In this interview, Associate Editor, Nana Karikari, and Managing Editor (Global Issue), Clara Rufai, both discuss with Susan Uchechi Omotoso, the Executive Director and Chairperson, 21Forever Divine Foundation.
Susan Omotoso, affectionately known as 21Forever and Mother of All Nations, is a devoted wife, proud mother of three, and a dynamic force committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. An accomplished optometrist and passionate philanthropist, Susan blends professional expertise with a deep sense of compassion, empathy, and generosity.
As Executive Director and Chairperson of the 21Forever Divine Foundation, she leads with vision and heart, championing initiatives that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and foster growth. Under her leadership, the foundation is dedicated to nurturing potential, promoting well-being, and creating lasting change, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live a life of purpose, dignity, and joy.
Beyond her philanthropic work, Susan is an avid traveler and devoted fashion enthusiast who embraces life’s adventures with openness and enthusiasm. Guided by her personal mantras—Live Fully, Love Beyond Words, Laugh Every Day, and Be Happy- she believes in seizing every opportunity and inspiring others to do the same.
Through her unwavering commitment to “Empowering Hands, Healing Hearts, and Changing Lives,” Susan continues to extend her impact locally and globally, embodying the spirit of service, leadership, and joy in all that she does.
Q: Susan, you often describe your journey as “From Vanity to Humanity.” How did it all begin?
Susan: I never imagined that Instagram would change my life. In 2017, I joined the platform with one simple dream - to become a model in my late forties and fifties. I wanted to prove that beauty had no expiration date. I posted pictures, embraced fashion, and celebrated confidence in later life.
It was a season of vanity, yes - but not the empty kind. For me, it was really about self-expression, self-love, and rediscovery.
What I didn’t know was that this journey would lead me somewhere far deeper. Somewhere sacred. Somewhere human. That was how my life’s new meaning was born - from vanity to humanity.
Q: What was the moment that shifted everything for you?
Susan: In early 2018, beneath one of my Instagram posts, I noticed a comment that stopped me in my tracks: “Mama, I am very depressed.”
Those five words carried so much pain. I asked her to message me privately, and when she did, she poured out her struggles, her hopelessness, her fear. As I read her words, something shifted inside me. Compassion overwhelmed me. I felt called - not just to listen, but to act.
Q: How did you respond to her?
Susan: I asked her what she needed. I encouraged her. I enabled her. I empowered her. I offered support and seed funds to help her start a small business. She later got a job to complement it. When I visited Nigeria, she proudly took me to her workplace and introduced me to her boss. I like to think that I inspired her to see what was possible, and that changed both her view of herself and her trajectory.
I call her my number one (my 001) - the first fruit of a journey I never actually planned, but was destined to walk.
Q: After that, more people reached out. What happened next?
Susan: Many more followed. I have lost count of how many lives I’ve touched since 2018, but I know this - they were once strangers, and they’ve now become family, even though we were thousands of miles apart. I call them my 21Forever family.
Some needed financial help. Some only needed a listening ear. Some just wanted hope. And I have felt led to give it all.
Together, we’ve talked, laughed, cried, and celebrated. I feel like the journey is only just beginning. In fact, it is no longer a journey; it is now a movement, which I feel so privileged to lead.
Q: Was there a moment that truly showed you the power of this community?
Susan: One of the most emotional moments of my life was in December 2025 when over 60 of them travelled to Delta State from various parts of Nigeria, to join my natural family and me, as we honoured and celebrated my mother at her 80th birthday. They came from far and near, with love, gifts, joy, and tears. That day humbled me, and I truly understood the power of goodwill. A little kindness can indeed change everything.
Q: What keeps you going?
Susan: My motivation is quite simple - to change lives and make a difference. So many people only need a push, a word, an opportunity. My goal is not to create dependence, but independence.
I want the people I empower to be able to stand on their own, to provide for their children, to live and to build their families with dignity.
I may not help everyone, but if I help one - and they help another - then the love multiplies. I truly believe that is how we can change the world.
Q: What does day-to-day goodwill look like in real life?
Susan: My day-to-day would be to give a listening ear, advise, guide, counsel, and inspire, as well as offer financial assistance.
Over the years, goodwill has become part of my everyday life - not something I plan once a year, or occasionally, but something I live.
Since 2018, I’ve supported people in different ways, depending on what they truly needed at the time.
Sometimes it means helping someone start or grow a small business. Other times, it’s paying school fees, hospital bills, or house rent, or providing tools that help people earn a living.
Food is also a big part of my giving. I often buy meals for people, and on my birthday, I share food and drinks with many of my 21Forever Family. It’s my way of saying, “you are seen, you matter.”
I have built a team of passionate volunteers along the way. What touches me most is seeing my team carry this same spirit into their communities - supporting new mothers, reaching orphanages, visiting schools, and feeding people on the streets.
None of this is about numbers or recognition. It’s about showing up - again and again - where there is a need. This is what goodwill looks like in my life: quiet, consistent, and led by love.
Q: Have you ever felt discouraged along the way?
Susan: Yes. I’ve encountered dishonesty and disappointment, but I refused to let it harden my heart. My compassion is stronger than fear. It keeps me going - helping the next person, and the next.
Many of them would say, “Mummy, when I make it, I will do something for you.” And I always reply, “I don’t need anything in return. Your success is my reward.”
Seeing them win fills me with joy, fulfilment, and peace.
Q: When did you know it was time to formalize the work?
Susan: From 2018 to 2024, the momentum grew beyond anything I imagined - beyond my finances, beyond my expectations. That was when I knew this was bigger than me. So, I have formally registered a foundation known as 21FOREVER Divine Empowerment Initiative.
Today, we have representatives across 27 states in Nigeria and over 600 volunteers ready to reach communities - both online and offline. The real journey has just begun.
Q: What is your vision?
Susan: A world where single mothers, widows, and children thrive through education, skills, and empowerment - breaking cycles of poverty and building brighter futures.
Q: And your mission?
Susan: To empower single mothers, widows, and children by providing access to quality education, vocational training, and life skills development.
Forever Changing Lives.
Q: Your 21Forever family calls, you Mother of All Nations, Angel and More. How would you describe yourself?
Susan: Yes, that’s true. At heart, I am simply Susan Uchechi Omotoso - and a woman whose journey “From Vanity to Humanity” continues to humble me every day.
Today, while her global family calls her the "Mother of All Nations," Susan remains grounded in the simple, profound shift that redefined her life. She is a game-changer, transforming digital connection into a sanctuary of human connection.