Brilliant, indigent students will continue to benefit from my generosity – Gani Adams

Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has assured that brilliant and indigent students in South West and Nigeria, in general, will continue to benefit from his generosity, noting that the introduction of the annual Aareonakakanfo Foundation Scholarship Scheme was based on his passion for better and quality education.

The Yoruba generalissimo gave this assurance on Wednesday during his birthday celebration held at the Summit Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, insisting that the annual student scholarship scheme was his own little contribution to the growth and development of education in Nigeria and the South West in particular.

Iba Adams, while appreciating God for being kind to him since he started the journey of life, hinted plan was afoot to increase the number of beneficiaries from four to five by next year.

“I want to appreciate everybody that took their time to come and honour me at this special occasion of my birthday. I am delighted that in spite of the state of the economy and the raging fuel scarcity across the country, many of my guests are all here to celebrate this special day with me. I pray God to honour you all.

“This is not a day to bore you with long speeches, but I must admit also that God has really been kind to me since I started this journey of life. His blessing over me have been so great and I am very grateful to God for His countless blessings.

“The annual scholarship I usually give to best indigent students in our universities was my own little way of contributing to the development of education in Nigeria and Yoruba land in particular. It is my plan that by the special grace of God, we shall increase the number of beneficiaries from four to five by next year.

“This year, some of our prominent members abroad and well-wishers here in Nigeria also supported the initiative and I am sure it would even be much more better by next year,” he said.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was represented by the Asoya of Ile Isoya, Oba Muraina Adebanjo Adedini, in his remark, pointed out that Iba Adams deserved all the honour and accolades given to him by the people because he has been contributing to the unity and progress of Yoruba race for the past couple of years.

According to the foremost monarch, the numbers and quality of guests from all over the world being represented at this event shows that there is always a reward for whatever people do in life, noting that the Yoruba generalissimo had made great impact in projecting the Yoruba race and also building strong bond across the length and breath of Nigeria, which he was now benefitting immensely from.

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“We are all gathered here today to honour a man who had given much of his entire life to the service of humanity. You can see the numbers and quality of guests from all over the world being represented at this event. It shows that there is always a reward for whatever we do in life.

“Iba Gani Adams had made great impact in projecting the Yoruba race and also building strong bond across the length and breath of Nigeria, and he is now benefitting immensely from his benevolence,” Ooni stated.

The four students that benefitted from this year’s Aareonakakanfo Foundation scholarship scheme were Mary Popoola from the University of Lagos, Adelowo Similoluwa from University of Ibadan, Omosanya Adeola from Ekiti State University and Fatiu Oladosu from Kwara state University among others.

Presenting the scholarship award to one of the beneficiaries, Chief Kofi Kartey, who represented the Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiammen Atuwatse III, said he was excited that Iba Adams provided the opportunity for the best indigent students in the universities, saying the scholarship would continue to be a reference point for the education sector.

He urged the beneficiaries to see the scholarship scheme as an opportunity to impact society positively, adding: “I want to implore the students to see this scholarship scheme as an opportunity to impact the society positively.”

No fewer than 50 traditional rulers were present at the event, while members of the academic institutions across Nigeria were also well represented.

Also present were Dr. Kola Oyefeso, a prominent chief from Remo land, who represented the Odole of Ife, Chief Adebutu Kessington; Chief Keke Adams from Canada, Chief and Chief (Mrs.) Olusanya from Houston Texas, USA.

Others were Prominent members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs- in- Council and the members of the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG), among others.

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