Byinks Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Monday awarded scholarships to 100 indigent students in Lagos.
The foundation presented the awards to the beneficiaries at Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, during its 15th edition of ‘Entertainment meets Charity’.
Byinks Foundation, according to the founder, Mr Banire Olayinka, was established in 2007 to support the less privileged in the provision of food, education, employment and health.
Olayinka said the foundation since its unofficial 22 years and official 15 years of corporate existence has touched 875, 000 lives.
“We are an indigenous company committed to helping humanity especially the youth, aged, less privileged, widows and widowers in a way to have a meaningful life and strive to bring out their best potential.
“Imagine the ripple effects of this and in Lagos State alone. We have given more than 3,000 scholarships. Today, I am giving 100 students scholarship, majorly orphans and children of widows.
“Also, 500 widows are coming on board today in addition to the 100 already on board.
“We have continued to expand the scope of education by funding academic pursuits of children of the less privileged up to tertiary level. We try to ensure that no widow who contacts us goes to bed hungry.
“We have vouched to keep hope alive by supplying the genuine values that every human must imbibe in order to grow in life,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Abolaji Abayomi, commended the founder who he described as golden and humble.
Abayomi said that Olayinka had realised that education is the wealth of the nation and that was why he keyed into the initiative of sponsoring the education of the less privileged.
The permanent secretary said that it was also in line with the state government’s initiative of free education in the state.
“Thank you for contributing to education in Lagos State. We will always partner with you whenever you call on us,” he said.The Chairman of the event, Mr Olatubosun Okpeseyi, a former District Governor, Lions Club International District 404AI, also described Olayinka as a humanitarian par excellence.
“What he is doing today is what most governments can not do. Giving to humanity takes a lot. The wealth of a nation is in the people, there is need to drive the society with knowledge.
“Remember that your peace can be guaranteed by the peace of your neighbour. You can not have a sound sleep if your friend is hungry. You need money and you also need grace to enjoy life.
“No matter how rich you are, you will eventually bow to the forces of nature. If we all try to be our brother’s keeper, there will be little for the government to do,” he said.
Okpeseyi appealed to the beneficiaries to be humble and focused, adding that they benefited so that they could grow to also look out for other people.
“Let us be the touch that makes others better. Whatever you do in life, we will continue to support you,” he said.
Also, the Chairperson of the event, Mrs Omotunde Lawson, District Governor, Rotary International Club District 9110, described Olayinka as an extremely humble man who had touched many lives.
“He has touched the lives of many students, widows, graduates, some traveled abroad while some are doing well in the country.
“You can not count what his fundation has done. BOS is a humanitarian and on this note I will be donating N500, 000 to the foundation in support of their contribution to humanity,” she said.
The Senior Programme Manager, Byinks Foundation, Mrs Oluyemisi Akinyemi, said the foundation didn’t come to existence by accident but by the founder’s commitment to better the lives of others.
She further urged the awardees to get prepared to attain greater heights and plan for success through hard work as there are no shortcuts to success.
“As you aspire to achieve academic excellence, I encourage you also to strive to be of good moral conduct and never be discouraged.
“There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Challenges will only strengthen you, never be weakened by them,” she said. (NAN)