L-R: Rev. Ben Taiwo, Prof. (Mrs.) Kehinde Kemabonta, Miss Oreoluwa Badejo, Dr. Osaren Emokpae (Chairman, Wilson Badejo Foundation), Dr. (Mrs.) Dolapo Kwakporwe and Prof. Bayo Oladipo during the press conference for the 15th Annual Lecture of Wilson Badejo Foundation (WBF)
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church Nigeria, Rev Sam Aboyeji and Mr. Femi Adesina, Spokesman of President Mohammadu Buhari are expected to grace the 15th annual lecture of Wilson Badejo Foundation.
The lecture will hold on Wednesday, August 10 at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. Former President Obasanjo will function as the father of the day while the General Overseer of Foursquare Church, Rev Aboyeji will chair the occasion
The Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Osaren Emokpai made this known on Wednesday, August 3 at an impressive press conference.
The guest lecturer for the event, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, will speak on the twin problem of poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.
Expected guests
Osaghae is the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA),
The Founder of Systems Spec, Mr. Obaro, and the CEO of LAPO Group. Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Former Registrar of WAEC and Chairman of Governing council ED–JOHN Institute of Management and Technology, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, and a host of others will grace the occasion.
The Late former General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Dr. Wilson Badejo inaugurated the foundation on his 60th birthday anniversary in May 2007.
Badejo, a trained Veterinary doctor had the vision to use the foundation to put smiles on downtrodden Nigerians.
The vision lives
Though Dr. Badejo and his wife have since passed on, Emokpai said, “their vision for a fairer, more equitable world did not depart with them. That is why the theme for this year’s annual WBF lecture focuses on the twin problems of poverty and insecurity”
The goal of the foundation from its onset is to give scholarships annually to “Indigent” but brilliant students, organize annual Lectures and reach out to villages and suburbs with developmental programmes.
According to Emokpae, the foundation was designed “to integrate, as much as possible, the less privileged in our society into the nation’s economic system in a bid to reduce poverty in the country.
It also aims to enhance the economic status of the less privileged in our society through the sharing and caring ministry.”
Emokpae a developmental economist, said WBF has lived up to its billing impacting lives and changing narratives.
Wall Street veteran, Femi Badejo is the vice chairman of WBF while a financial guru, Ore Badejo is Treasurer. Professor K. Kemabonta serves as the General Secretary of the board.
Emokpae said the new board has started to build institutional organs and processes to effectively and efficiently drive the organisation.
He expressed confidence that with the new board the ultimate goal of the foundation will be achieved.
