Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Prominent Legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has said that majority of Nigerians currently live in poverty, stressing that over 70 per cent of Nigerians were living below the poverty level.
Olanipekun who spoke in Ikere Ekiti, his country home, in Ekiti State, during the 27th Scholarship Award Scheme and 4th empowerment programme of Wole Olanipekun Foundation (WOF) called on wealthy Nigerians to be more benevolent, saying many people the world over were facing hard times.
The legal icon pointed out that there was tension, unrest, anxiety, pressure, confusion, hatred, anguish, pain, distress and transferred aggression among many people.
He added that the situation therefore behoves those who have received “God’s benevolence” to also tap from God’s attribute of compassion by lending helping hands to their fellow human beings.
According to him, the situation in Nigeria is much more challenging, with cognisance of its very peculiar and uninspiring economic situation over the years, coupled with the burden of insecurity that it had faced for over a decade.
“The poverty level in Nigeria today is not just scary but also terrifying, as over 70 per cent of Nigerians are rudderless and poverty stricken,” he said.
The foundation gave out scholarship to 250 students ranging from secondary schools to university/law school education levels, youth empowerment to 100 beneficiaries, 100 aged and widows grants and palliatives to 600 beneficiaries.
Specifically, Olanipekun called on Nigerians to extend love, care, sympathy, empathy and kindness to one another.
The Chairman of the ceremony and leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who commended Olanipekun for his kind-heartedness and philanthropic gestures described him as a celebrated citizen of Nigeria who should be emulated.
Bamidele, who appreciated Olanipekun for his dedication to his community in all ramifications noted that the senior lawyer’s integrity and consistency as a role model was second to none.
In his speech, the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, described Olanipekun as a very hardworking man, ready to share with other unconditionally, what humanity has blessed him with.
