The controversy surrounding the disappearance of Mr. Olaloye Olatunde, a vice principal of Ipele Community High School, Owo, has taken a new turn following a strong disclaimer issued by CharaKids Foundation, one of the organisations earlier reported to have co-hosted the seminar he attended before going missing.
In a statement released on Monday, the foundation described reports linking it to the Child Labour Programme in Akure, Ondo State, as “false, misleading, and should be disregarded.”
The disclaimer read in part:
“CharaKids Foundation has no knowledge of, or partnership with, any Trace Project — the organisation mentioned in the report. We were not involved in the said programme in any way.”
The group further clarified that its last activity was a Children’s Day event in May 2025 at Emure-ile, Owo, stressing that since then, it had not organised or participated in any other outreach or training.
“Our focus remains strictly on sustainable development goals — SDGs 2, 3, and 4, namely Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-being, and Quality Education. We do not engage in child advocacy or programmes related to child labour, as these are outside our mission,” the statement added.
CharaKids urged the public and media to verify its activities only through its official channels, warning against publications that “misrepresent or mislink” its work.
Tie Back to Disappearance
The disclaimer comes as Olatunde’s family continues to press for answers over his whereabouts.
He was last in touch with his wife between Monday and Wednesday, August 25–27, 2025, before his phone went off on Friday, August 29.
His belongings were later found abandoned in the Hotel in Akure, where he lodged during the programme.
His elder brother had earlier accused both the hotel and the supposed organisers of negligence, while his wife, who recently broke her ankle during the search, pleaded for stronger intervention to locate him.
The police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, though questions remain about the true organisers of the seminar, the role of the hotel, and the last known movements of the missing vice principal.
With CharaKids Foundation’s disclaimer, the spotlight now shifts back to Trace Project — and whether the seminar was genuinely convened or falsely attributed.
