In an unusual and unprecedented ceremony, which is however in line with dictates of the prevailing times, the Owu Empowerment Foundation officially inaugurated its Boards of Management and Trustees on Monday, 18th of May, 2020.
The Foundation, which has been given the green light to operate by the Abeokuta North Local Government, and has also been duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, is awaiting its final incorporation as an NGO in Nigeria.
The inauguration lacked the usual fanfare and high calibre physical presence that is usually synonymous with such grand occasions… because it occurred totally online!
Electronic digital online conferencing has become the new normal globally these days, necessitated by the social distancing and community lockdown dictates of the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine measures.
The challenge is however forcing the promotion and advancement of various online conferencing strategies, and the Owu Empowerment Foundation is not to be found wanting at playing catch up in this department, for its Boards inauguration was performed wholesomely on its recently floated Whatsapp platform, “Owu Empowerment ECHO”!
Challenged with a chairman locked-down thousands of miles away in America, and many of its Board members confined outside the state by the Ogun State border closure containment measure against the Coronavirus, there were actually very few options left for the administrators, but to go the way of the trending technology! All oaths and pledges were taken within the confines of the platform after the Chairman delivered his Inaugural Address, which was posted to the floor at 9.58 am by the Foundation’s secretary, Chief Barrister Badejogbin, the Gbobaniyi of Owu Kingdom, and Balogun of Idi-Ori Owu Township.
With the administrative Boards of the Foundation firmly in place, the organisation is now completely poised to take its visions of empowerment, and mentoring the youths of Owu Kingdom to the next level of achievement and excellence!
A lengthy telephone conversation with Owulakoda Blog not long after the inauguration by the Foundation’s Coordinator General, Chief OgoOluwa Bankole, Gbogbogbo I, revealed the vision, dynamics, critical strategies and modus operandiibeing envisaged for running the Foundation towards the benefit of the people of Owu Kingdom.
Below is a reproduction of the Inaugural Speech of the Foundation’s Chairman, Chief Bolusanmi Akin-Olugbade, as rendered on the “Owu Empowerment ECHO” WhatsApp platform :
18th MAY, 2020
CHIEF/CHIEF, MRS/SIR/MRS/Ms/DR./PROF/BARR.,
NOMINATION AS TRUSTEE AND MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBERS OF OWU EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION. (OEF).
I congratulate you all on your nominations as Trustees / Management Board members of Owu Empowerment Foundation (OEF) .
You are officially welcome to the Foundation Whatssapp official Platform, OWU EMPOWERMENT ECHO and the official E-Mail Address is owuempowermentfoundation@yahoo.com
Information on your formal presentaton to HRM Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu CON, fta. Royal Father of Owu Empowerment Foundation and His Excellency, Balogun Owu Kingdom, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, phd. Grand Patron of Owu Empowerment Foundation will be communicated in due course.
I further encourage you to be familiar with the Constitution of the Foundation.
The Official Office of the Foundation located in the Olowu’s Palace should be effectively used to optimum.
The Foundation is a Non-Profit Organization and duly registered with the Abeokuta North Local Government for operations. The availability of name has been secured with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja whilst its incorporation as an NGO has reached an advanced stage.
The Board of Trustees and Management Board members as approved by Royal Father OEF and Grand Patron OEF have earlier been forwarded to this Platform.
The various Committees will be given Guidelines and regular update Reports will equally be expected as each Committee will be encouraged to work effectively and efficiently to optimum.
Furthermore, all Trustee / Management Board Members are to make contributions towards the drive and support of the Foundation. Once again, my congratulations.
INAUGURAL SPEECH BY: SIGNED PRINCE (DR) CHIEF BOLU AKIN-OLUGBADE PhD Cambridge. AARE ONAKAKANFO OF OWU KINGDOM, ABEOKUTA CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF OWU EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION
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