*As Foundation wins Outstanding NGO award
Co-founder and co-sponsor of Bayo and Bunmi Babalola Foundation (BBBF), Sunday Adebayo Babalola, has urged the Federal Government, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to invest more in education.
He also urged them to alleviate the plight of Nigerians by creating business-friendly environment.
He spoke in an interview with journalists, yesterday, on the sidelines of an event, where his foundation received the Outstanding NGO of the Year, 2023.
The awards were organised by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph titles.
Babalola said: The Federal Government and governors should do more to improve education. All we hear today is about so many billions spent on frivolous projects. The money can be harnessed and used for education. On the other hand, there are so many leakages in government in so many areas. If we can plug those leakages, we can have enough resources to take care of our needs.”
To fill the gaps left by government, Babalola said his NGO had, since inception, been offering scholarships to pupils (about 2,500 in number) and students from secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
He also said the NGO renovated many schools in the Kwara State and provided electric generators to schools.
He described the award as one in a million, coming from a reputable media organisation. He said it would energise him and his wife, Bunmi, to sustain contribution to the uplift of the poor, especially at the grassroots.
Babalola said: “I thank God for the privilege He gave to us to be useful to humanity. I also thank the Daily Telegraph for finding us worthy of that award. We are very elated and happy because when you do a work and it is recognised, you feel like doing more.
“In January, this year, BBBF renovated four classrooms. The classrooms were totally dilapidated. The rehabilitation of the classrooms included flooring, repainting and ceiling. We spent between N2m and N3m. If it were the government that did that, each of the classrooms probably would have cost N15m.”
