Kunle Adelabu
-Institutes family cooperatives
In its quest to further encourage academic excellence within its family and Igbogbo community, the Fadugba Ogunlewe Royal Family of Igbogbo has continued with its educational support initiatives.
At the 4th Annual General Meeting of the family held at the family house at Itunla, Igbogbo on Monday, April 21, the family awarded bursary to 12 family members and five students sourced from the Igbogbo Students’ Union (ISU).
The beneficiaries from the family include 10 students studying various courses in different higher institutions across Nigeria and two secondary school students. While higher institution students received N100, 000 each the two secondary school students got N50, 000 each
The five beneficiaries from the ISU also got N100, 000
During the meeting, the family also instituted a family cooperative to support themselves. Two representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Mrs. Dosunmu Oyindamola and Mr. Semiu Gbajumo, were at the meeting to sensitize members of the family on the formation and operation of the cooperative.
Dr Akinola Ajose Ogunlewe, the Olori Ebi Fadugba Ogunlewe Royal Family welcome members to the fourth Annual General Meeting, recalled that what brought about the coming together was the need for family members to connect and know themselves and their histories.
He stated that the need to have proper history of the family and where it’s sources and branches are located led him to Epe in Ijebu Remo where the family came from where the Elepe of Epe then hosted him for two weeks and he was able to source for relevant details.
The family head commended Prince Gbade Ogunlewe for his efforts in compiling the history together into a book. He added that the book dealt with any thing about the family including how they are related to Ikorodu especially the Alowonle family, Ambasu and others in Ikorodu.
He added that the family leaders are doing everything to put the record straight for the younger generations for future references and thanked the organizing committee for putting together the AGM.
Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, the Chairman Steering Committee of the family described the annual meeting as an opportunity to meet and discuss the progress of the family which is a renowned one globally.
Giving the report of the family, he said that since the last AGM, the family embarked and completed two hostels at the Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo, to continue to immortalize the memories of their late fathers and family that donated the land for educational purposes.
The former Minister said that the hostels with 100 capacity each was commissioned by the the Commissioner for Education, royal fathers and eminent guests adding that the hostels that cost the family over N100million has since been handed over to the Lagos State Government and thanked the family members for the support.
He also restated that the purpose of the meeting is to support the family children who are brilliant and others with scholarship, bursary and other educational supports and presented a daughter of the family, Barr. Oluwatosin Ogunlewe, for her excellent performance in Law with a First Class in Law School last year.
To further that, Sen. Ogunlewe said the family would present scholarship to members of the family in both higher institutions and secondary schools and also bursary to none members of the family who are sourced through the Igbogbo Students’ Union.
While adding that the family has been supporting students with scholarship and bursary since 1974, he explained that the bursary for members of the students’ union would be done in phases.
At the meeting, Princess Olubunmi Erogbogbo, Dr Yinka Ogunlewe, Barr. Dapo Ogunlewe, Prince Leke Ogunlewe, Engr. Gbenga Ogunlewe and Tpl. Toyin Ogunlewe, spoke on different topics affecting students, public and private workers, entrepreneurs and artisans, youth and general success in careers to family members as part of activities to support the family’s growth in diverse areas.
Other chieftains of the family at the AGM were Elder Funmi Oshodi, Chairman, 2025 AGM, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State, Prince Gbadebo Ogunlewe, and Princess Adenike Cadmus among others.
