‘YOMI AYELESO writes on the sustained efforts of a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) at providing succour to categories of people in the society in the last 27 years.
At a time when most Nigerians are facing serious economic hardship and clamouring for a respite from government and privileged individuals, a seasoned philanthropist and renowned legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) doled out millions of naira to residents of Ikere-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti state.
On Saturday, November 26, dignitaries from walks of life stormed the ancient city of Ikere-Ekiti to witness the Wole Olanipekun Foundation (WOF) 27th Scholarship Award Scheme and fourth Empowerment Programme, where students, aged, widows, youths and others were empowered with cash gifts and palliative materials.
As a direct response to the ongoing biting economic realities in the country, Olanipekun, in his magnanimity, extended the number of beneficiaries and the cash rewards, including providing palliative to the residents.
Dignitaries at the event included the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji; his deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye; Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu, among others.
In the breakdown of this year’s beneficiaries, 250 students ranging from secondary schools to university/law school education levels received between N11,000 and N130,000; N50,000 each to 100 youths as entrepreneurship grant while 100 aged and widows got N30,000 each including 600 beneficiaries receiving palliatives.
Chairman of the Board of Wole Olanipekun Foundation (WOF), Prince Feyi Ogoji who said over 4,000 persons have benefited from the scholarship and empowerment from the foundation, commended the principal and his wife, Omolara, for their unmatched selflessness and compassion for humanity over the years.
He said, “The various empowerment initiatives aimed at bringing the best out of our youths to realise latent potentials through the various annual grants and awards have not only galvanised the beneficiaries over the years to channel their energies productively by adding values to themselves and the society, they have, by extensio,n been adding values to others, and living lives meaningfully, while the aged and widows have also been given hope and a good lease of life through the annual grants too.”
On his part, Chief Olanipekun said the foundation was established to impact positively on humanity with virtues of love and compassion towards assuaging the needs of those who genuinely seek refuge.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who lamented the rising level of poverty and hunger in the society, promised to continue his determination to offer hopes and life to the downtrodden with the empowerment schemes and scholarship.
He argued that the country won’t survive its challenges if urgent measures were not taken to tackle the poverty rate, urging the elites in the society to show concern by assisting the government to lend a helping hand to the people.
The former chairman of Body of Benchers said, “ One thing that excites me about life is that it is always good to impact meaningfully, positively on life and humanity, on fellow human beings. I grew up here, I never knew I would be what I am today, it is not by my own doing, perfection or because I am brilliant but success comes from God who gives all.
“We started what we are doing today in 1996 on a very small scale. The testimonies from the people who had benefited from the scheme, that is what I think should make one happy.
“We have a lot of people today in this country who are hungry. There are a lot of people that are naked and poverty stricken. So many people are roaming the streets because they are jobless and cannot make ends meet.
“A lot of people are thinking like that widow in the Bible that let’s take this last meal and die. We must lift them up. We must touch them. To those who may think that they have made it and we are okay. We are not okay because the anger, noise and distress of our hungry neighbours who can’t sleep will not allow us to sleep.
“The poverty level in Nigeria today is not just scary but also terrifying, as over 70 percent of Nigerians are rudderless, poverty stricken. The situation beckons on those who have received God benevolent to also tap from God’s attribute of compassion, by lending hands to their fellow men.”
In his own remarks, the Governor Oyebanji urged notable indigenes of the state to borrow a cue from the likes of Chief Afe Babalola and Chief Wole Olanipekun in the attitude of giving back to the society.
“I appeal to other indigenes of Ekiti State to please come home and assist our people. I was looking at the brochure and over 600 people are going to benefit one way or the other. I want the beneficiaries to float an association to start preparing to give back to the people.
“The government is trying to create access and opportunity for Ekiti indigenes to thrive. We will make it public at the appropriate time, plan to support this foundation to help lift many people out of poverty in Ekiti,” he said.
Senator Bamidele, who was the chairman on the occasion, said that people are facing hardship in different dimensions due to poor economic management of the past, saying that efforts are ongoing by the current administration to put things right.
He urged privileged people who have gone through the mentorship of Chief Olanipekun to learn from him how to give back to the society and give succour to the underprivileged.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
