“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” —Mother Theresa
By Cosmas Omegoh
Music sensation, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has again engraved his name in gold. He has taken the act of giving at Christmas to new heights.
The lad, last week, announced a princely donation of N100 million to children in his Sururlere, Lagos community, a gesture he said was for them to celebrate Christmas.
Wizkid stated that what he did was in honour of his loving mother, Juliana Morayo Balogun, who passed away on August 18, this year.
In his verified Instagram handle, Wizkid said: “100m for the kids for Christmas! Lord bless us all start in Surulere tonight! #ForMamaJ #StarboyGivesBack.”
So far, commendations have trailed the singer’s sole efforts. All people of good will have been giving him kudos for what he has done.
At the last check, Wizkid was neither a politician nor a government contractor. So, he probably did what he did not to earn political capital as some persons might be doing this season.
He likely did what did because it was a worthy cause.
Right now, many children in Surulere area are already gearing for a blissful Christmas courtesy of Wizkid. Nothing, they say, sustains a human being like hope. That is why the would-be beneficiaries are already upbeat of something cheery to come. The singer’s generosity will emplace joy in their hearts and smiles in their faces. Their season is made.
The Grammy Awards winner’s Christmas gift announcement expectedly will benefit thousands of kids in his Surulere community after his heart. They will have lots of resources to celebrate the season and hope to remember it in time to come. For them this season will be marked by joy and hope. What a great Yuletide it will be!
If you do the arithmetic, when the Wizkid N100 million handout is shared to 10,000 kids, each will smile home with N10,000 in this austere times. If 20,000 kids partake in the sharing, each will receive N5,000.
Head or tail, whatever each one receives will guarantee a day or two decent meals. If the money is given out in cash, most families are sure to have something handsome.
Before now, Wizkid, it was learnt, had signaled that aside his thriving musical career, he wants to take philanthropy a look in. That he wants to stay focused on making visible impact in the lives of people. And now, his pole position in the entertainment world offers him the most formidable platform to achieve that goal.
It was also gathered that he had already committed to various philanthropic endeavours enabling him to take part in some worthy causes in the healthcare, education and other sectors. That is in all honesty commendable.
Now, if truth be told, Wizkid and his largesse pose real challenge of monumental proportion to all and sundry. And to him, the successful management of the disbursement will be food for thought.
Certainly, Wizkid did not elect to spread joy this season because he is a nouveau riche. Perhaps far from that! There are by far bigger fishes than him all around town who have their wealth stashed away in some obscure parts of the globe. Such funds are out there observing the traditional press up exercise while the generality of Nigerians go to bed hungry. To such persons, the Wizkid example remains an open invitation to impact the lives of someone today, especially in this season.
Wizkid is also challenging the horde of Nigerian politicians who are feeding fat on the people’s wealth. This season, many of them will be home in their various constituencies flaunting humongous wealth. To most of them, the gift they have for the people this season is the plum of dust their convoy of vehicles wipe up in the air as they zoom through the dusty countryside roads.
Then, what about the government contractors, the 10 per centers in elevated circles? Wizkid challenges all to give out a token to someone out there feeling the pangs of the current economic hardship orchestrated by the political class.
Wizkid equally challenges his counterparts in the entertainment industry and numerous youths like him out there to learn to give back to the society no matter how small.
Now, it appears the real challenge lies in ensuring that the cash gets to the right audience.
Certainly, Wizkid might not be out there in person to dole out the money to individual beneficiaries.
Left to him, he has done his beat. But one suspects that where the real trouble lies might be in the proxies who will be handling the disbursement.
It is at a moment like this that Nigeria and Nigerians are brutally reminded that they do not have a reliable data base which could be useful at times like this without much ado.
At this juncture, everyone comes to realisation that the country needs to move quickly to build an honest and reliable data base which can be utilised in resolving simple matters involving the people.
Now, having admitted that Nigeria has the challenge of managing numbers, the big question then reoccurs. How would the Wizkid’s funds be disbursed? Would he segment the communities and identify the leaders who will be tasked to handle the funds? Will he appoint agents to do that on his behalf? Or will he assemble the kids at a forum – perhaps the National Stadium in Surulere, where everyone will receive their due?
In a country like Nigeria reeling with corruption at every sphere and level, many people are already doubting whether the Wizkid’s package will ever trickle down to the targeted population so that each kid will go home get something good enough to be grateful.
It needs to be said that if what the singer gave out is not managed successfully and seen to have been so done, that might elicit negative vibes.
Now, that Wizkid has announced his further foray into the sphere of philanthropy, it might be good enough – if he has not done so – to institute a foundation peopled with the right personnel to take care of his engagements going forward.
Such individuals will ensure that the rancour and acrimonies likely to arise when the N100 million disbursement gets underway.
Members of the foundation will be in the best position to advise the singer to involve in some other endeavours much more likely to benefit today’s youths. Top on that agenda will be education and sponsorships, as well as skill acquisition schemes.
One is left to imagine how many forever-grateful graduates from indigent homes N100 million will turn out courtesy of Wizkid in a matter of four years. One is left to imagine how many lads with top-rated skills the Wizkid scheme will churn out in just years of its commencement.
If things stay the same, over time, the Wizkid initiative will be a household name. The beneficiaries will learn to fish by themselves. They will no longer be looking forward to the Wizkid fish at Christmas. With the beneficiaries’ minds bent towards enriching others in return, how rich, how sweet the Nigerian society will likely become in time to come. Does everything good not start small after all?