Olasekun Foundation Targets Poverty With Palliatives, Empowerment

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The Kayode Olasekun Foundation (KOF) has launched a humanitarian intervention aimed at cushioning the impact of economic hardship on vulnerable residents, with its founder, Francis Kayode Olasekun, declaring that the initiative will go beyond the distribution of palliatives to sustainable empowerment.

A statement signed by the founder and made available to THISDAY in Abuja on Tuesday, explained that the Foundation had already held its pilot palliative outreach in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The statement noted that the Foundation distributed food items and cash assistance to widows, students, single mothers, elderly persons, vulnerable families and other residents struggling with the rising cost of living.

Olasekun said the pilot programme was designed not merely as a relief exercise but as an opportunity for the Foundation to understand the circumstances of vulnerable people at the grassroots and develop interventions capable of addressing their needs over the long term.

He said the experiences gathered from the Ado-Ekiti outreach would inform the Foundation’s subsequent programmes and help it determine how best to expand its humanitarian interventions to other communities.

“What we witnessed during the outreach confirmed that there are many people within our communities who genuinely need support,” Olasekun said.

“For some families, what may appear to be a small palliative package can make a meaningful difference in their daily lives. 

“It can provide a meal, ease a burden and, most importantly, remind someone going through a difficult period that society has not forgotten them.”

The Foundation founder stressed that while immediate assistance remained necessary in the face of current economic difficulties, palliatives alone could not provide a lasting solution to poverty and vulnerability.

He said KOF would therefore explore empowerment initiatives that could enable beneficiaries to become economically independent and reduce their reliance on periodic assistance.

According to him, the Ado-Ekiti programme was deliberately structured as a pilot scheme to identify gaps, assess beneficiaries’ needs and draw lessons that would improve future interventions.

Olasekun said the Foundation hoped to progressively extend its humanitarian activities to more communities across Ekiti State and, eventually, other parts of the country, subject to the availability of resources and partnerships.

He also dismissed any political motive behind the initiative, saying the Foundation’s intervention was driven by humanitarian considerations and a commitment to helping people facing difficult circumstances.

He said: “This programme is not about politics, publicity or personal recognition. 

“It is about humanity — reaching out to people, giving hope and reminding them that they are not forgotten.

“We believe that society becomes stronger when people who are in a position to help are willing to reach out to those experiencing difficult circumstances. 

“We may not be able to solve every problem at once, but every genuine intervention can make a difference in somebody’s life.”

The Foundation urged individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility in tackling poverty and vulnerability, stressing that government alone could not address all humanitarian challenges confronting communities.

Olasekun expressed appreciation to members of the Foundation, volunteers, supporters and well-wishers who contributed resources, time and logistical support towards the success of the outreach.

He said their contributions demonstrated the importance of partnerships in sustaining humanitarian initiatives and encouraged more individuals and organisations to support credible programmes targeted at disadvantaged members of society.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Angela Kemisola Fasakin commended the Foundation for providing food items and cash gifts, describing the intervention as timely.

Fasakin said the beneficiaries were particularly encouraged by the decision of Olasekun, who does not occupy any political or government position, to personally support vulnerable residents.

“My name is Mrs Angela Kemisola Fasakin, and I am speaking on behalf of all of us who are here today to receive food items and cash gifts from the Kayode Olasekun Foundation. 

We say a very big thank you,” she said.

She said beneficiaries had previously heard of Olasekun’s philanthropic activities and efforts to assist Nigerian youths in securing employment opportunities, adding that the latest intervention had extended the gesture to vulnerable residents in Ekiti State.

“We were particularly surprised and encouraged that, despite not being a politician or government official, you still deem it necessary to use your personal initiative to support vulnerable people,” she said.

Fasakin appealed to the Foundation to sustain and expand the programme, while praying for continued success for Olasekun and the organisation.

The Foundation said the next phase of the initiative would be preceded by an assessment of the Ado-Ekiti pilot, with emphasis on identifying areas requiring improvement and developing a more effective model for reaching larger numbers of vulnerable people.

KOF reiterated that its long-term objective was to combine humanitarian relief with empowerment, arguing that sustainable opportunities remained critical to breaking the cycle of hardship and dependency.

The organisation said it would remain guided by its motto, ‘Touching Lives, Spreading Hope,’ as it seeks to build a broader humanitarian platform capable of providing relief, restoring dignity and creating opportunities for vulnerable Nigerians.