Passion for education inspired my scholarship scheme to indigent students -Gani Adams

 

L-R:  Onigbaye of Igbaye land, Osun State;HRM Oba Joseph Moronfoye, Asoya of Ile Isoya Ife, representing the Ooni of Ife;HRM Oba Muraina Adebanjo Adedini, Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land Iba Gani Adams,his wife, Ayinba Ayomide Joy Adams: Alayegunle of Ayegunle, Ekiti;HRM Oba Johnson Folorunso Aderiye, and Aare of Remo land Dr. Kola Oyefeso, during the 54th birthday Anniversary of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land

 

 

 

Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams said he would continue to extend his hands of generosity to brilliant and indigent students in Nigeria and the South-West, adding that his passion for better and quality education was the reason for the introduction of the annual Aareonakakanfo Foundation Scholarship Scheme.

Speaking in Lagos at his birthday celebration held in, Alausa, Ikeja, Iba Adams said the event was a symbolic approach for him to appreciate God’s grace in his life, insisting that the annual student scholarship scheme was his own little contribution to the growth and development of education in Nigeria and the south west in particular.

“I want to appreciate everybody that took their time to come and honour me at this special occasion of my birthday. I am delighted that in spite of the state of the economy and the raging fuel scarcity across the country, many of my guests are all here to celebrate this special day with me. I pray God to honour you all.

“This is not a day to bore you with long speeches, but I must admit also that God has really been kind to me since I started this journey of life. His blessings over me have been so great and I am very grateful to God for His countless blessings.

“The annual scholarship I usually give to indigent students in our universities was my own little way of contributing to the development of education in Nigeria and Yoruba land in particular. It is my plan that by the special grace of God, we shall increase the number of the beneficiaries from four to five by next year.

“This year, some of our prominent members abroad and well wishers here in Nigeria also supported the initiative and I am sure it would even be much better by next year,” Adams said.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented by  the Asoya of Ile Isoya, Oba Muraina Adebanjo Adedini, pointed out that  Iba Adams deserved all the honour and accolades given to him by the people because he has been contributing  to the unity and progress of Yoruba race for the past couple of years.

“We are all gathered here today to honour a man who had given much of his entire life to the service of humanity. You can see the numbers and quality of guests from all over the world being represented at this event. It shows that there is always a reward for whatever we do in life.

“Iba Gani Adams had made great impact in projecting the Yoruba race and also building strong bond across the length and breadth of Nigeria, and he is now benefitting immensely from his benevolence.”

The four students that benefitted from this year’s Aareonakakanfo Foundation scholarship scheme were Mary Popoola from the University of Lagos, Adelowo Similoluwa from University of Ibadan, Omosanya Adeola from Ekiti State University and Fatiu Oladosu from Kwara State University among others.

Presenting the scholarship award to one of the beneficiaries, Chief Kofi Kartey, who represented the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, said he was excited that Iba Gani Adams provided the opportunity for indigent students in the universities, saying the scholarship would continue to be a reference point for the education sector.

“I want to implore the students to see this scholarship scheme as an opportunity to impact the society positively.”

No fewer than 50 traditional rulers were present at the event. Members of the academic institutions across Nigeria were also well represented. 

Prominent members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU),the Aareonakakanf-in-Council and members of the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group SSSG among others, were also in attendance.

Fuji music legend, Adewale Ayuba, later thrilled the guests.