The Ola-born politician and Philanthropist, Chief (Dr) Peter Ogundeji (Apata), has rolled out a major empowerment initiative for youths and women across Osun West Senatorial District.
The event, held on Thursday at Legacy Hall, Ola in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, formed the climax of a week-long commemoration of his 40th birthday.
The empowerment programme, organised through the Apata Cares Foundation and the APATA/IleriOluwa Empowerment Apprenticeship Programme, drew royal fathers, political leaders, women leaders, youth groups, party executives, and community stakeholders, who described the initiative as timely and transformative.
Speaking at the event, Chief Ogundeji said the best way to secure the future of communities is to invest meaningfully in young people. He stressed that the occasion was not a personal celebration, but a show of gratitude expressed through service to society.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. I chose not to celebrate in isolation but to share my blessings with the society that moulded me,” he said. “Empowering the hands and minds of young people remains the strongest antidote to social vices. Idle hands, as our elders say, are the devil’s workshop.”
Chief Ogundeji announced the graduation of 100 beneficiaries who were enrolled in various apprenticeship tracks in 2024.
The beneficiaries, trained in tailoring, hair styling, leatherwork, construction, and information technology, received 100 sets of high-quality start-up equipment including sewing machines, hair dryers, leather-making machines, bricklaying kits, and desktop computers.
He emphasised that the tools were not mere gifts, but “seeds of prosperity and instruments of sustainable livelihood.”
As part of the expansion of the initiative, another 150 new beneficiaries were admitted into fresh apprenticeship schemes, with full sponsorship from the Foundation.
Chief Ogundeji noted that the admission of the new cohort reflects his commitment to nurturing a new generation of skilled youths across Osun West.
Addressing the graduating trainees, he urged them to embrace hard work, integrity, and community upliftment.
“You are now ambassadors of the Apata Cares Foundation. Success is not how high you climb, but how many people you lift along the way,” he said.
Chief Ogundeji call for unity and collective responsibility in building a prosperous Osun West:
According to him, “Empowerment is not charity; it is an investment in the strength and future of our people. Let us walk together, guided by faith, to build a brighter tomorrow.”
In his remarks at the ceremony, former Senator representing Osun West, Senator Mudasiru Hussain, called on wealthy individuals and prominent Nigerians to support the development of their communities through meaningful empowerment.
Describing Dr Ogundeji as “a compassionate man who has consistently contributed to the development of his people,” Senator Hussain commended the initiative and urged other influential personalities to emulate the gesture.
He noted that such interventions are crucial in reducing youth unemployment, curbing social vices, and promoting sustainable economic independence.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Oluwaseun Ejigbile expressed heartfelt appreciation to Dr Ogundeji for the life-changing opportunity.
Ejigbile promised that the beneficiaries would make good use of the tools provided, adding that the equipment would go a long way in helping them start their own businesses and support their families.
Royal fathers, party stakeholders, women and youth leaders applauded Chief Ogundeji for what they described as a far-reaching intervention that reduces reliance on political patronage and strengthens grassroots development.
The event featured presentations of empowerment tools, goodwill messages, and renewed pledges of support for expanding the initiative across more communities.
See photos below
