The Chairman, Wells Carlton Hotels & Apartments, Abuja, and Founder of the Osa Okunbo Foundation, Mr Osahon Okunbo, has said investing in people was really what people were created to do, especially if God blessed them.
Okunbo stated this after he received the “Emerging Leader in Philanthropy” award from the Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards (HSD Awards) in Abuja late Tuesday night.
He spoke on behalf of other awardees who included; his late father, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, Arthur Eze, Borno state Governor, Babagana Zulum, River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Bassey Eno, President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association and wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Oghogho Musa, Jack Rich Tein, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa, Allen Onyema and Sen. Monday Okpebholo, among others.
The Wells Carlton Hotels & Apartments chairman said being humane was God’s task to humanity on earth and people should not just live for themselves but for others.
“One of the people who had been very influential in my life was my father, Late Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbor. One of the values he told me was that some of the greatest investments you can make should be in people. His life was an example of that. It has been three years since he passed on. His impact is still being felt by several people in business, politics and all walks of life.
“This further shows me that there investing in people is really what we are created to do, especially if God bless you. So helping a brother or sister is one of the cardinal values we must uphold. That’s how I chose to live my life and, quite frankly, I don’t think I deserve an award for it.
“My message to everyone out there is simple. It doesn’t if you can’t help a million, thousand or hundred people. Just start by helping one person. Start with your family and immediate community. Hopefully, we can change the world,” Okunbo.
In a key note address, the Director General of National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro emphasised the need for extending hands of fellowship to one another especially the elderly in the society to carter for their emotional and physical well being.
“Ageing is what everybody prays for. It is a celebration. However, there is a very pessimistic attitude about older persons. They are seen as a distraction. This is because there is a wrong perception that the ageing population has nothing to give back. So when opportunities occur in humanitarian delivery efforts, maybe due to limitations in funding, you find a situation where the issue becomes which demography should be considered. Of course, once that question is brought up, older persons may be overlooked.
“It is believed that when you invest in an older person, you have nothing to gain back. Many believe it is a waste because they have nothing to contribute. We are working to change that narrative. But I want to start by saying you cannot find a typical older person. The population of older persons is as diverse as you can imagine. On the one hand, you have older persons who are full of vigor and are able to live independently and with autonomy. They are still heads of their families and have continued to invest in their communities.
“On the other side, you have older persons who are extremely poor, vulnerable and cannot help themselves at all. They depend on others for their hygiene, movement and feeding. But whichever way you look at it, whether you have older persons on this spectrum who can continue to contribute to economic growth and participate joyfully in what they value, we must invest in them,” he added.
