Benevolentia Aid Initiative, a non-governmental organisation founded by gospel music artist Adejumobi Oluwatosin Akinkunmi, has launched a dual campaign targeting preventable deaths and the rising number of out-of-school children in underserved communities.

In an interview, Akinkunmi, who is also the CEO of the organisation, said the health component of the campaign will focus on providing free medical check-ups, essential drugs, and limited healthcare services to people living in rural and underprivileged areas. He explained that the initiative aims to reach communities where healthcare access is either unavailable or unaffordable.

“Through health education campaigns and partnerships with local hospitals and doctors, we intend to ensure basic health services reach those who cannot afford them. We will do this by holding periodic free health check-ups in communities that really lack it, with the hopes of reducing preventable health issues and early deaths that can be easily prevented,” he said.

On education, Akinkunmi said the initiative will offer scholarships, distribute school materials, and organise free community-based tutoring sessions for children who currently lack educational support. He noted that the education programme is designed to close the gap between children who have access to resources and those who do not.

“In the education sector, we simply want to close the gaps that exist between the haves and the have-nots in society. We intend to provide scholarships, school supplies, and community-based tutoring for children in areas that really lack them. We will continue to partner with secondary schools to ensure this is carried out,” he said.

According to Akinkunmi, the decision to focus on healthcare and education is rooted in the belief that addressing these two fundamental areas enables individuals and communities to build a better future for themselves.

“During this first edition, we chose to focus on education and healthcare access, addressing the gaps that exist in these sectors, in our little ways. We did this by visiting as many secondary schools as possible, speaking with them and encouraging the students about the importance of education, staying in school, and remaining focused, in spite of and despite the current circumstances that may be less than ideal,” he said.

He added that the team also met with school administrators to discuss potential future collaborations and program expansions.

As part of activities to mark his 40th birthday, Akinkunmi said the organization visited a hospital, where they identified families with newborns and offered them financial and material support.

“While at the hospital, we chose a few families who had just delivered babies and supported them financially and with gift items. We intend to return to the hospital and continue collaborations with them related to health education for women and young families,” he added.

He called on the government, the private sector, and individuals to support the organization by creating an enabling environment and contributing to its work through partnerships and goodwill.

Benevolentia Aid Initiative was established as part of Akinkunmi’s milestone celebration and seeks to improve the quality of life in underserved communities. Its mission is to help communities not just survive but thrive with dignity, creativity, and hope.