By Ayodele Abere
Mr. Tope Owolabi
An American-based Ekiti philanthropist, Mr. Tope Owolabi has called on the present administration of Ekiti State to ensure that everybody in the State has a stake in Ekiti agenda.
Owolabi, who is always passionate about the wellbeing of humanity made the call on Friday while interacting with some journalists at his residence in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
The international businessman, who attributed the rate at which people die anyhow these days to ignorance and too much belief in superstition, explained that he established a Foundation in 2012 called Babatunde Femi Owolabi with the aim of creating awareness about diabetes and hypertension.
In his word, “Babatunde was the name of my brother who died of diabetes. Most of us in Nigeria believe in superstition rather than taking good care of ourselves very well. Despite the fact that my late brother was even given money to take good care of himself, he believed in what his Pastor told and built a house.
“That’s why the Foundation was established to sensitize people about the status of their health. I took it upon myself to start creating awareness about diabetes and hypertension which I believe most people here in Nigeria don’t take very seriously”.
Mr. Tope Owolabi said Lagos, Oyo and Ekiti are the states that have so far benefitted from his Foundation, adding that the outfit has traversed many towns and villages in Ekiti being his State.
“We bring drugs from overseas, we bring doctors, nurses to do free medical check up for people. Apart from the sensitisation we do on health, we also started going into schools, doing scholarships, buying school uniforms, gives free books to school and giving money to widows.
Owolabi, who has been doing all these for the generality of the people for more than fifteen years now never bothered about the current harsh economy in Nigeria as he maintained that it’s the passion he has that matters.
“The economy doesn’t really make any sense to me. I have to do it. Most of us are waiting for tomorrow. But I do tell people that you don’t have to postpone. Even when I was doing it, I don’t have anything, I don’t have a land and I don’t have a house.
“I used all my money and resources into the project because I believe in the need to impact the society. When I started, people thought I was doing it because of politics. I don’t believe in politics.
Charging the people of the State, Owolabi urged them to be positive and see how they can bring more people to Ekiti by showcasing the peculiarities of the State to the outside world in a positive light.
The philanthropist is an illustrious son of Igbole-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He had all his education in Ekiti. He attended Mary Immaculate Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti before proceeding to the former College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, now Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology. He also attended Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, now Ekiti State University where he bagged honours in Guidance and Counseling Education.
He had been running business before leaving the shores of the country for Europe over two decades ago. He is now in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America where he runs his logistics business. Due to his passion for his home country, Ekiti State, he comes around every year and he has always been a blessing to everyone around him.