- Award’ll Spur Us to More Humanitarian Gestures – Babalola
From Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin
The Bayo and Bunmi Babalola Foundation (BBBF) has bagged the Outstanding NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) of the Year, 2023 New Telegraph award. The award was presented to the NGO by the Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph titles is one in a million awards.
The co-Founder and co-Sponsor of BBBF, Engineer Sunday Adebayo Babalola, In an interview with journalists on Tuesday on the sidelines of the awards ceremony, expressed excitement at the honour as according to him, it came from a reputable media organization.
He stated that the award would catalyse him and his wife, Bunmi, who is a co-founder and co-sponsor of the scheme, to continue contributing to the upliftment of the downtrodden, especially at the grass root.
The “New Telegraph 2023 Awards Ceremony” was held on Friday, February 2, 2024, at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
BBBF, according to a letter signed by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, Ayodele Aminu, was appraised fit for the award for many achievements in 2023.
The letter read: “New Telegraph Honours Babalola foundation With Outstanding NGO of The Year, 2023.
“We are delighted to inform you that the Bayo and Bunmi Babalola Foundation has been nominated by the Board of Editors and Panel of Judges of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited for the prestigious title of Outstanding Philanthropic Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) of The Year (2023).
The Awardees in a group photograph with friends and well-wishers
“The New Telegraph Awards aims to recognize and reward leaders and organizations that have made exceptional contributions in governance and other areas of life.
“Such a reward system has the twin effect of galvanizing and inspiring recipients towards greater excellence while also helping to incentivize others to aspire to reach new heights.
“Among the achievements of Bayo and Bunmi Babalola Foundation (BBBF) in 2023 are:
1. Provision of scholarships to no fewer than 651 Nigerians in secondary and tertiary institutions.
2. Support and Empowerment to about 50 widows in Kwara State.
3. Facilitation of skill development and empowerment to many beneficiaries in Kwara State.
4. Sponsorship of Ramadan and Lenten lectures on televisions and radio stations for 30 days and 40 days respectively in Kwara State.
5. Partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Kwara Citizenship Development Initiative (KCDI) for registration of thousands of Kwarans for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). European Union Observers in politics visited the NGO in Kwara State because of the exercise.”
Babalola said he was grateful to God, the Management and Staff of Daily Telegraph and other people who made the award possible for the NGO.
He stated that he was humbled by the recognition accorded him by the management of the New Telegraph, adding that it will energise him and his wife, Bunmi, who is a co-founder and co-sponsor of the scheme, to continue contributing to the upliftment of the downtrodden especially at the grass root.
The philanthropist said that the NGO has since inception offered scholarships to about 2,500 pupils and students from secondary schools and tertiary institutions respectively; provided boreholes to many communities in Kwara State, supported many widows in Kwara State; facilitated skill development and empowerment to many beneficiaries in Kwara State as well as health care outreaches to rural communities in Kwara State.
He also recalled that the NGO has renovated many schools in the state, provided electric generator to schools and religious organization and sponsored annual Ramadan and Lenten programs on television and radios in Kwara State as well as engaged in the empowerment of the wives of some deceased officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The pillar of education called on the federal and state governments as well as other affluent Nigerians to invest more the education sector in the country.
Babalola said: “We are spurred to continue investing in humanity, Kwara State in particular and humanity generally.
“The award by a highly reputable newspaper organization as Daily Telegraph makes us want to do more as God provides us with the resources. It is a wonderful thing and we appreciate it. It is encouraging. It should also encourage others to do the same thing we are doing or even do it greater than what we are doing. There are many people who are richer than us who could be of help and use to humanity. It is not about what you have, it is about what impact you make in the lives of people and that is our intention for establishing BBBF in 2014.
“I will first of all thank God for the privilege He gave to us to be useful to humanity. I will also thank the Management and staff of New Telegraph for finding us worthy of that award. It is one in a million and we are very very grateful to the newspaper. I also thank all those involved in making the award possible.
“We are very elated and happy because when you do a work and it is recognized, you feel like doing more. We are indeed very grateful for the award.
“We started this scholarship scheme, drilling of boreholes, renovating classrooms and helping schools since 2014. Except for the CoronaVirus years that we did not do the scholarship, there were no other years that we did not intervene and help people, giving scholarships. We thank God for giving us the privilege to be used as instruments in His hands.”