By Kunle Ajibogun
Otunba Yomi Akingbade is a scion of the popular Akingbade family in the ancient city of Akure, the capital of Ondo state. He is a direct son of Chief Akinleye John Akingbade, a renowned cocoa merchant.
The America-based public administrator and businessman is the Chairman of Aladewe Group of companies and founder of Otunba Yomi Akingbade Foundation. He is also the publisher of NigeriaTodayTimes, an online newspaper.
It is one thing to come from a good family, but it is another thing to follow the path charted by the family. Many are disgraceful representatives of their families wherever they find themselves. This is not the case of Otunba Akingbade. He is a remarkable representative of his family. He has brought much respect and honour to the family through his significant impact on humanity.
Generosity flows in the blood of the Akingbade family. For Otunba Akingbade, giving is a matter of heredity. There are neurons in the portion of the brain associated with a sense of satisfaction. Studies have found that these neurons start firing when a person chooses to donate money. The results of these studies remind us of the intrinsic motivation that many people share to make the world a better place.
Otunba Akingbade is a generous man who embodies the spirit of giving. Giving makes him happy. He has a potent desire to help ease the suffering or need of others. He believes that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
Through his various education programmes, Otunba Akingbade has positively touched the lives of several school children in Akure, his home town, and other areas. It has become a yearly tradition for the Otunba Yomi Akingbade Foundation to donate furniture, books and other instructional materials to selected schools. The Foundation is responsible for the payment of school fees for a great number of pupils.
The health programmes of the Otunba Yomi Akingbade Foundation have assisted a lot of people to solve their health challenges. The health programmes seek to educate and enlighten people on how to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent diseases. In the area of medicare, the Foundation is involved in donating drugs and medical equipment to selected hospitals. It also provides funds for the payments of medical bills incurred by indigent and less-privileged patients.
In the area of employment, Otunba Yomi Akingbade has made his own significant contributions. Hundreds of people are working in his Aladewe Group of companies. These people are making a living in these companies and taking care of their families. His contributions have made a notable impact on the efforts to tackle the scourge of unemployment in the country.
Apart from providing jobs through the establishment of companies, Otunba Yomi Akingbade also helps people to set up their own businesses by providing funds for them. Many traders and artisans have benefited from his philanthropy.
According to Acts 20 verse 35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Also, Maya Angelou notes: “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Otunba Yomi Akingbade must have realised that giving is a blessed act and that it truly liberates the soul of a giver. This may be another explanation for his attitude of giving to others without looking back.
Otunba Yomi Akingbade has proved that philanthropy has its reward. As Joan Marques said, “The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime.” This is also reinforced by the words of Helen Keller: “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.” Why will the life of Otunba Yomi Akingbade not be filled with happiness when he knows that giving is a well-paved route to happy living.
He also believes that good governance will greatly impact the lives of the people. This is the reason for his involvement in politics. As a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he has been making great efforts to mobilise Nigerians in the diaspora to ensure that there is good governance in Nigeria.
Also, he has been drumming support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state. It is his belief that Governor Aiyedatiwa will make the people of Ondo state realise their dream of good governance. That is why he is contributing to the campaign of the governor ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial election in the state through the erection of billboards, printing of posters and some other contributions.
Kunle Ajibogun, a journalist, writes from Ajipowo Street, Akure.