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By Philip Nwosu and Chidera Okekearu
Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has commended the Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria, Lagos Metropolitan Council, for establishing a ₦2 billion endowment fund aimed at creating sustainable support for vulnerable people and communities.
Hamzat spoke while reacting to the unveiling of the endowment fund, saying the initiative demonstrated the importance of institutionalising charitable intervention rather than relying solely on periodic donations.
The Knights of St Mulumba Lagos Metropolitan Council recently unveiled the ₦2 billion Endowment Fund and Charity Initiative, designed to provide long-term financial support for charitable activities, including education and assistance to vulnerable members of society.
According to Hamzat, the initiative reflects the communal values of Africans, stressing that communities must develop mechanisms for supporting their vulnerable members and building resilience against economic and social shocks.
“We build communities as people. We lift each other up. So, this is what it is all about,” he said.
He explained that the endowment model would enable the organisation to generate sustainable income and use the proceeds to support people in need, including assisting students and providing other forms of social intervention.
“What the Knights of St Mulumba is doing is to say: how do we sustain helping other people? Putting money into a system that generates income and therefore you can help the vulnerable, do boreholes and send people to school,” Hamzat said.
He described the approach as a way of institutionalising charity and ensuring that assistance could continue beyond individual donations or one-off interventions.
The deputy governor also called for stronger partnerships between religious institutions and government, arguing that both sectors have roles to play in building resilient communities and addressing social needs.
“We must create a system whereby we can absorb shocks because there will be shocks around the world. What happens in other countries will affect us. How do we make sure we protect ourselves?” he asked.
Hamzat said the partnership between government and faith-based organisations should go beyond politics and focus on broader development objectives.
“That’s why we are encouraging partnership between religious institutions and government. It’s not about just politics. It’s about building our state. It’s about building our nation,” he said.
The initiative is coming at a time when religious and charitable organisations are increasingly involved in supporting education, skills development and vulnerable groups. Lagos Television also reported that Hamzat urged individuals and organisations to support initiatives promoting education, empowerment and improved wellbeing.
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The APC governorship candidate also used the occasion to highlight the importance of greater participation by young people in governance and public affairs.
He pointed to his running mate, Princess Damilola Sonayon James, as an indication that young people should not be treated merely as future leaders but encouraged to participate actively in the present political and governance process.
“She’s there to tell our young people that you are on the system. You are not outside it,” he said.
Hamzat said the traditional description of young people as “leaders of tomorrow” should give way to greater recognition of their role in contemporary governance.
“We keep saying they are leaders of tomorrow. I’m sure they are tired of that. They are leaders of today,” he said.
He urged young people to participate fully in the political system, saying such participation would provide them with opportunities to contribute to society.
Hamzat, who has served as Lagos State deputy governor since 2019, is the APC candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election. Recent reports have also identified Princess Damilola Sonayon James as part of the party’s campaign leadership structure.
On expectations surrounding his political campaign, Hamzat said his approach would be based on commitments made to the electorate.
“With God on our side, everything that we promise, we do. You know, it’s about integrity,” he said.
He added that those seeking public office should be prepared to fulfil commitments made to voters.
“We are asking for this job. We are going to our people to talk to them, to say, we do this. So, we have no excuse,” he said.
He further urged voters and supporters to participate in the political process, while expressing hope that his team would fulfil its commitments if given the opportunity to govern.
The comments came as political parties in Lagos intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election.
