A non-governmental organisation, Akin Fadeyi Foundation((AFF) has hosted its second impact series event to honour a Nigerian geoscientist and founder of the i-Scholar Initiative (ISI), Mr. Victor Ogunmola.
Ogunmola, an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, founded i-SI as a charity organisation to mentor and invest in the educational career of young Africans from underprivileged homes to study their dream courses, especially at postgraduate level, in foreign universities.
Ogunmola believes that such a modest intervention is key to driving the acquisition of the requisite skills required for the 21st growth and development of a country such as Nigeria that is in dire need of transformation.
Speaking during the virtual programme, the Executive Director of AFF, Mr Akin Fadeyi, stated that the Impact Series is designed solely to celebrate Nigeria’s ‘unsung heroes’ during their lifetime.
He said there are many such individuals in the society across fields of endeavours.
While eulogising Ogunmola’s virtues, Fadeyi said the efforts of young philanthropists funding the education of indigent Nigerians and mentoring them to succeed in life are quite commendable.
He described him as an exceptional species who is committed to building lives.
In her own remark, Funmi Hector-Olukoya, an English and literary studies graduate and volunteer at i-SI, described Ogunmola as a goal-getter and philanthropist par excellence.
She recalled how she stumbled on an article on his Facebook account during the COVID era that captured some of the efforts he had undertaken to put smiles on the faces of many less privileged young individuals.
She pointed out that Ogunmola started i-SI from personal savings just because he believes in helping people, especially those from less privileged homes to fulfil their dreams in life.
Corroborating Hector-Olukoya, the Vice President of i-SI in charge of operations), Dr Kunle Ojeleye declared that he met Ogunmola for the first time on Facebook in 2016 and since then both have been together.
He also stated that he was part of i-SI formation in the US as Ogunmola personally invited him to join so as to collectively help underprivileged people back home and be part of their success stories.
“So, after he set up i-scholar, he asked me if I could join him as the Vice President in charge of Operations of the organisation, and I gladly accepted the offer and since then, many young Africans have benefitted through full scholarships to reputable foreign institutions,” Ojeleye stressed.
Some of the beneficiaries of i-SI were also in attendance at the event, sharing their experiences.
One of them, Ms Fahidat Gbadamosi, said she received the scholarship award in 2019 and is now a doctoral degree student at the University of South Carolina, USA, studying Organic Chemistry.
According to her, the single push given to me by i-SI has made a tremendous difference and positive impact on my life.
Another person, Mr Mustapha Abdullahi, also a PhD student, commended Ogunmola for the great impact he is making in people’s lives through scholarship and other philanthropic gestures.
He said the efforts would certainly rub off not only on the direct beneficiaries but also on families and society at large.
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