By Olasubomi Olateju
Ikere-Ekiti born legal Icon and renowned philanthropist, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said a total of 3,019 Nigerians from different backgrounds have benefited from his Scholarship and Empowerment programmes which began in 1996.
Chief Olanipekun made the disclosure at his country home, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State at the 28th Scholarship Award Scheme and 4th Empowerment programme of the annual event where he noted that several millions of naira have so far expended on the two projects.
Giving the breakdown, the renowned lawyer said a total of 3,019 people have benefited from the Scholarship Scheme which commenced in 1996 adding that the figure included successful professionals, who are now of diverse grades doing well in their areas of specialisation in the country today,
Chief Olanipekun explained that, for this year alone, the scholarship arrangement covers 150 beneficiaries, and had been extended to some students who needed urgent and critical attention, as at the time.
Speaking further, he said as for the Wole Olanipekun Foundation, (WOF), Empowerment Programme, which started five years ago, that a total of 200 widows, 200 aged people, and 400 young entrepreneurs had so far been attended to, making a total of 800 persons, while for this year alone, 50 widows, 50 aged people, and 150 young entrepreneurs also benefited.
He said he drew his inspiration for such gestures, on the fact that he once tasted poverty, and knew how it pinched, saying the best way to give back to the society, was to bail out those in dire need.
Noting that government alone cannot do everything, the great lawyer of note advised the beneficiaries to make good use of whatever was given to them as he equally charged them and other well to do individuals in the country to emulate the gesture.
He thanked Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, for creating an enabling environment that had made it easy, and less stressful for private partners, in joining his administration, to lift the state, in all areas of human life.
In his remark, the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, commended the public spirited gestures of Olanipekun, who he described as an outstanding, and distinguished leader of the kingdom.
The monarch used the occasion to call on young men and women of the community to emulate Olanipekun, by shunning the irresponsible ideas of laziness, and get-rich-syndrom, like yahoo, yahoo, but rather face the realities of life, which he said, can only be enduring in hard work and perseverance.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. S.S Omoyeni, the Chairman, Board of trustees of Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme, thanked the sponsor, Olanipekun, for his interest and support for the education of brilliant, but indigent students of diverse backgrounds.
He said the scholarship, covers three areas, including those in secondary education level, university undergraduates, and Law School candidates.
While appreciating Olanipekun for supporting his administration’s education and employment drive, governor Oyebanji, who was physically present at the occasion, commended his spirit of patriotism, and admonished him on the need to continually sustain the two programmes.
The governor also called on other well-meaning Ekiti indigens to emulate the selfless service, which Olanipekun had exemplified, for Ekiti to move forward.