Oghedegbe turns 50, empowers 50 individuals

Last weekend will be unforgettable in the minds of 50 individuals who were feted and empowered by Love Outreach International in commemoration of the 50th birthday of its founder, Pastor Ogbole Oghedegbe.

Kicking off with a thanksgiving service at El-Shaddai worship centre in Surulere, 50 individuals, including traders, pensioners and job seekers, were empowered with N50, 000 each. They were all handpicked by the United Breeds Foundation. The beneficiaries were also given 5kg bags of rice, in addition to their approved cards.

Oladipupo John Ademiju, a photographer and beneficiary in his early 50s, was given a high quality camera to replace the small one he was using for his business, which brought tears of joy to his eyes. Iheme Umeh Raymond also got a laptop for his ICT programme training.

Speaking with The Guardian, Oghedegbe said: “I’m grateful to God that I have been kept alive and I can take care of my needs and that of my family. There was a time in my life when I had nobody to turn to and I am happy I’m able to do this today. I wish this would inspire all of us to help one another. This is the least I can do to give back to others. There are some amongst those here today looking to simply scale up their businesses. Some are pensioners with very small pensions, while others are just looking for how to get by in these hard times. These are people that are hardly remembered in our society. So, I partnered with UBF and they got all these people together, who we believe are truly in need and will use the money to improve their lives.

“My advice to all is to never give up hope because everyone has gone through their own phase. It’s my prayer that people are inspired and in the next 10 years, the beneficiaries are successful in their own rights and are able to pay this gesture forward.”