In memory of the Late Alhaji Kolawole Saheed Akinsanya, a retired senior police officer and foremost grassroots sports developer, the PEPC Foundation has distributed 20, 000 food packs to residents in Lagos State.
The food packs were distributed during a novelty match organised by the foundation, his family, eminent personalities, sports family and residents of Ikorodu.
The exercise, tagged: ‘Love Beyond Christmas,’ is a yearly humanitarian gesture by the foundation, kicked off with about 1,000 residents going home with food packs for Christmas.
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, and widow of late Akinsanya, Alhaja Akinsanya, performed the ceremonial kick–off at the novelty match.
The founder of the Foundation, Luqman Akinsanya, who recalled his little beginning at the barracks, said his love for the community and humanitarian engagement, started from his father.
“I started knowing about community engagements by sweeping the entire blocks when we were growing up at the barracks. I sweep from House A to the last house every morning before I go to school.
“I usually get to school late and would be beaten by my teachers. Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, (Chairman, Ikorodu Division Football Association) can bear me witness. Even though he was my father’s friend, he used to beat me because I came late to school.
“My love for the community started from my father because I learnt a whole lot from him. He used to tell me at all times that I should be humble, and care about others.”He assured that his foundation will continue to extend humanitarian gestures to those in need in the sustenance of his late father’s memory.
“I want us to know today that we can all make Nigeria great, no matter how little we can do. This little support is to show love, and it means a whole lot to many people. It is part of our community development engagements.”
Also, the late Alhaji Akinsanya’s widow, thanked the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), eminent personalities in attendance, All Stars and residents, for supporting his family.
She acknowledged and commended his children for honouring their late father and for sustaining his community works and humanitarian engagements. Akinsanya, who, like her husband, also founded and managed a female team – Ikorodu Tigress, also recalled how her children were trained at the barracks.
She described her late husband as the best father and husband ever. In his remarks, Oba Semiudeen Kasali paid tributes to the memory of the late Akinsanya, whom he said lived a fulfilled life filled with humanitarian engagements and community and youth development activities.
He commended the PEPC Foundation for sustaining and reaching out to the less privileged and others in need.The distribution of the food packs was done in compliance with the directive of the Lagos State government.
