Vanni: Greatest philantropist of all time
Sir: It is often said that great men are born and not made. To know this trait, you see them exhibiting this character in extra unique manner.
Sequel to this fact, I decided to search deeply with all my mind to found a man that possess this qualities that are extraordinary by my own bench mark of 100 per cent, which is indeed very rare, but to my greatest amazement, I found a man that beat that benchmark to 200 per cent, that man is the late Otunba (Dr.) V.O. Vanni of blessed memory.
He came, he fought and conquered, in the corporate world. He was extraordinary human being, going by historic record. He was the first Nigerian to set up two corporate legal entities that are global in nature.
Firstly, he was the first Nigeria to set up security outfit in Nigeria called “Vanni International Security System, founded in 1971, what a great historic record?
Secondly, he was the first Nigeria to set up a Private Airline called Intercontinental Airline that operate both on national and international route, what a great historic record as well?.
Be that as it may, a lot of people work in these companies and benefited a lot of things name it: Means of livelihood, training and a large number of network that has in-turn help them to safeguard their future. It is the vision of this great man that can never be compared.
However, he was a lover of education. He loved education to an extent that no man met him for a scholarship that he would not fulfill. It is said that education is the best legacy parents can leave for a child.
Also, Vanni practised this to a logical conclusion and he was indeed a father of all scholars that ever meant him for this purpose. What an exemplary life of a century!
As if that is not enough; he was a true employer of labour in the companies he founded that is “Vanni International Security System and Intercontinental Airline respectively, the workforce in the organisation were extraordinary as they could be measured to workers of global best practice. Also, Vanni had one thing that is so historic, being first of doing things both in academic and the corporate world.
In the University of Lagos, he was one of the first set that graduated in that institution that was in 1968, what a historic record!
Secondly, in the security history, he was the first Nigerian to set up security company, called “Vanni International Security System which he founded in 1971. In the aviation industry, he was the first Nigerian to established private airline called Intercontinental Airline and the first Nigerian as a private man to fly international route “what a historic record”?
Be that as it may, in terms of welfare, he was an extraordinary man that attended to issues of hunger and housing, no man or woman meet him for food or shelter that he did not attend to. He was indeed an icon of philanthropy in his generation.
However, Vanni, one of the greatest philanthropist that overcame our Lord Jesus Christ’s declaration in Matthew 25:42-45, (New King James Version (IKJV), for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me, this declaration was made by our Lord Jesus Christ which is indeed not easy to overcome by any man but Vanni.
However, my relationship with him was indeed cordial when I served under his leadership as store officer, then in Vanni International Security System, he was indeed an icon of philanthropy, for those who may come across this write up, I indeed seek your indulgence to please emulate this great man and keep the flag of philanthropy “flying” so as to better our society and serve as generational reference for the future generations.
May the soul of Vanni rest in perfect peace Amen?
Patrick Eromonsele, CEO, Ostrich Business Venture.
Email: [email protected]
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