In a powerful address to students at King's College, Lagos, philanthropist and founder Sunny Akhigbe has issued a clarion call for the younger generation to become active creators and solution providers for Nigeria's challenges.
From Dream to Action: A Foundation's Mission
Sunny Akhigbe, the visionary behind the A Boy and His Dream Foundation, articulated a clear mission during his recent visit. He stated that the foundation's core purpose is to support underserved youths, aiming to nourish, nurture, empower, and encourage them towards success. Drawing from his personal journey, Akhigbe emphasized that students must look beyond conventional career paths. "The goal is to target all the youths in colleges and universities to become entrepreneurs," he declared.
Scholarships and Empowerment in Practice
Translating his words into tangible action, Akhigbe demonstrated his commitment by awarding significant scholarships to five deserving students of King's College. The recipients are Abbakura Abdulsalam, Ewuyemi Semilore, Paul Godswill, Sulaimon Inioluwa, and Okorocha Chibuike.
A total sum of N500,000 was disbursed, with each scholar receiving N100,000. Akhigbe clarified that the selection was based on a combination of financial need and academic performance. He further promised an additional allocation of N500,000 for the next semester, ensuring sustained support.
Beyond financial aid, the empowerment package included:
- An entrepreneurship training program scheduled to hold once a month for the beneficiaries.
- Five copies of Akhigbe's personal book, detailing his own story and struggles, given to each awardee.
- Inspirational wristbands inscribed with the affirming words "You are powerful" distributed to all students present.
"Today, we awarded scholarships. We also offered entrepreneurship programmes that we will be offering once a month. And that scholarship will run for two years," Akhigbe stated, outlining the scope of the intervention.
A Blueprint for Success and Social Responsibility
Akhigbe's message was a blend of tough love and inspiration. He urged the students to shun criminal activities and instead dedicate themselves to hard work and the pursuit of knowledge. "To become successful takes a lot of hard work," he advised, imploring them to cultivate determination.
He also instilled the critical value of giving back. Akhigbe encouraged the youths to remember their communities once they achieve success, using his own philanthropic gesture as a practical example. "Every little act of kindness counts," he said, explaining his motivation. "I felt like I had to do something. My team felt like we had to do something, this is why we are here today."
Looking to the future, Akhigbe promised to extend this scholarship initiative to schools in other Nigerian states. He even voiced an ambitious continental vision, stating, "If we succeed in Nigeria, we will extend to other African countries." This event at King's College, Lagos, marks a significant step in his foundation's journey to empower a new generation of Nigerian solution-providers.
