By Akinwale Kasali
In the spirit of Christmas and his undying love for humanity, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has once again demonstrated His commitment to put smiles on the faces of less privileged children in the society as he organised Christmas party for over 1000 of them in Lagos.
The monarch through his Pet project, Hopes Alive Initiatives, HAI, which commenced operation in December 2017 as a social Advocacy Platform to alleviate the economic, cultural and environmental challenges of reducing the impact on the global society has put smiles on the faces of many indigent children nationwide in this year alone.
It would be recalled that Ooni recently visited the largest Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Wassa, Abuja which hosts over 5,000 persons where he donated drugs and erected football pitch to promote social activities among the refugees displaced by Boko Haram insurgencies.
This was shortly after he donated a vocational centre to some rehabilitated children and adults in Umuahia, Abia State barely two weeks after His donation of a new home to an orphanage in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking at the Christmas programme which had over 1000 children present, the Deputy Convener and Chief Executive of HAI, Princess Temitope Adesegun said it’s the role of the initiative to put permanent smiles on the faces of these set of people especially at this season of love.
“That is what we stand for, that is what gives His Imperial Majesty joy, to give them a new beginning, a sense of belonging, not temporarily but a long lasting memory that will change their entire sense of bearing, that will change their orientation, that will change their true essence and they will believe indeed and in truth they can actually live a well and beautiful life.
Saying in the one year of existence of the initiative they have done incredibly well, stressing the organisation’s visit to the IDP camp in Abuja, orphanage homes and several other programmes within the year.
“I can site an example here and that was when we went to Oluwakemi Orphanage Home. She practically had her kids in a slum and so what we did was to give them a new begining.
“We relocated them from that slum to a new well furnished and equipped apartment and with this we put a permanent smile on their faces and all the days of their lives they will remember what God and His Imperial Majesty has done for them,” she disclosed.
Thanking the convener, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Adesegun said it is overwhelming what the convener is doing because “for someone to be selfless that all what he thinks of is to make people happy.
“Its indeed a huge sacrifice, the Great Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye, Ojaja the second, I salute you and I say thank you so much for your tremendous love, its unique, the kind of love you have is liken to the love of God for the church and God will continue to bless you.
On feedback in the last one year,the Deputy Convener said people they have supported are doing well and calling to say they love the convener and “of course we have people supporting him and that is why we are calling on corporate bodies and individuals to support us.
“The reason why God created you as privileged person is not just for you to relax and be excited, but its for you to be impactful, its for you to bless people out there,” she urged.
On message for the season, she said the season is all about love and there is no way you can love anyone without given because ” the Bible says for God so love the world that he “gave” us His beloved son so we should extend our hand of love to fellow human.”
The Head Operations of the organisation, Mr. Chidi Amos explained that the ultimate aim of Hopes Alive Initiative was to give hope to the hopeless and of course we support good intention most especially ones that has to do with children.
The cross section of the children at the fanfare thanked the organisation for organising the programme especially during this season of love.
