In this interview, Ibadan-born politician, human capital developer, and Abuja-based businessman, Hon. Akinjide Kazeem Akinola, explained reasons why he will continue to do more for the people of Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency at the best capacity of the foundation.
Why are you investing so much in the people of Egbeda/Ona-Ara?
Thank you for the question. I am not investing anything in Egbeda/Ona-Ara, I am only developing my federal constituency in my own personal capacity and as a true son of the soil who believes in giving back to the society. I have lived in different classes of societies, and I understand how the behavioral pattern in each is, and why we need to be closing the gaps if we truly want an almost equal society. It is not even about that, it is a thing of humanity. We need to do more to advance the cause of humanity within our respective society.
Is there any connection between your foundation intervention and politics?
No, they are two things, though one affects the other. So, there is a connection. But the foundation is not necessarily about politics, it is what I have been doing for long. We decided to make it formal and enable many beneficiaries by setting up the Akinjide Kazeem Akinola Foundation. You see, we are not in an electioneering period. We just finished the general election last year, 2023, and another is far away in 2027. But for now, let’s build ourselves, community, and humanity before talking about other things like politics. It is when we are good and okay that we will be talking about something else. The society is not economically viable, there is a need for those who have little to come to the rescue of those who have nothing or none at all, hence our recent distribution of JAMB forms for our brothers and sisters who intend to sit for the examinations.
Is that the reason for the distribution of 300 JAMB forms through your foundation?
Yes, it is. And this is not the first edition actually. We’ve had previous editions, and the success of those ones engineered us to do another. And the results have been highly encouraging, and that has further charged us, AKA Foundation, to have the zeal to do more in other areas of focus. We have commenced the onboardment of the 300 beneficiaries of the JAMB initiative, and we have seen them wearing smiling faces at the registration points.
You said they’re wearing smiling faces. Are you thrilled with that?
Yes, we are, at AKA Foundation. Did you know Nigerians are rejecting some Greek gifts from some politicians and philanthropists? So, it is one thing for you to put food on the table, and another thing for you to see people ready to eat the food. We are happy that the prospective JAMB candidates in Egbeda/Ona-Ara federal constituency accepted our free JAMB forms offer, and we have not stopped orientating them, and encouraging them to make us proud in their respective results through proper studies.
In order to allow them to have seamless registration, we commenced the onboarding very early. The early registration is necessary and important after the committee in charge has done necessary screening and verification of those who have expressed their interests to benefit from the free JAMB Forms initiative. The early registration will further afford the beneficiaries to continue their studies and buckle up with their studying time so as to pass the examination in flying colors.
What other area has the AKA Foundation focused on?
We have been offering business support initiatives to some foundation members and others from the general society. We have sometime ago provided motorized boreholes to some needy communities. And we are planning to survey and do two or three others to some other communities. Health initiative is there as well. We have relented in rendering assistance to those who are going through one health predicament or the other.
What’s your expectation from beneficiaries of your initiatives?
I can only wish them success in their respective JAMB subject combinations owing to their preferred courses chosen. But, they should make the foundation proud through their studies. They should buckle up well with their studying time so as to pass the examination in flying colors.
Let me quickly add this, there are enticing prices for the first best three students of the 300 beneficiaries.
