Olanipekun SAN advises philanthropists to help poor students – TheNigerialawyer

Prominent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, has charged
governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists on the
need to give special consideration to the education of children of
the poor in order to prepare them for a better future.

Speaking during the 23rd edition of the annual Chief Wole
Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme held in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State,
where 191 indigent secondary school pupils and undergraduates were
awarded scholarships, Olanipekun urged corporate bodies and
philanthropists to take the challenge of lifting the children of
the needy so that they could in turn be able to support other
people.

Advising the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme to reflect
on how to improve themselves and the society, he said, “You must
have role models. Pick your role models. Pray that you want to
surpass the role models. That was the situation with me. I had role
models who I aspired to surpass. You must be focused, too”.

Prof Gabriel Oyinloye of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti,
said philanthropy was imperative in Nigeria, in view of the high
level of poverty and the existence of 13.2 million out-of-school
children in the country.

Oyinloye, in his lecture themed: ‘Philanthropist Vision in
Relation to Youth Education’, said, “The indigents need the
assistance of philanthropists. They need to be rescued by
benevolent individuals.

“If well planned for and financed, education will equip the
recipients with the knowledge that will bring changes and
transformation to the society. In a country where poverty is high
and government can’t guarantee free education, philanthropists must
come to the aid of the poor.”

The don, who also noted that payment of school fees and related
expenses consumed a significant portion of the incomes of many
families, described the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme as a
mission that was set to lift some people out of poverty,
wretchedness and a means of assisting them to actualise their
dreams, ambitions and become self reliant.

“Today, WOSS is breaking a jinx that could have prevented some
of the beneficiaries of this scholarship to accomplish their
education and fulfill their ambition.

“I am convinced that the award will make a great impact not only
on the lives of the recipients but on their families, nuclear and
extended,” he said.

The Chairman, WOSS Board of Trustees, Mr Stephen Omoyeni, said
the scholarship, which began in 1997 to assist indigent students of
Ikere origin, had since been extended to cover all parts of the
state, with some non-Ekiti people benefitting.