By Ishola Balogun

 Adelaja Adeleye, a banker and President of Ultimate Circle of Nigeria, in this interview, shares his view on why members of the social club adopted orphans and the physically challenged as their children, adding that the welfare of individuals, building a happy home remained the cardinal focus of every member.

Adoption of orphans and the physically challenged

One of the things we have been able to do within the past few years was to focus on charity. We sensitize the people on the need to remember the less privileged in the society particularly during the yuletide season. We place advert in the newspapers in order to get good spirited individuals to remember these people, give them love and care since there is no amount that will be enough for them.

Again, even as a club, we have adopted a home called Bethorey Home, an orphanage and physically challenged home at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Every year, they send their budget to us and we include same in our budget for the year. Apart from financial support, we also visit them; give them love and moral support. They are part of our annual Ultimate Circle night programme because they are now part of our family.

On empowerment and employment generation

For a developing economy like ours, employment generation is crucial to development. Why has the electricity project not working. If power is restored, a lot of other areas of the economy will be restored and there will be more jobs for the jobless. There are several areas of the economy that need manpower. For example, the FIRS needs more people to be able to tackle the issue of tax evasion.

You will agree with me that a lot of people in this country don’t pay their taxes. If more people pay their taxes, there will be more money to run the country. There are people who own several houses and fleet of cars, yet they don’t pay their taxes. There is also the need to inject more people into the Police for efficiency. I agree that there is corruption, but once you confiscate their properties and punish them, stealing will not be attractive. Then you make every able-bodied man to be gainfully employed, restore dignity in whatever you do and the country will be better.

As a result, as part of our programme this year, we organized women empowerment programme where women were taught how to turn their passion into business. We brought experts and successful women in business to discuss how our women can do business without abandoning their responsibilities at home.

We realized that part of the problem in the society is that the husband and wife are engaged in 8am to 5pm daily work which is not good for the family. So, we look at how we can develop our women in business so that they will be able to manage the home properly because while carrying out their businesses, they will have more time to look at their families than the 8am to 5pm paid job. Again, we make them to set up businesses in line with their passion, not just doing anything, so that even if you don’t get paid, you will enjoy doing it. Again, your passion can also be turned around to make money for you and at the same time creating time for your home duties. We also make them to understand that you can also run your business from home and be successful and have a very good home.

Assisting the cancer patients

About three to four years, ago, we held a lecture on breast cancer and one of our member, Prof Oluwole Atoyebi who is now the registrar of the Post-graduate Medical College, specializes on breast surgery anchored the programme. One of the things we did was to step up preventive measures especially breast examination because we realized that once it starts, it is difficult to manage. We advised women to do constant checking of their breast and as a woman, if you discover any lump, give us a call and we will arrange for a medical care in the hospital for you. The club will take it up from there especially when we know you cannot afford the bill.

Our members see the problem of others as theirs. So, even when the club cannot, we use our contacts to get the problem solved. We had a case of a boy who had spinal cord problem, the family contacted us and we got one of the agencies to support the boy through our contact, apart from the fact that it cost us about N5million. But today, we thank God that that man today is a driver. We will always give our financial assistance where necessary.

What we do more is in the area of enlightenment, as a form of preventive measure. We have intervened in the plight of indigent children and we have spent several millions of Naira and we will keep doing that.

Recently, having seen the damage cancer is doing to a lot of people, we organized a programme on prostate cancer for people. We look at areas that are very relevant in the society and bring the key people in those areas to the table for seminars. Once an issue is brought to our attention, we look at it; put resources together to deal with the issue. Sometimes, it might not be our resources alone, it might be through our network and connection issues like that will be treated. So, it is not about spending money all the time, it could merely require introducing you to someone who have solution to the problem.

Ultimate Circle night

The annual Ultimate Circle night is to thank God for seeing us through the year. We really appreciate achievements and as a result, some of us who have made marks in their various fields during the year will be celebrated. This is to encourage hard work. For members who are 60 and above, we will honour them with ‘Elders’ Award’.