How business mogul’s philanthropy chased away criminals from Kaduna community

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

When Kaduna-based business tycoon Mr. Olawale Oyedele donated social amenities, especially solar street lights, to the Kudenda community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna metropolis, little did the people know that it would mark the end of criminal activities in the affected areas.

It was gathered that the now solar-powered street was notorious for criminal operations due to darkness at night, where people were stabbed, killed, and robbed of their phones, motorcycles, and other belongings.

However, residents in the community noted that the projects have brought relief, curbing the menace that bedevilled them. Visibility for pedestrians at night has improved, and residents can now sleep well as criminal activities no longer thrive due to the light and brightness.

To this end, the joy of the residents of Kudenda community knew no bounds when Mr. Oyedele commissioned and donated these social amenities to them penultimate week.

Mr. Oyedele, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a grains processing factory supplying multinational food and beverage companies, said the gesture was part of his organisation’s social responsibility to its host community.

The grains processing merchant expressed gratitude to the Kaduna State government for providing an enabling environment to run his business over the years in the state capital.

Oyedele recalled how he began his working experience in Kaduna after completing the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), rising through the ranks before retiring from Leadway Assurance to become self-employed many years ago.

The philanthropist went down memory lane, saying, “I retired from Leadway Assurance in Kaduna. I did my youth service in Kaduna, served at Leadway, and was employed there. I rose through the ranks to become the Managing Director. When I retired from Leadway, I started this company called Nikoy Nigeria Limited. This company is roughly 33 to 34 years old.

“We are into processing grains and selling to multinational companies that deal in food and beverages. Our clients are exclusively multinational companies.

“As part of our social responsibility to our immediate community, we decided to give back by providing social amenities like boreholes, street lights, road grading and drainages, a prayer ground for Muslim faithful, and restrooms and bathrooms for food vendors and visitors.

“The state government has been good to us by providing an enabling environment to operate. Our major concern is the issue of insecurity, which is a national challenge. So, to reduce insecurity in our immediate environment, we decided to provide street lights to curb the activities of miscreants in the area. We also constructed drainages because each time it rained, the road flooded, making it impossible for people to pass.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Sarki (Chief) of Kudenda, His Royal Highness Gabriel Bagudu Galadima, expressed gratitude to the benefactor for donating these social amenities to the community.

Chief Galadima called on other well-meaning individuals to emulate the business mogul for the betterment of society, while admonishing residents to take good care of the facilities.

“I am personally excited, recalling about 14 years ago, precisely in May 2011, when I was privileged to lay the foundation of this company. Little did I know that someday the business would prosper and bring such great benefits to my immediate community, strangers, and humanity at large.

“In recent times, we have heard about people being stabbed, killed, and robbed of their phones, motorcycles, and other belongings at night or when the place was dark and quiet. I can boldly say that these projects will bring relief to us and curb the menace bedevilling our people and community. Our security will be enhanced, visibility for pedestrians improved, accidents at night reduced, businesses will prosper without the fear of being robbed or forced to close early, and residents can now sleep well as criminals will not thrive where there is light and brightness.

“At this juncture, I sincerely want to express my profound gratitude on behalf of the peace-loving people of Kudenda and its environs to Mr. Olawale O. Oyedele, the Chairman/MD of this company, for your love, kind-heartedness, and goodwill that you and your company have demonstrated through these noble projects—not just to the people of Kudenda but to humanity,” he said.

“It is gratifying to say that what we are about to commission today is a product of the understanding and goodwill of both parties, but most importantly, it shows the character and personality of the Chairman/MD and the entire management team of Nikoy Nigeria Limited, which is commendable, worthy of emulation, and highly appreciated by the entire Kudenda community and everyone who will benefit from these projects in one way or another.

“This company has joined others operating in Kudenda that have, in the past and even presently, been ‘giving back’ to their host community through corporate social responsibility. Permit me to mention the noble projects we are about to commission for the benefit of humanity: provision of solar street lights for the entire stretch of Chabson Street (Gaskiya Chemical Street), about 1 km; construction of drainages and grading of Chabson Street; provision of borehole water for the community; construction of a fence, gate, and installation of solar lights at the Community Primary Health Centre.

“Others include the provision of a mini prayer ground for our Muslim faithful and the provision of restrooms (conveniences) for food vendors, external transporters, and visitors.

“As we all know, human beings have fundamental needs for survival and well-being, including physiological needs like food, water, shelter, and sleep, as well as psychological needs like belonging, safety, and self-esteem.

“The significance of today’s occasion can be better understood by making the connection between a peaceful, enabling environment and sustained productivity. In other words, peaceful coexistence and sustainable productivity are inextricably linked.

“This underpins my community leadership vision of what a conducive environment for public and private businesses looks like in Kudenda community. Peaceful coexistence and a good working relationship between the host community and the companies operating in my domain cannot be overemphasised,” the traditional ruler said.

In his goodwill message, Alhaji Yisau Gbadamosi, a close associate of the Chairman/CEO, said, “It is a day of celebration, a day of progress, and a testament to a heart that cares. He taught us that from the little God has provided, we have a true philanthropist at heart. I am a living testimony to his generosity and kindness.

“Oyedele is not just a successful business executive; his acts of generosity did not start today. Even as a salary earner back then, as the Regional Director for Kaduna and Northern Branches, and till this day, he has maintained a list of retirees, elderly individuals, widows, and those in need to whom he always extends a helping hand.

“As we officially commission these projects, let them serve as a lasting reminder that true leadership is about service and that the greatest success comes from progress for this community.”

The highlight of the event was the cutting of the tape by the traditional ruler to commission the facilities, most of which are situated in the vicinity of the factory.