— Babalola thanks God, New Telegraph,
—- Says award will spur BBBF for more humanitarian interventions
Kehinde Akinpelu
Co-Founder and Co-Sponsor of Bayo and Bunmi Babalola Foundation (BBBF) Pastor Engineer Sunday Adebayo Babalola, has said the Outstanding NGO of the Year, 2023 New Telegraph award to the foundation by the Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph titles is one in a million awards.
In an interview with journalists on Monday on the sidelines of the awards, he stated that it came from a reputable media organization, adding that it will spur the NGO to engage in more humanitarian interventions.
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 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
“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 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.
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 BBBFin 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.”
He added: The federal government, and governors should do more to improve education. All we hear today is so many billions spent on frivolous projects. Those monies can be harnessed and used for education. On the other hand, there are so many leakages in the government in so many areas. If we can plug those leakages, we can have enough resources to take care of our needs.
“Recently BBBF went ahead to renovate four classrooms in January 2024. The classrooms were totally dilapidated. How much did it take us to rehabilitate the classrooms, flooring, repainting, ceiling, we spent between N2m and N3m. If it was the government that did that, each of the classrooms probably would have cost N15m.
“We have excess money for security, agriculture and other things. But all I read from the papers is that billions are being spent on so many projects.
“I have always said that handouts will not help the poor. Palliatives are handouts. Help the people to grow and start to make money themselves. Teach me how to fish and not to give me fish. ‘If you give me fish, you have fed me once but if you teach me how to fish, you fed me forever.’ I do not think that it is right for government to be giving people money all over. Create a business-oriented environment. Thank outside the box how people can access capital to their businesses. You create a business environment, regulations and laws that will guide them. You also create access to capital that will allow people to borrow money and be able to do their businesses and pay the money back.
“There is no way you will give a person a loan with 20% to 30% interest rate and you expect the person will be able to succeed. Also access to funds is basically related to what you have that you can use as collateral. People should have easy access to funds. You create a business environment, access to funds and checks and balances that will make at least 70% to 80% percent of the borrowers return the money. You will get the country’s economy going well again. It can be done especially at the state levels.”
