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•Deeds of Nigerians in whom many are well pleased
By Henry Umahi
For students of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos, and their parents or guardians, these are happy times. Indeed, they have a good reason to be glad.
A few weeks ago, billionaire businessman and philanthropist extraordinaire, Mr. Femi Otedola, lifted the burden of school fees for the 750 returning and fresh students of the university. He donated N1 million to everyone of them shortly after his installation as the second chancellor of the university during its fifth convocation.
The giant of philanthropy also made other donations, including N140 million for the furnishing of the university’s engineering faculty building and another N110 million for the installation of street lights on the campus and purchase of a new standby power generator.
Otedola said: “As stated in my citation, I strongly believe in transforming establishments that I am associated with. Therefore, to commemorate my appointment as the chancellor of the university today and in recognition of the harsh economic situation in our country, I hereby announce a scholarship donation to each returning student of the university and each new first-year student of our university, the amount of N1 million each towards the 2023/2024 session school fees of each student.
“I am told that there are 500 returning students and about 250 new first-year students, making a total scholarship donation of N750 million.
“I hope this donation alleviates the plight of the parents of our students in this difficult time. I am depending on the governing council and the management of the university for the efficient management of these funds.
“I feel emotional as I make this speech today as this university was also my late father’s dream. I remember the fund-raising committee visiting my father several times, when he was alive, and also approaching me in 2008 for help in building the university.
“What they did not know and, indeed, no one knew at the time was that I was bankrupt in Nigeria. I thank God Almighty for changing my fortunes and for all that He has provided for me since then.
“I firmly believe that Almighty God has empowered me to help in the development of this university and to help the multitude of students here. I thank God for using me as an instrument to assist the Catholic Church and, in particular, our Archbishop in all the good works of the Archdiocese of Lagos in promoting quality education in Nigeria.
“I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and humility and it is with immense honour that I accept this appointment.”
Indeed, Otedola is an outstanding philanthropist. Over the years, he has embarked on soul-lifting endeavours in several places.
Dr. Success Ibeakanma, Lead Pastor, Royal Choice Ministries, Ketu, Lagos, has is a man of God in whom many are well pleased. Over the years, he has cultivated the culture of changing lives positively.
He has such an unquenchable hunger to lift people from distress to happiness. He has been building houses for people, sponsoring hundreds of people in school, offering financial assistance and general empowerment of many.
In 2022, Ibeakanma told Daily Sun: “I’m a man who gives out almost everything God gives to me, at least 90 per cent. Everybody around me knows this. That is the life I live. I’m involved in so many things that everybody knows that I’m sold out to God. Think about pastors changing lives positively.
“There are many pastors that are blessing people. At my own level, we give out. I have given out over 123 cars as gifts. There are pastors also who will park all the cars in their compound. But that does not mean they are not pastors. It depends on the vision they have. The vision I have is to bless people. I said that I would not build my house until I built God’s house and that was exactly what I did. So, everything depends on the agreement you have with God. When I was in school, some people would run away whenever they saw my mother, thinking she had come to borrow money from them. But over 515 people have gone through my scholarship scheme within Nigeria and outside.”
There are no airs about Chief Kester Agwu, the chief executive officer of a 250-capacity restaurant in highbrow Wuse 2 area of Abuja called Tastia Restaurant, Bakery and Cafe, which is believed to be the biggest food court in Abuja, if not Nigeria.
But he carries the burden of many. Almost effortlessly, he meets so many at the point of their need. Interestingly, he does not blow his own trumpet.
Agwu told Daily Sun: “We give a lot to the society. We do a lot of giveaways. I have over 40 persons under my scholarship scheme. We give out to the underprivileged as the Holy Spirit directs. Giving back to the community is an integral part of our mission, and we are involved in numerous other acts of generosity as well.”
Similarly, with Mazi Uche Kalu, giving is second nature. For him, it is not just how much we give but how much love we put into giving.
Uche Kalu aligns with Thomas Fuller, who said that charity begins at home, but should not end there. He is training many children in school, providing accomodation for many and generally empowering people, irrespective of tribe or faith.
Uche, who is the chief executive officer of UC Global Organisation, said: “I believe that the greatest achievement of anyone is the ability to help those who are in need. You don’t even have to wait until the person crawls to your doorstep before assisting. Any opportunity to bless someone should not be wasted. As far as I am concerned, the act of charity should be worn as an attire.”
Talking about Uche Kalu’s uncommon disposition to philanthropy, Chief Uche Umahi said: “There are a few people like the young man. It gives him special joy to assist people in need. He gives assistance to individuals and organisations. He is very kind. He is an asset to mankind.”
When the chief executive officer of Blue Diamond Group, Mr. Festus Uzoma Mbisiogu, celebrated his 50th birthday recently, he touched the lives of the underprivileged. He said: “I have widows that I have been supporting over the years, young people and so many others. They are uppermost in my plan to celebrate this milestone.”
Explaining his journey into philanthropy, he said: “We live in a community where they cultivate yam and my mum would use a lorry called 911 to carry yam tubers and share to the villagers. So, I copied that from my mum, giving out bags of rice.
“Also, an encounter with a reverend father who I visited in Ideato South (in Imo State) spurred me to do more. There I saw two women angry, raining curses and shouting. He explained that they didn’t get the two De Rica (cups) of rice he shared . That was my inspiration from 2009, I started sharing between 100 to 300 bags of rice every year.”
Mbisiogu also organises medical outreach to cater for the needs of indigent Nigerians.
