Energy tycoon Femi Otedola, age 57, has donated 5 billion Naira which is about 10 Million Pounds to the Save the Children Charity through his daughter, Florence Otedola aka DJ Cuppy’s Foundation. This will help support various intervention programmes for impoverished children in Nigeria’s north-east region whose villages were ruined by Boko haram.
The donation has become the single largest individual donation to charity in Nigeria’s history. Femi Otedola, who is known as one of Nigeria’s richest men, donated at DJ Cuppy’s Gold Gala on Sunday, November 10, 2019, in Abuja. The event was put together to raise fund for the Organization.
The Foundation is a non-profit organisation established by Otedola’s daughter, Florence Otedola. Her charity aims to improve the welfare of Nigeria’s vulnerable and marginalised children, focusing on early childhood education and healthcare. DJ Cuppy as popularly known apart from her entertainment career is a passionate philanthropist. Cuppy, who is an ambassador of the Save the Children UK, launched her foundation in August 2018. This comes the DJ and singer made a trip to Maiduguri, Borno State, in Nigeria’s northeast region. Talking about it, she said, “Becoming an ambassador for Save the Children has exposed me to so many children around the world. A visit to Save the Children in Maiduguri with the help of my godfather Alhaji Aliko Dangote opened my eyes to many things.”.
Singer, Tolani Otedola, the first daughter of Otedola, made the announcement the donation. Responding to Otedola’s gift, the CEO of Save The Children, Kevin Watkins said: “Every penny out of the donations will be spent improving the lives of the children affected by insurgency in the northeast”. He added that
the donations raised the Otedola’s will be managed by the Save The Children Fund to finance various intervention programmes for impoverished children in Borno, Adamawa, Katsina and other states affected.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote also blessed the occasion and donated N100 million ($275,000), to the Save The Children Fund and also acknowledged Otedola’s philanthropy. Reacting to Otedola’s donation, he said “People find it very difficult in Nigeria to give money away. However, the more you give, the more God blesses you. Femi, you are no longer a rich man, you have joined the league of wealthy men”.
Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was the guest of honour at the ceremony and also commended Otedola’s amazing generosity.
The charity, Save The Children was established in the United Kingdom in 1919. The aim of the organization is to improve the lives of children through education, better health care, economy, and also providing emergency aid during natural disasters, war, and other conflicts that might affect countries in need.
Photo Credit: DJ Cuppy & Moh, & fortuneshotz
