Emulate Babalola, Olanipekun’s philanthropic gestures, Oyebanji tells Ekiti elite

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele and a senior lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), at the weekend, called for concerted efforts to lift Nigerians out of poverty, saying that over 70 per cent of the citizens are rudderless as a result of extreme poverty.

The duo said that Nigeria could not be okay when the vast majority of her citizens are poverty-stricken, urging the elite in the society to show concern by assisting the government to lend a helping hand to the people.

This was just as Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, called on the elite in Ekiti State to emulate Chief Afe Babalola and Olanipekun’s philanthropic gestures by coming back home to help the people.

They all made the remarks at Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, during the 27th edition of Wole Olanipekun Foundation Scholarship Award Scheme & Fourth Empowerment Programme hosted by the legal luminary.

The Senate Leader, who was the Chairman at the occasion, said 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, therefore, urged privileged people that have gone through the mentorship of Olanipekun to learn from him on how to give back to the society and give succour to the less privileged.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Olanipekun said: “We have a lot of people today in this country who are hungry. There are lots of people that are naked and poverty-stricken. Many people are roaming the streets because they are jobless and cannot make ends meet.

He said the poverty level in the country was not just scary but also terrifying. Oyebanji, while urging notable indigenes of the state to borrow a cue from the likes of Babalola and Olanipekun’s attitude of giving back to the society, said: “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 another. 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, and as well plan to support this foundation to help lift many people out of poverty in Ekiti State.”