As part of plans to reduce the level of poverty and raise the educational standard of children of the less privileged in the society, the Olaleye Ajanaku Foundation (OAF) has given scholarship awards up to university level to brilliant indigent students in Osun State.
The foundation also gave grants to women who are petty traders in the state to boost their business and be able to support their household.
Speaking during the presentation of the scholarship award and grant to the beneficiaries at the Penton rise event centre, Bodija, Ibadan, the chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chief Ayo Afolabi, praised the founder of the foundation, Olaleye Ajanaku for the initiative gearing towards helping the orphans, vulnerable and widows in the society to raise their standard of living and give hope for their children.
While soliciting prayers for the chartered accountant, the elder statesman advised him to join the political class, saying that he is the type of people needed to change the fortune of the country for the better.
Chief Afolabi appreciated Ajanaku for extending his kind gesture to brilliant and indigent students of Osun State, particularly Ilesa, his home town and to the women who are acting in the capacity of men in their homestead.
The APC chieftain urged the beneficiaries not to take the advantage and opportunity for granted. He implored the students to utilize it as a stepping stone in their career to achieve desired objectives.
He added that that is the only way they can make their benefactor happy and do more to the people and the society at large.
Olaleye Ajanaku disclosed that the objective behind the setting up of the foundation is to give back to the society and empower the people by lifting the less privileged, orphans, vulnerable and widows who have little or no means of livelihood in the state.
According to him, “one of the things that really triggered me to start the foundation is to empower the people, if you look around there are lots of vulnerable families in the society, and just to give some little support and implore the saying by John F Kennedy that ‘don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask for what you can do for your country’. I believe if everyone of us starts chipping in our little cent into something like this, we can make this society a better place.”
He said that the programme is going to be a continuous exercise “it is a rolling thing as long as we see the opportunity to help, we will always helping the people”
Reacting to the advice of Chief Ayo Afolabi, Ajanaku said that the time is up for the people of his like mind to join politics. “I think Chief Ayo Afolabi is right. I believe it’s time folks like me start to think of politics but we need to do it in a systematic way. We need to learn the rope, we need to familiarize ourselves to what is going on. But it doesn’t matter, once I see the opportunity of helping my fellow people, it gives me a sense of fulfilment.
“It is a project but thanks to almighty God who gives us the ability to do this. It is a huge investment, but it is an investment that gives me joy and fulfilment,” Olaleye Ajanaku said.
The OAF founder implored the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity to become better people in the future.
Beneficiaries were drawn across Ilesha and Osogbo and it would later spread to other parts of Osun State and Nigeria in general.
The event was graced by friends and families of Leye Ajanaku, Pastor Segun Oyeyemi, Coordinator of the Foundation, Deola Layade, Pastor Segun Oduyemo, Wale Agbaje, Damola Layade, Tunde Ayanda and the mother of the founder, Mrs. Ajanaku among others.
Packaged by Dare Raji
