Ooni of Ife’s NGO, HAI, Donate Free School to 7 Communities In Lagos

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan-Ogunwusi, on Saturday, sent an important message to the world that despite his royalty, his heart is always in humanitarian services, which God has endeared him to serve selflessly with passion.

Through his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) platform, Hopesalive Initiative (HAI), the reverend Monarch donated a school which will be run 100 per cent free of charge for pupils of the less privileged status.

Located in Eyinogbe Community, Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos, the free school complex for the primary school pupils that will run from classes 1-6, will also house other state-of-the-art facilities such as sick bay, event centre, ICT centre, Library and others.

Tagged HAI Free School Project in Eyinogbe Community is a prototype of a school project which Ooni of Ife is planning for his Kingdom in Ile-Ife, Osun State, southwest Nigeria.

Pastor Ituah Olajide Ighodalo consecrating the land during the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday

During the well-attended groundbreaking ceremony for the school project major stakeholders of Eyinogbe, which comprises seven communities, the Deputy Convener of Hopesalive Initiative, Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, described the project as a project which comes to pass when God ordains it to be.

“The land we are using for this project was acquired for me by my late mother, Mrs Adebisi Iyabosola Adesegun, 18 years ago. There have been several delays in erecting structures on it and I have now come to realise that God purposely made it so due to the need to use the land for humanitarian purposes. It is the greatest desire of Hopesalive Initiative to have a free school.

“I cannot but thank God the dream has come to reality, and I will also have to thank my husband, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan-Ogunwusi, who is pioneering the Hopesalive Initiative for Africa and the Chief Convener. He is an Empathetic and Affectionate Husband and a wonderful king who believes in me and always listens to me. He always gives me the push to achieve my purpose. I am living the life he is living. He can’t be everywhere.

‘I thank him for all the support to make all my dreams come true. Kabiyesi is like the Brain Box of everything that is happening. The goodwill of Kabiyesi alone brings a lot of things to our table at Hopesalive Initiative for Africa, and of course, some members of my family, especially Prince Mufu Adekoya, who have been there for me. I remember a gala night he put together for us in the United States. It was wonderful. The Governor of Bauchi State and the First Lady are tremendously wonderful too.

“We are looking at three months to complete this project because everything we need is on the ground, and with the Groundbreaking Ceremony today, we are set already riding on the Grace of God,” Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi said.

She said the school will be for the vulnerable, especially the kids on the streets, because they too deserve a good life through quality education.

“We have the divine mandate to help a lot of people live a decent life. Education is important in the life of children. We planned to give the children royal treatment with free meals, free health services and lots of things to make life better for them while learning.

“The free school is a prototype of what we have designed to have in Ile Ife. This is the first of its kind in this community. God Himself makes everything beautiful in His own time. This project is speaking at its appointed time.

“We will be having over 150 pupils, and we have planned for the seamless sustainability of the project, reasons we have an event centre and other facilities that will generate funds within the complex. The event centre will serve the community, while the ICT centre, in partnership with the federal government, will allow the students of the community the chance to have the JAMB exams here,” she said.

The Queen disclosed that the school will have a Board of Management and will also organise vocational training. It will be a study centre for Ojaja University where Sandwich Programmes (short courses) will be organised for students.

Pastor Ituah Olajide Ighodalo, while consecrating the complex, praised the initiative and commended the Ooni of Ife for giving his blessings that some great things can be done to communities outside Ile Ife.

“This is a statement of the fact that Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan-Ogunwusi, is for the whole world. He has the passion to further the cause of humanity and philanthropism,” the man of God said.

Pastor Ighodalo laid the foundation and consecrated the land unto the Lord.

The Baale of Eyinogbe Community, Taiwo Olowo, thanked Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi and Ooni of Ife for taking the project to his domain.

“This will open this community to the world, and it is an opener that the community is developing,” he said.
One of the royal fathers, HRM Oba Adebowale Adekunle, the Agbolu of Agbaje Ife, said he was not surprised that Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi is waxing stronger in the work of humanity.

“Olori is a God gift to the world. The NGO has done much for communities outside Ile Ife, even in the far north of Nigeria. I think she uses her character to resemble our King, the Ooni of Ife, on his heart for humanity,” he said.

Other royal fathers from Ile Ife at the groundbreaking ceremony included HRM Oba Fayemi Johnson Olumuyiwa, the Elerefe of Erefe Ife and HRM Oba Adedire Adewole Solomon, the Onifegunwa of Ifegunwa, Ile-If