The Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Foundation, a non profit humanitarian organisation yesterday granted about N20 million to empower some small scale entrepreneurs in Kwara State as part of its economic empowerment programme for vulnerable sections of society.
The foundation, promoted by a former presidential candidate, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim grant is to lift vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty and set their feet on the path of productivity.
In his speech at the event held in Ilorin, the state capital, Olawepo-Hashim explained that his gesture is to give back to society.
According to him, “I have been doing this for decades. I have a passion to make society better. It is not about having a deep pocket, but about commitment and passion to help people just as God has also helped me.”
He admonished the beneficiaries to put the grant into good use instead of lavishing it on frivolities and liabilities.
“Don’t eat the seed, plant and nurture it , to produce more fruits to better your lives, so that you too can empower people.
“Nigeria was once a productive nation, producing clothes, cars, pharmaceuticals, etc. we must go back to the old and glorious path. We can start by these small steps,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
He added that, “what I can do at this time when things are really bad is to show love to underprivileged people in particular, and that we have been doing for decades.
In his remarks, the coordinator of Gbenga Olwaepo-Hashim Youth Vanguard, Mal. Na’Allah Azeez, described Olawepo as an undiluted politician and a great mentor, adding that the Otoge revolution that changed the political dynamics in Kwara in 2019 was started by him.
He prayed that God will continue to enrich him to play his part in this generation.
Mr. Yinka Babatunde Alanamu equally commended Olawepo-Hashim for “spending his own money to empower us” and prayed for God’s continued blessing on him.
Pastor Samson Abodunrin, representing the executives of the Ifesowapo community area of Ilorin recalled Olawepo-Hashim’s great assistance to the community by grading our road and constricting drainages for us.
“We really appreciate his great gesture. What you don’t appreciate, will depreciate. We will continue to appreciate his great contribution which has been a great relief to us,” he said, adding that “his charity began at home …we are now feeling his impact already.
Abodunrin prayed that Olawepo-Hashim would live to fulfil his destiny.
Not a few of the participants at the event commended the Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Foundation and called on well meaning Nigerians to emulate the non-partisan approach of Olawepo-Hashim towards ameliorating the plight of the less privileged.
In his closing remarks, the chief of staff to Olawepo-Hashim, Mr Kamal Adebayo disclosed that the Ilorin event was not the first, adding that a lot of Nigerians had benefited from this gesture across the country.
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