Raising support for the needy

As part of ways to celebrate five years of successful existence of the Olumide Emmanuel Foundation, dedicated to eradicating poverty in Nigeria, the foundation has called on well-meaning individuals and organisation to support the foundation in building its refuge home project.

The refuge home project is an ongoing project of two storey structure design to serve as the foundation’s skill acquisition centre, computer training centre, library, entrepreneurship training centre, transit hostel and a rehabilitation home.

Speaking at a fund raising ceremony for the project, Olumide Emmanuel, founder, said the reason for the fund-raising was to raise enough money to complete the project, believing that the project would go a long way to meet the needs of many less privileged in Nigeria.

Apart from eradicating poverty, the foundation is also set up to establish a positive legacy for others to follow, he said, saying that poverty is one of the issues people face today and the foundation focuses on eradicating it.

“We believe we can eradicate poverty one life at a time. So, we empower and equip people so they can come to a place where they also can empower other people. We have decided to give to the society and make a difference in our world,” he said.

The foundation has seven-point agenda, which includes feeding the hungry, shelter for the homeless, educating the uneducated, supporting the sick, doing business to raise funds for the foundation’s sustainability and empowering the poor, he explained, adding that in each of these areas, the foundation have engaged in several activities to help push its agenda.

In the area of empowerment, the foundation has given out millions of naira to people to start and expand their existing businesses and empowered people with training and seminars to equip them with the knowledge they will require to help themselves.

“There are people we have helped set up businesses and their businesses are still standing today. We helped some other people buy equipment for their businesses. We have also done medical outreaches, reaching out to thousands of people through the foundation,” he said.

In Lagos, the foundation has gone to places that are synonymous with poverty, as it started with the dwarfs, after which they moved to Ajegunle, Makuku, Ogun State, and even to the Northern part of Nigeria.

Recently, the foundation launched a chapter in Abuja and has appointed seven ambassadors and staff that are responsible to push the work to the Northern part of the country.

“I am the main sponsor to the foundation, and every month, I make contributions to the foundation. We have other partners and individuals that support us on a monthly basis, some on a quarterly basis and some on an annual basis,” he said.

He said in year 2020, the vision of the foundation will be to raise and empower 10 million young Nigerians in the area of finance, relationship and leadership as the foundation was set to raise a new breed without greed.

IFEOMA OKEKE