A UK Based Nigerian Businessman, Mr Olatunji Awodiran has expressed his satisfaction in giving back to the less privileged in the society.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Capital City of Oyo State on Thursday Olatunji noted that his mission was to put smiles on faces of the downtrodden and the less privileged in the society.
The Nigeria-UK based philanthropist maintained that the step became necessary to alleviate poverty and cushion effect of current economic hardship being experience by people.
While speaking about his forthcoming food distribution initiative, Olatunji noted that the June 14 food distribution is for the less privileged with the aim of putting smile on faces of our people before the Eid-El-Kabir (Ileya) festival.
Olatunji Awodiran, who is 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 stated that Food Bank Foundation Program started August 2023, and that the program overtime has made a lot of positive impact on Osun Indigenes particularly people of Obokun local government.
Olatunji Awodiran in his words said, “over 900 people have so far benefited from our monthly food bank program, while over N40m has been spent so far on the program.”
The Obokun-born philanthropist stated that his gesture was not politically motivated, saying his primary intention was to put smiles to faces of people around him.
He said, “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’s not peculiar to Nigeria alone.”
“Aside the Food Bank, we also make provision of uniform 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 partnership with the Osun state government and as well as other state government 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 in faces of our people before the Eid-El-Kabir (Ileya) festival.” Olatunji Awodiran said.
Awodiran however called on government at all levels to prioritize agriculture to ensure food security across the nation, saying government should invest and give more priority to local farmers to have abundance food supply.