The Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian organisation on Wednesday granted about N20 million to empower some small scale entrepreneurs in Kwara State as part of its Economic Empowerment Programme for vulnerable section of the society.
The Foundation, promoted by a former Presidential Candidate, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim gave is basically to lift vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty and set their feet on the path of productivity.
In his speech at the event, Olawepo-Hashim explained that his gesture is to give back to the 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 at the occasion, Mallam Naallah Azeez, coordinator Gbenga Olwaepo-Hashim Youth Vanguard described philanthropist 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 continuous 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 their road and constricting drainages for them.
“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 will live to fulfill 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 Mr. Olawepo-Hashim towards ameliorating the plight of the less privileged.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Kamal Adebayo, the Chief of Staff to Olawepo-Hashim disclosed that the Ilorin event was not the first, adding that a lot of Nigerians had benefitted from this gesture across the country.
