Image caption: Twindad Orphanage CEO (in white)
Jubilation as Twindad gifts borehole, relaxation centre, solar electricity to community, promises scholarship
Adebayo ADELEKE
Residents of Olokiti near Iresaadu in Surulere local government area of Oyo state Monday (December 18) were thrown into jubilation as a philanthropist Dr. Kunle Adegbite, the CEO of Twindad Orphanage Home, Hamama area, Ogbomoso, gifted them solar powered borehole, relaxation/television viewing centre with several fitted sockets for charging of mobile phones.
The small community with not up to ten simple (mud) houses had lived without potable water since the only borehole drilled there had long stopped working making the residents depend on muddy water from streams, aside having to travel over two kilometres to Iresaadu (headquarters of the council area) through the badly undulating road that links the Iresaadu – Iregba road to charge their mobile phones, so, having these plight lifted off their shoulders, through the kind gesture of Dr. Adegbite, who incidentally has his ancestors from the village, sparked immense joy among the villagers.
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The commissioning ceremony as performed by Rear Admiral Jacob Adekunle Ajani (rtd), a prominent community leader in Ogbomoso.
Other guests at the historic event are Mrs. Funke Ajani (wife of Rear Admiral Ajani), Prophetess Funmilayo Akinloye (Christ Zion Ministry Ayelowa), Mrs. Oyinda Oladejo, and Mr. & Mrs. Wale Odumosu among others.
Rear Admiral Ajani commended the donor and prayed, “as this water comforts the people who will use it so will your life and those of your wife and children receive comfort.”
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The head of the community, Dn. Adebayo Ojo, expressed happiness saying it is laudable that Adegbite did not forget his roots. “We have heard about your various philanthropic activities, thank you for remembering your ancestral home, it is amazing,” Dn. Ojo added.
The youth leader of the community, Olakanmi Opeyemi, also was full of thanks while however like Oliver Twist begged Adegbite for the rehabilitation of the pathway that links Iressadu – Iregba road.”
Alhaji Yisa, Jooro Iresaadu also lauded the donor for his “kind gesture.”
In his speech Adegbite said he was motivated to embark on the projects when he heard unsavoury things about the community such as the people lacking good drinking water, the people having to go to Iresaadu for phone charging and youths trekking to watch European Leagues also there.
“Before they even return won’t the phone battery already dropping to 70% and so I said this is unacceptable. That is where my father was born and started his life. They don’t have drinking water, a good society would not allow that, that is what motivated me.”
He also promised to grant scholarship to ten students who are able to gain university admission next year.
“That is why. I like things that will impact lives. I am also thinking of scholarship, full scholarship starting next year. We can sponsor them in the university. That means the students here would need to buckle up to enjoy the benefit. I promise to send ten students who did well to the university – full scholarship,” the US-based medical practitioner said.
In addition, he gifted widows in the community a sum of N10, 000 (ten thousand naira) each just as cartons containing rice, groundnut oil, semovita, spaghetti, seasoning (maggi), bread, salt and so on were distributed to all who attended the programme.
Prophetess Akinloye similarly donated a bag of garri to the widows in support of the effort of Dr Adegbite.
The water is to be given free, and no fee is to be collected for viewing, a one-year subscription fee having been paid for, the donor adds, just as it is said that if there is any fault with the television provided in the viewing centre technical personnel of Twindad Foundation under the umbrella of which the projects were executed, should be contacted.
A woman who spoke with ogbomosoinsightonline.com expressing joy heaped prayer on Adegbite saying the water they have been drinking was muddy going ahead to show a sample of it in a cup.
Speaking with newsmen Ajani challenged other well-to-do individuals to assist the poor.
Adegbite also said he considers helping the less-privileged as a call, noting that it also a source of blessing to him. “I consider it as an investment that God surely repays.”
He disabused the mind of those insinuating he is doing it for political ambition, asserting, “politics, that is a big question, I have zero mind for politics. But may be in two years in later years if God puts it in my mind why not but for now I don’t have any interest in politics. Because how much do l want to get in politics? God has already blessed me. I live in America, I am a nurse practitioner, I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I am not rich but at least I make something tangible that is enough for my family and to assist the people. It is just my call not because of politics and again this is where my dad was born.”
