By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Group Chairman of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru on Monday, hinted that the conglomerate is set for the official launch and inauguration of the advisory council of Odu’a Investment Foundation
Otunba Ashiru who dropped this hint while addressing a press conference at Olumo Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, disclosed that the motive behind the foundation is to sustain the ideals of the founding fathers of Odu’a Investment Company Limited.
The Group Chairman, Odua Investment stressed that Odu’a Investment Foundation was set up in furtherance of one of the objectives of the Odu’a Investment Company’s five-year strategic plan to plough back to the people of the Southwest states of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos.
According to Otunba Ashiru, the vision, mission and objectives of the foundation ” is to create an enabling environment where everyone can live a healthy, peaceful and productive life’’ while the mission statement is “to improve healthcare, expand educational opportunities and promote youth development and information technology in Southwest Nigeria
“Odu’a foundation is a non-profit making organisation established to sustain the ideals of the founding fathers of Oduá Investment Company Limited.Odu’a Investment Foundation was set up in furtherance of one of the objectives of the Odu’a Investment Company’s 5- years Strategic plan to plough back to the people of the Southwest states of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos”, he said.
Otunba Ashiru added, ” Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the investment hub of the Southwest Nigeria in September 2021 incorporated the Odu’a Investment Foundation(OIF) at the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) to serve as an independent social corporate arm of the Company to give back to the society and improve on the life and livelihood of citizenry within the confine of the owners states, thus complementing the efforts of the state Governments in impacting lives meaningfully to its people” .
Speaking on some areas of priorities focus of the foundation, the Odua Investment Group Chairman gave the three-priority focus of the Foundation as ” Youth Empowerment, Education and Healthcare”, saying , “These three focus areas were carefully chosen benchmarking with notable existing foundation”.
” This covers ICT capacity building for youths; Creation of innovation hubs and incubation centres; Strategic job creation; Investing and supporting youths in the agriculture sector. It covers Institutional and infrastructural support; Literacy education; Girl child education; Adult literacy; Vocational technical skills training; Grants and scholarship for indigent students. Healthcare: Focuses on Reproductive health; Adolescent health projects; Control of communicable and non-communicable diseases; Institutional support and Capacity building.”
Otunba Ashiru also listed other objectives of the foundation among others as ” To make a sustainable impact in area of operations which include Youth Empowerment, Education and Healthcare.To promote, develop and empower the teeming Youths of Southwest Nigeria with a focus on education and health (physical, mental, and social). To deliver significant long-term Education and Youth Development benefits in our stakeholder communities”.
He pointed out that the Foundation will serve as a conveyor of goodwill from OICL to the good people of South West extraction while enhancing the quality of life and livelihood of the people, and that the foundation will also provide avenue for individuals, groups, philanthropies, corporate organisations, private and public institutions, multinationals, development partners and donor agencies to impact life meaningfully through their support, contributions and partnership with the Foundation in attaining its set mandates.”
Otunba Ashiru then called for partnership with other stakeholders to sustain the legacy of the company, saying, “the Odu’a Investment Foundation will open to partnerships with Governments, Donor Agencies, Implementing partners, private companies, multinationals, groups, and community-based organizations towards the attainment of its vision.”
The Group Managing Director/CEO, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Adewale Raji listed names of the advisory council of the foundation as Ambassador. Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (Chairperson ); Cheif Dr.(Mrs) Onikepo Akande; Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Dr. (Mrs) Victoria Adunola Samson; Dr. Olusegun Olugboyegun; Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, CON, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, OON.
