I’m committed to make my people smile — Awodiran

A United Kingdom-based Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Olatunji Awodiran, has assured of his commitment to continue to dish out free food to about 1,000 residents of his Ibokun community, Osun State, to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and attendant economic hardship.

This is just as no fewer than 10 schools’ children have benefited from his free uniforms, sandals and payment of West African Examination ( WAEC) fees in the state.

Awodiran maintained that the step became necessary to alleviate poverty and put smiles on the faces of the down trodden .

While speaking about his forthcoming food distribution initiative, Awodiran noted that the June 14 food distribution is for the less privileged with the aim of putting smile on faces of the people before and during the Eid-El-Kabir (Ileya) festival.

Awodiran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Leovest Food Bank Foundation, (Reassuring Hands Foundation), flanked by his Special Assistants, Mr. Niyi Olanrewaju and Mrs. Ayomide Ekunniyi, said his Food Bank Foundation Program started in August 2023, stating that the program has made a lot of positive impact on Osun State indigenes particularly people of Obokun local government.

He said, “About 1000 people have so far benefited from our monthly food bank program, while over N40 mill has been spent so far on the program.”

The Obokun-born philanthropist stated that his gesture was not politically motivated, adding that his primary intention was to put smiles on the faces of people around him.

According to him, “My aim is to give back to the society considering the hardship, the current situation of our economy and to be honest, this is happening around the world, it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone.

“Aside the Food Bank, we also make provision of uniforms and sandals for over 250 students in Obokun, we have also paid examination fees, PTA level, and WAEC fees among others.

“We are looking forward to partnering with the Osun State government and as well as other state governments on our project, we plan to strengthen our scope beyond Obokun local government, we want to expand our gesture to other parts of the state and even to other states.

“Food Bank initiative will resume in a unique way on 14th of June, 2024, because we want to put smile on faces of our people before the Eid-El-Kabir (Ileya) festival.”

Awodiran then called on government at all levels to prioritize agriculture to ensure food security across the nation, noting that government should invest and give more priority to local farmers to have abundant food supply.