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• As WYBF holds 16th annual lecture, scholarship awards in Lagos
By Gilbert Ekezie
The outgoing Board of Trustees Chairman of Wilson & Yinka Badejo Foundation ( WYBF), Dr Osaren Emokpae has described Nigeria as a country that has been unfair to her citizens, lacking in equity and inclusiveness.
He stated this at a conference to announce the 16th Annual Lecture & Scholarship Awards ceremony of Wilson& Yinka Badejo Foundation, with the Theme: Negotiating a fairer Nigeria, slated for 16th August, 2023, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island Lagos.
Osaren said right from the amalgamation of the North and South of Nigeria by the British, the country became worse with Military interventions.
He observed that as the country has a new government, led by President Bola Tinubu, who was one of the leaders of NADECO that sought for a country of justice and fairness, his recent pronouncements, recycling of old politicians as ministers, as well as his insensitivity in running a Muslim -Muslim Presidency do not reflect the NADECO worldview that can stand the test of a fair and just Nigeria. “That explains why the topic for WYBF 2023 lecture will be on the theme: Negotiating a fairer Nigeria. I will invite others to join us in making our country better, and we must be aware of NLC call for strike action.”
He expressed joy that Rev Dr. Wilson Badejo and his wife Yinka, are greater in death, than in life, and that the ideals they lived for, are being magnified after them. “We have been able to stabilize WYBF through institutional building. It is a thing of joy because we are going to have the opportunity to appreciate Board of Trustee members, some of whom are exiting the board this year, having served so meritoriously for many years. They have contributed so much more than I could ever do for WYBF. I felt I owe it to them and the friend I had with Rev Dr. & Rev Mrs. Badejo to contribute my quota, by personally financing I did during my tenure without one kobo from WYBF account.
“I also used my social equity to get a lot of things done, inclusive of using Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, without WYBF’s fund. We are doing this, not necessarily because of what daddy mummy Badejo did for us. We are not paying back anything .We are doing all we are doing because of the values Rev Dr. Wilson Badejo stood for, and for the genuine love we have for his family.”
Osaren informed that during this year’s lecture, the transformation of Wilson Badejo Foundation to Wilson & Yinka Badejo Foundation (WBF to WYBF), will be officially announced. “To remind us, Wilson Badejo foundation (WBF), was founded at the 60th birthday anniversary of the Visioner, Founder and Chairman, Rev (Dr) Wilson Adebogun Badejo, a trained Veterinary Doctor, turned Cleric, on the 19th May 2007 at the Mainland Hotel, Oyingbo Lagos, Nigeria.
“Rev Badejo thereafter, had a meeting around August 2007, with Dr Kemabonta , The General Secretary, and said his dream was to put smiles on the faces of people especially, the downtrodden masses ,the less privileged and those, who, for reasons other than their faults , have been displaced from the country’s equilibrium. Such people he had passion for, are particularly the youths (boys), who are full of energy, but have channeled it to causes other than productive. “These are guys (men and ladies), who live in the ghettos of their communities, and are unable to feed themselves and their dependants. Many of them live irresponsible lives like taking to drugs, alcoholism and crimes.”
He explained that resolution at that meeting were to have an annual outreach and skill acquisition programme for the boys, give Scholarship to indigent, but brilliant students annually, organized annual Lecture , outreach to village and suburbs and community development programmes.
According to Osaren, the vision statement of WYBF are to integrate as much as possible, the less privileged in our society into the nation ‘s economics system in a bid to reduce poverty in the country, to enhance the economic status of the less privileged in the society through the sharing and caring ministry. “The objectives of WBF are to reach out to the less privileged in our society, provide empowerment via vocation Training and Skill Acquisition programmes , provide counseling to individuals in need of godly counsel, provide opportunities for the educational advancement of indigent but brilliant students by the award of scholarship and support arrangements and to initiate, encourage and sustain selfless service to the society, uninhibited enjoyment of assets acquired through the Foundation.”
He further said the foundation has consistently lived to its mandate to deepen its capacity to meet its goals on a sustainable basis –a transition board emerged at the death of the founders, which began to build institutional organs and processes to effectively and efficiently drive the organization with him as chairman, and of course with the historical guidance of Professor K. Kemabonta- the General Secretary, Rev Mrs Bola Adams and other very capable board members taking institutional responsibilities.
“Mindshare Communications, under the leadership of Mrs. Abiola Olayande has been exemplary in executing our annual conferences in this last two years. Femi Badejo has been phenomenal. In fact, we have laid a solid foundation for others to follow. So, the incoming members of WYBF BOT would consolidate on the foundation our current Board has laid.”
Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of External, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, an eminent and erudite scholar will serve as Chairman of the occasion, General overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Sam Aboyeji will be father of the day, while former Special Adviser to the president and Vice Chairman of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Femi Adesina , Founder of System Specs , Mr John Obaro and Chief Executive Officer of LAPO Group, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe will be Special Guests of Honour.
Founder of ED-JOHN Institute of Management and Technology, President / CEO Foursquare Movement in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the outgoing Chairman of Wilson and Yinka Badejo foundation, Dr Osarenren Emokpae will serve as keynote speaker.
