BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

The entire city of Itori town in Ogun State recently went agog for a whole week when the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo, celebrated his 10 years anniversary on the throne. The ceremony which attracted personalities from different walks of life will for a very long time be the talk-of-the-town.

High point of the glamorous ceremony, for so many, was the rich display of culture and tradition, while for few others it was the award of chieftaincy titles to some individuals at the well-attended ceremony. But for the celebrant, it was the charity activities which preceded the ceremony.

For the fashionista monarch, nothing can be more fulfilling and satisfying as identifying with the under-privileged and putting smiles on their gloomy faces through his Oba Akamo Great Expectation Foundation which is his brain-child.

The charity train led by Oba Akamo in company of his wives and some of his chiefs kicked off at the Juvenile Remand Home in Abeokuta Ogun State where Akamo, assisted by others, donated cash, food items and other household items.

Speaking shortly after the visit, the monarch said, “on a daily basis, I attend to many people who come to my palace for one assistance or the other. It will be a sin if we pretend as if some people don’t go to bed hungry because some of us are a bit privileged and we don’t expect government to do everything. Hence, I deemed it right not to just to host my friends who will come back tomorrow to appreciate me, but to also celebrate the less-privileged in our society.”

Not forgetting the home front, many were dazed by the philanthropic gesture of Oba Akamo in Itori as he doled out some tools of trade and also gave out start-up capital to some indigent persons in his domain.
A widow who had lived hopelessly since the demise of her husband was among the beneficiaries. For over 20 minutes, she knelt down in tears praying for Oba Akamo.

“Since my husband died seven months ago, my three children and I have been living at the mercy of our neighbours. At times, my first child sneaks out to go beg for alms in Ifo just to keep us alive. I don’t know how Kabiyesi learnt of my predicament because I don’t stay around his palace neither have I ever come in contact with him. It came as a surprise to me when they brought this refrigerator to my house. I can’t help but cry. How

on earth would I have been able to gather money to purchase this? The yoke of poverty has broken in my life as I will make good use of this precious gift. I don’t need to beg before I and my children eat and can never beg again,” Basirat Kareem told Sunday Vanguardin tears.

Iyaloja of Itori market, Alhaja Basirat Ejire, when contacted, eulogized Akamo for identifying with the less-privileged in the society.
“To say I am dazed by his gesture is an understatement. How best can I describe this great man who in his magnanimity decided to bring smiles to the faces of the less-privileged in Itori Land,” Ejire said.

“I have also been giving scholarships to 20 students in the town in conjunction with Alhaji Alabi Wasiu Pasuma every year.  I also have about five students in university that I cater for.  Two out of these five students are my relatives, while the other three are sponsored students who are not related to me,” the traditional leader further revealed shortly after supervising the distribution of items to the less-privileged.

There were also enlightenment lectures on breast cancer, challenges of women in the family, HIV/AIDS, personal hygiene and many more.

Not even the crown can take socialisation away from Oba Akamo who is vast in national and global issues; he is a patron of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners, ANTP, both in Ogun and Lagos States. The astute administrator, successful entrepreneur, intense facilitator and harbinger of grassroots development also combines royalty with a sense of history, tradition and modernization.

Oba Akamo was enthroned Olu of Itori beyond his wildest dream in February, 2004, by late Oba Oyebade Lipede, the then Alake of Egbaland. In the course of his eventful sojourn in Lagos he was bestowed various chieftaincy titles without an inkling that those titles and their inherent responsibilities were preparing him for greater services later in life as Olu of Itori.

His Oba Akamo Great Expectation Foundation focuses on the empowerment of the less-privileged and the dependent middle class in a manner that would enable them utilize their potentials towards the attainment of economic sustenance.