Akinyele Magbagbeola Foundation puts smiles on faces of 300 families
Jeremiah OYELEKE
Akinyele Magbagbeola Foundation (AMF) with mission “to empower individuals and communities to achieve their full potential by providing access to education, healthcare, empowerment, collaboration and basic needs,” Tuesday (September 12) lived to its mission statement as it formally launched the foundation with food packages to about three hundred widows and non-widows alike.
The event which took place at Elesun Adeosun, Oriire local government, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, held at the community hall was witnessed by traditional rulers, clergies and many other dignitaries among who are Oba Samuel Oluwatoyin Bamigboye, Olopete of Opete; Oba Thomas Onaolapo Ajadi, Alaipo of Orile-Aipo, represented by Chiefs Timothy Ajamu, Emmanuel Olaniyi and Felicia Olaniyi, Balogun, Bara and Iyaloja of Aipo respectively; Chief Adeshina Akintunde, Alaponran of Aponran; and Oba Zaccheus Olayode Oladapo, Gbogi of Alaropo Nla.
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Some others are Chief Joseph Olugbode Adeyemo, Alabojosu of Abojosu, Prince Ezekiel Ajiboye, Asiwaju of Ajaawa, Rev’d Josiah Oyelekan of Christ Baptist Church, Ogbomoso; Rev’d Samuel Oladeji of Atere Baptist Church; and Alfa Tijani Lateef.
Most of the beneficiaries who were decked in polo T-shirts given them by the foundation and from all nooks and crannies of Oriire local government each went home with a package of foodstuff consisting of rice, beans, semovita, wheat, cooking oil, detergent, matches etc, which ignited joy in them.
Speaking on the motivation for the programme, Dr. Olopade Isaac Adesola discloses the non-governmental organization focuses on the poor, which he says would through various means be empowered.
Dr. Adesola, a member of the governing council of AMF informs the founder and chairman of the NGO, Mr. Akinyele Magbagbeola who was unavoidably absent inaugurated the foundation “to assist the less-privileged in his own little way in line with the teaching of the Holy Bible that says blessed is the man that does not turn his eyes on the needy.”
He says the benefactor was moved by the widespread suffering among the people revealing he had been extending assistance to the needy in the past but decided to make it more real through the foundation.
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He emphasizes, “He is not doing it with focus on politics but out of kindness,” adding, “we are starting to make impactful mark. He is concerned about people’s comfort and progress. It is not easy taking from one’s hard earned money to give people but the NGO is founded to make significant difference in other areas such as road repairs and maintenance, healthcare programmes, provision of infrastructural facilities etc.”
Olopade explains the reach of the organization will extend to cover all ten wards in Oriire local government, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria and the whole world. “That is the goal of the founder.”
Chairman of the occasion, Oba Bamigboye, Olopete of Opete, commends Mr. Magbagbeola for the kind gesture while charging the beneficiaries to always remember him in prayer and to work to improve their lives too.
Prince Ezekiel Ajiboye, a retired permanent secretary at Oyo State Post Primary School Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) also thanks the founder, urging youths especially to emulate his kind gesture.
Also speaking, Mr. Olubunmi Magbagbeola, father of the founder, reiterates that the efforts was just to contribute to making life easier for the poor.
“It is not that he (founder) is a wealthy person but whatever he has he is always willing to give out. If you see any indigent student seeking or who gained admission contact the foundation,” he adds.
Rev’d Josiah Oyelekan of Christ Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, in an exhortation he titles, “Bearing the infirmities of the weak,” and Bible passage from Romans 15: 1-3, notes that what was being witnessed was in line with the calling of God “for the privileged and people who have the means to help others bear their burden.”
Rev’d Oyelekan stresses this could be in several areas such as in faith development, wealth, influence, wisdom and so on.
Praising AMF for its efforts, he submits, “In Nigeria, the hope of many people is being dashed, vision is being lost. But we thank God for a foundation like this, which not only helps the less privileged but encourages beneficiaries to assist others.”
Many beneficiaries express gratitude to the foundation while speaking with ogbomosoinsightonline.com after the event.