The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Comrade Akeem Dauda (AKOD) has lauded the great humanitarian feat of the Heart of Gold Support & Care Initiative [HOGSCI] and Patrick Ejedawe Empowerment Foundation, describing it as a cause worthy of emulation by well meaning Nigerians.

Dauda made this submission at the foundation’s luncheon and fundraising event, theme: “Beyond The Handouts”, held on Friday at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI Alausa Ikeja, Lagos.

According to AKOD many of the initiatives of the foundation have being far reaching in impact to the children, youths and the women.

The luncheon geared towards facilitation of better future for vulnerable people in the society had lots of prominent Nigerians from all walks of life present to raise N250m.

“As a local government Patjeda group is one of the stakeholders, they have been doing a lot In the area of social empowerment In the community.

“The government cannot do it alone, I appreciate the foundation for what they are doing, especially in the area of education, we can see a lot of scholarship given to students from primary school to tertiary level.

“When you educate a child It’s like you are building a nation, as a partner in progress I know they also empower women and the youths, but the area that we are more interested in is education.

“Because we need to empower our youths, we need to take them out of the streets and they are doing a lot in that area.” Dauda said.

The keynote speaker Olaonipekun Daramola stressed the importance of empowerment and its aftermath impact on the society.

He cited how mentorship brought him off the shackles of poverty to wealth and philanthropy.

Adding that the target of such initiative should be self emancipation and independence of beneficiaries, while stressing the winning strategies of empowerment as – accountability, spotting of potentials,mentorship and evaluation.

A lover of giving back to the society, Daramola pledged to support the initiative generously.

” I’m a beneficiary of people’s kind humanitarian gesture, so, anything that gives back to society always wins my heart.

” It’s not just about the money because I realise it is a lot easier to give money for those who organise a structured process that benefits everyone in the society

“Obviously, that’s where the real work is in an attempt to elevate them off the poverty bracket.

“In 2008, I did establish what I call the STARS initiative because I wanted to give back to society, but I was at the peak of my career so, in terms of time, in terms of energy, in terms of monitoring, I was lacking.

” I was just putting in money sending children to school and they didn’t fulfil the aspiration that I had because, really, I wanted them to be transformed.

” So, anytime I see where it is now well organised and become purposeful I always love to support.”

Earlier the Chief Host and convener of the luncheon, the Group Managing Director, Patjeda Group – Ehiagwina Joy Patrick the Erelu Yeyemeso of Ikoyi Ekiti, hinted that the main drive behind the initiatives is her love to building self reliant and independent people.

“We don’t just give people fish, what we do here is teach them how to fish so, that they can live a sustainable life for themselves.

“So, our impact is we understand that some children have the skills to go to school, but they just don’t have the support, as little as having a school bag or school sandals, we have to do all of that.

“We will attend to them when they are young and build a kind of pool for workforce.

“There are people as well who want to learn a trading skill but they don’t have the capacity.

“We give them that opportunity, we support them put them through those trades and skills and then we also give them the package to start off.

Speaking on the future advancement of the more than twelve years old initiative, the convener noted that more communities will be added to their scope of coverage from Uromi in Edo State to Lagos State and Ekiti state.

“This initiative is formidable and well structured, we encourage well meaning Nigerians to partner and support us.

She added that the initiative has an evaluation mechanism, that monitors the beneficiaries down to the homes and places of acquiring needed skills, to ensure the attainment of set goals.

“We ensure they are coming for these programmes, we don’t just put in money, we support them, we supervise them and each time there’s a time frame for us to visit them, to see that they are truly doing those businesses.

“We have also given them people to mentor as well.

“It is establishing them, helping them to stand and be bosses. There is no age limitation It’s just being in that category,.being vulnerable.”

The Executive Director Of Finance and Corporate Services For Pajedia Group of Providence Limited Mr. John Ighodalo was quick to add, that the initiative intends to help redistribute and create wealth across the country thereby reducing the burdens of governance.

In the view of the luncheon organizing committee Chairman Emmanuel Enya facilitation is all that matters to rise above the poverty bracket.

He counseled that there must a paradigm shift from fighting poverty, to creating wealth.