Franz Fanon in his book: "the wretched of the earth" says a man who is wrapped in himself would only make a small package.
At a time when many believe in helping themselves to the cookies jar while in privileged positions of power and influence, only to brandish such wealth before the people, especially the poor and lowly, it is strange to see very few personalities who would resolve to use monies legitimately acquired for uplifting the poor or embark on other noble courses. One of those few personae is Dr Babatunde Adeyemo, the Chairman and promoter of Pelican Estates in Abeokuta.
Having achieved recognisable feats in estates and realtor business earning an impeccable recognition at home and in the diaspora, Adeyemo has chosen a new path in humanism by founding the "Oko Opo Widows Endowment" launched in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Starting with 100 Widows who benefitted from cash donations and robust food stuffs, Adeyemo said the plight of this critical group in the society triggered his interest to invest his hard earned resources in their empowerment. Adeyemo who is in his early 40s noted that the foundation was based on the altruistic desire to bring smiles to the faces of the Widows and not based on any political or ulterior motives that often characterised such gestures.
He utilized the opportunity to highlight the long and medium strategy for institutionalizing the project to the delight of all.
I have personally gained from Adeyemo's life of giving back to the society from his God given resources. He noted that you don't need to be stinkingly rich to be a giver. "It's a matter of the mind, than of the pocket" he noted.
Media personalities such as veteran Eddy Aina, Ernest Nwokolo and this writer were invited for the Executive brieging and media interview thst preluded the epochal event.
One could not but be inspired by Adeyemo's noble and sacrificial spirit, even when people of his age and economic status would have preferred to frolick or embark on self serving lifestyles to gratiate self. Rather, Adeyemo has chosen to see quality of life in terms of the extent of joy one could infuse into the hearts of others. The issue really is that wevdon't need to have it all to be our brothers keepers by giving. There is a wise saying that "literally if you cannot be an ocean, be a river, if you can't be a river, just be a rivulet or a stream. The important thing is to allow your life flow into others. That is the whole essence of life which has come back to me throughout the course of the programme.
In order to make the event holistic, there was a motivational and health talk by Mr Eddy Aina and Lekan Jaji, respectively. Eddy admonished the elderly to imbibe healthy lifestyle through what they eat. He also advised them to do away with stress and engage in exercise regularly to keep body and soul.
In his submission, Jaji emphasized the pathway to healthy ageing and lifestyle modifications.
There was a consensus of opinion by the beneficiaries as they interceded for the long life and prosperity of Adeyemo while praying that his creed increase in our world to cause the desired change in our narrative as a nation and people that care.
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