10/07/2026
King's Barber Connect Nigeria (KBCN) Celebrates a Milestone of Community Impact Through 35,000 Sponsored Haircuts and Youth Empowerment
Itire, Lagos State | 10 July 2026
The King Ogunremi Foundation (KOF) proudly celebrates the remarkable contribution of King's Barber Connect Nigeria (KBCN) to community development and youth empowerment following the successful delivery of the Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign (DAAC ITIRE 2026).
Founded by King Ogunremi, a Nigerian-born British Master Barber and community development practitioner, King's Barber Connect Nigeria (KBCN) was established in response to the economic and professional challenges faced by local barbers across Nigeria. The initiative combines social impact with economic empowerment by supporting barbers while using barbering as a platform for youth engagement and community development.
Since its establishment, KBCN has distributed more than 35,000 sponsored haircut vouchers to residents across Nigeria, providing free haircuts while generating income opportunities for participating local barbers. The programme is designed to strengthen the local barbering economy, increase the visibility of barbers as professionals, and create meaningful community engagement.
During DAAC ITIRE 2026, KBCN coordinated the delivery of over 500 free sponsored haircuts for children and young people within the Itire community. Beyond the grooming service, the initiative created an environment where participants engaged with drug abuse awareness messages, interacted with mentors, and were introduced to vocational opportunities within the barbering profession.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, King Ogunremi said:
"As a Master Barber, I have witnessed the challenges faced by many talented barbers across Nigeria, including limited opportunities for professional growth and sustainable income. KBCN was created to support the industry in a practical way by connecting community service with economic empowerment. Every sponsored haircut not only restores confidence to a young person but also supports the livelihood of a local barber. We believe that barbering can be a platform for mentorship, skills development and positive social change."
The foundation noted that KBCN has become much more than a barbering network. It is now a community engagement platform that uses the trusted relationship between barbers and young people to encourage positive choices, promote personal hygiene, and introduce participants to vocational pathways.
As part of the DAAC ITIRE 2026 pilot programme, KBCN also contributed to community-based learning by helping to observe and understand patterns of youth engagement within the local environment. These observations complemented the broader multidisciplinary approach of the campaign, which involved community dialogue, academic participation and stakeholder collaboration.
The foundation believes that vocational initiatives such as KBCN can play an important role in providing constructive opportunities for young people by encouraging skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and positive community participation.
The success of KBCN at DAAC ITIRE 2026 was made possible through the commitment of volunteer barbers, community partners and participating organisations who worked together to deliver services that benefited hundreds of residents while supporting local businesses.
Looking ahead, the King Ogunremi Foundation plans to expand KBCN through the proposed Safesound Creative Hub , where barbering will form part of a wider vocational training programme alongside digital technology, creative industries and entrepreneurship. The foundation also intends to integrate KBCN into the proposed DAAC Sports for Life Initiative, creating additional opportunities for youth engagement through sport, skills development and community service.
The foundation expressed sincere appreciation to all participating barbers, volunteers and partners for their dedication and reaffirmed its commitment to using barbering as a practical tool for community development, youth empowerment and economic inclusion.
NDLEA King Ogunremi Foundation Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign University of Lagos Itire Youth Community Empowerment Initiative Itire Connect Nigeria Police Force King Ogunremi
