SEYI TAIWO-OGUNTUASE 

To continue the legacy of her late parents, Abosede Ogunkanmi, a member of the inner Wheel Club of Lagos and the CEO of Best Hands Total Events Concept, has established a foundation in memory of her parents to cater for the less privileged in society. 

While speaking at the launch of the Oyetayo Adejimi and Ebunlomo underprivileged foundation, held at Festact town in Lagos, Ogunkanmi who also celebrated her 60th birthday on the day said that her parents have long dreamed of making a significant impact on the lives of underprivileged individuals in the society and that to turn the vision into reality, she is launching the foundation. 

She said that the foundation would be dedicated to empowering those in need through women empowerment, donations to orphanage homes, donations to places of worship, giving out scholarships to primary and secondary school students, and payment of fees for JAMB, WAEC and entrance examination into secondary schools and supporting widows and widowers among others. 

Ogunkanmi also said that the foundation aims to equally provide training programmes and health care services to those in need of it. 

She said she loves to give out to people and that she always prayed that whatever God blesses her with, she would use it to make people happy. 

Also, Dr. Ogunkanmi Tajudeen, a Retired Controller of Immigration Service, and the husband of the celebrant, said that the foundation is about empowering people. 

“When you look at the rate of crimes in Nigeria, it’s like the failure on the part of everybody, most especially the rich men. They are not investing in the society; they are not giving anything back to the society. 

“Like Chief Awolowo of blessed memory will say, ‘that the children of those people you refused to help, assist and educate and you concentrate on educating your children, they will not allow your children to sleep and that is just it. 

“We should have the mind of giving and helping people in society, that is what God wants. Some people just need a little capital and it will change their lives. That is what we intend to do every year by the grace of God.” 

Dr. Ogunkanimi, who also wrote and launched a book in honour of his father-in-law titled; ‘The Astute Business Man’ explained that having been very close to him and studied him, he found out so many things about him which he decided to document so that others can learn from. 

“I discovered that a lot of people don’t know what it means to give. My father-in-law was so generous that there was nothing he could not give. He told me that whatever you have in this life, God has made provision for some people in whatever he gives to you, so you don’t feel that you own everything, you are only custodians, so give others.” 

Dr. Nasirudeen Onibon, the keynote speaker at the launching while speaking on the ‘Essence of foundational charity’ said that charity is giving unconditionally without expecting a reward. 

He said there is a saying that charity begins at home but to him it should be charity begins from the heart, stressing that giving to other people is a matter of what is in the heart.