inmates within Nigeria's correctional system. Its core service portfolio spans advocacy programs (stakeholder congresses, rights campaigns), rehabilitation programs (training, capacity building, life-skills support), and support programs (post-release reintegration, dignity restoration), supplemented by a prison bail sponsorship program, prison outreach visits, mental health awareness conferences, and humanitarian food distribution to vulnerable communities. The foundation launched NABTEB Examination Centres at Kuje and Suleja custodial facilities in August 2025 to enable inmates to earn certifications, and operates an annual seminar series that reached its 5th edition in November 2025.

The organization is led by Executive Director and Founder Amb. Dr. Sara Abdul, supported by six directors covering operations, programs, finance, HR, community development, and communications. Its business model is donation-driven: monetary contributions are allocated in a fixed 30% advocacy / 40% rehabilitation / 30% support split, supplemented by volunteer labour, and accepted across Naira, USD, and GBP through bank accounts at Fidelity Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank. Strategic anchor partnerships with the National Human Rights Commission and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) FCT Command provide institutional access to correctional facilities, while 20 community support groups and a six-city operational footprint (Abuja, Jos, Suleja, Kuje, Sokoto, Makurdi) form the grassroots distribution layer for beneficiary delivery.

The foundation has reported 100 ex-convicts rehabilitated, 5 advocacy congresses conducted, and 20 support groups established to date, with a public goal of scaling rehabilitation beneficiaries from 50 to 500. There is no disclosed technology platform, no AI or proprietary tooling, and no institutional funding or grant disclosures in the source material. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and operations are funded entirely through donations and volunteer contributions.

Name

Shamies Foundation

Legal name

Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation

Website

https://shamiesfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shamies Foundation is an Abuja-based Nigerian NGO that rehabilitates, advocates for, and reintegrates ex-convicts and inmates through prison outreach, training, NABTEB examination centres, and community support groups, funded primarily by donations and government partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services — Ex-Convict Rehabilitation and Reintegration

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAKANAH

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management)

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Corrections, Detention & Prisoner Transport Services

SECONDARYBPAGAKAA

Private Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Ex-convict rehabilitation
• Correctional reform advocacy
• Inmate support programs
• Prison outreach services
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: The foundation relies on monetary donations from individuals, organizations, and partners. Donation allocation follows a structured plan: 30% to Advocacy, 40% to Rehabilitation, and 30% to Support Programs.
2. Volunteer Contributions: Volunteers contribute their time, skills, and support to various programs including prison outreach, training, and rehabilitation activities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shamies Foundation is a Nigerian non-governmental organization that rehabilitates, empowers, and reintegrates ex-convicts into society through advocacy, training, and community support programs. It operates prison outreach programs across Nigerian correctional facilities, sponsors the release of awaiting trial inmates, runs NABTEB examination centres inside custodial facilities, organizes annual stakeholder seminars on correctional reform, and provides humanitarian food relief to vulnerable households.

Product overview

Shamies Foundation, also known as Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation, operates as a single integrated NGO providing advocacy, rehabilitation, and support services to ex-convicts in Nigeria. The organization functions as an unusual heart foundation with multiple interconnected programs including NABTEB examination centres at custodial facilities, mental health support services, prison outreach initiatives, prison bail sponsorship, and annual seminar series for correctional reform. The foundation also operates humanitarian food distribution and accepts donations through multi-currency bank accounts. All programs are coordinated through the Abuja headquarters with support from partner organizations including the National Human Rights Commission, Digital 48 Media, Pad Up Africa, and Center For Advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Programs Advocacy initiatives aimed at giving voice to ex-convicts and addressing systemic issues affecting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals through stakeholder summits and congresses.
• Rehabilitation Programs Programs designed to transform and rehabilitate ex-convicts, with a goal to increase the number of individuals served from 50 to 500.
• Support Programs Support services ensuring ex-convicts' rights, care, and needs are met while restoring their dignity and facilitating reintegration into society.
• NABTEB Examination Centres Educational examination centres launched at Kuje and Suleja custodial facilities in August 2025, enabling inmates to obtain National Business and Technical Examinations Board certifications.
• Mental Health Support Services Mental health intervention and rehabilitation conference programs addressing mental health challenges among inmates in Nigeria's correctional facilities.
• Prisons Outreach Program Humanitarian outreach visits to prisons including SARS, Jos Prisons, Suleja, and other correctional facilities across Nigeria, providing medical aid and support.
• Prison Bail Program Sponsorship program for the release of awaiting trial inmates in major prisons across Nigeria, including visits to Festus Keyamo's office for advocacy.
• Annual Seminar Series Annual educational seminar series bringing together stakeholders to advocate for humane and innovation-driven correctional practices, with the 5th edition held in November 2025.
• Humanitarian Food Distribution Food aid program that supported over 1,000 displaced and vulnerable households in the New Nyanya community in Nasarawa State.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 ex-convicts rehabilitated and reintegrated into society
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation (SUHF) and NHRC formalized a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the protection of inmates' rights and welfare across Nigeria's correctional facilities. The partnership includes hosting events at NHRC premises and joint advocacy for correctional reform.
• Bricks to Crib (BTC Bars Group)minorOthersPartner organization whose logo appears on the Shamies Foundation website partners section.
• Digital 48 MediaminorOthersPartner group listed under Our Partner Groups section on the About page.
• Pad Up AfricaminorOthersPartner group listed under Our Partner Groups section on the About page.
• Center For AdvocacyminorOthersPartner group listed under Our Partner Groups section on the About page.
• Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with NCoS FCT Command for inmate rehabilitation programs, NABTEB examination centre launches at Kuje and Suleja facilities, and recognition by inmates through awards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Howard League for Penal Reform: UK-based penal reform charity working on prisoner welfare, advocacy, and reintegration, comparable in mission and advocacy-led direct service delivery though operating in a different geographic context.
• African Prisons Project: UK-headquartered charity focused on prison conditions, prisoner rights, and legal aid across Africa, sharing Shamies Foundation's focus on advocacy and capacity-building within correctional systems.
• Prison Reform Trust: UK independent charity focused on prison reform, reducing reoffending, and improving conditions for prisoners, with a comparable advocacy-plus-direct-service model aimed at correctional system reform.
• Catholic Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO): Nigerian faith-based NGO providing prison outreach and rehabilitation services to inmates and ex-convicts, operating with a comparable direct-service model targeting custodial facilities in Nigeria.
• Just Detention International: International human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual abuse in detention and promoting prisoner dignity, sharing advocacy-driven mission and prison-access partnerships with Shamies Foundation.
• Prison Fellowship Nigeria: Prison-focused faith-based organization operating in Nigeria and globally with prisoner rehabilitation, aftercare, and advocacy missions that closely mirror Shamies Foundation's core mandate of ex-convict reintegration.
• PRAWA (Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action): Nigerian-led non-governmental organization focused on prisoners' rights, rehabilitation, and welfare with programs across Nigerian custodial facilities and a similar advocacy-and-direct-service model to Shamies Foundation.

Broad incumbents

• International Justice Mission: Global organization working to protect the poor from violence including justice system reform, comparable in criminal justice reform advocacy though broader in scope than Shamies Foundation's prison focus.
• TY Danjuma Foundation: Major Nigerian private philanthropic foundation funding health, education, and community development across Nigeria, comparable as a Nigerian private foundation operating in adjacent social impact areas.
• David Oyedepo Foundation: Large Nigerian faith-based foundation providing scholarships, healthcare, and community development, comparable as a private Nigerian foundation with overlapping community development and education programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/shamiesF
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/shamiesfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shamiesfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/shamiesfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shamies Foundation