Agbelebu Foundation unveils “Family Adoption Project”, targets 500 households in Phase One

Sunday Ehigiator

The Agbelebu Foundation on Sunday unveiled its Family Adoption Project, describing it as a long-awaited promise to uplift vulnerable households with deliberate and consistent support.

Speaking at the launch, the Founder, Mr Oluwagbenga Abiola, the immediate Past Vice Chairman of Agege Local Government in Lagos, said the initiative was the fulfillment of a burden he had carried for years.

“When the idea of this foundation came eight years ago, it didn’t arrive as an organisation,” he said. “It came as a burden— a burden for unseen struggles and quiet tears.”

Abiola, a former Agege Sole Administrator and Secretary to the Local Government, said welfare should never be treated as an agenda item, stressing that it is “a calling that demands responsibility, empathy and commitment.”

He explained that the Family Adoption Project was designed to walk side-by-side with struggling households through sustained empowerment.

“Today, we unveil a project that commits to families not for a moment, not for a season, but with intentional love,” he said.

The founder said the foundation hoped to adopt 1,000 families, but would begin Phase One with 500 households.

“Every great journey begins with a first step,” he said. “For us, the first step is embracing 500 families into our circle of care.”

He clarified that the initiative was not charity or a publicity drive but a genuine expression of shared humanity.

“This is family meeting family,” he said. “When we adopt a family, we are saying: we see you, we hear you, we are here for you.”

Abiola said the project would support families in the areas of health, education, empowerment and financial stability.

He noted that the foundation hoped to partner with institutions, personalities and service providers to deliver youth training, health checks, insurance, food banking and scholarship support.

“Our goal is not just to support families,” he said, “but to equip them and position them to rise.”

He said the initiative would run for at least one year, adding that the adopted families would not walk alone during the period.

“Their challenges become our challenges, and their victories become our victories,” he said. “Progress should never be accidental; it must be intentional.”

The founder said the foundation existed for the vulnerable, including children, widows, youths, the elderly, the physically challenged and struggling parents.

He likened each adopted household to a seed requiring nurturing, attention and resources to flourish.

“Impact is not in noise but in consistency,” he said. “Leadership is not in titles but in service.”

Abiola expressed appreciation to volunteers, partners and donors, describing them as “the heartbeat and wind behind the vision.”

He assured the newly adopted families that they were not statistics but part of an ever-growing community bound by dignity and compassion, adding, “Once we call you family, we don’t let go.”

Speaking, the Agege LG Chairman, Mr AbdulGaniyu Obasa, who applauded Abiola’s vision and passion toward the less privileged, said that the welfare of the people should be the priority of every government.
Obasa commended the founder and former council boss for joining hands with government, describing it as great initiatives.

A traditional ruler, Ologba of Ogbaland, Oba Oladimeji Egbeyemi, who praised Abiola, said ” your continous efforts in bringing succor to the people of his community, Agege and Lagos at large are commendable”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 500 families were given 500 food boxes while health insurance was provided for 100 people living with disability in partnership with Ilera Eko.

Also, health tests and on spot treatment was carried out for over 200 elderly and people living with disability at the event.

The beneficiaries who includes Mrs Sekinat Abolaji, the Chairman of Association of people living with Disability, Agege, commended the former council boss for the project.