… As RATTAWU president donates building to alma mater
By Moshood Adebayo
Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, National President of Radio and Television Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) recently lured many dignitaries to Ilogun Orile, a community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The event was the handover of a block of two classrooms, which he built and furnished, to his alma mater, African Church Primary School, Ilogun Orile. Other facilities he donated included a fully stocked computer room, a generating set and a block of toilets.
He lamented that only few Nigerians that attained greatness ever remembered their roots or alma mater.
He said he would remain grateful for the opportunity offered him by his village and primary school decades ago. He added that it was incredible that he could construct and furnish the projects without taking a loan from anywhere.
Said he: “I laid the foundation last Febuary. Miraculously, by last April 11, it was completed. I did not borrow money neither did I take money from government,” he said. He expressed gratitude to all those that believed in the vision.
“What benefit or joy will a man who stacked millions of naira derive when his or her kith and kin suffer? It is my joy to give back to the needy in whatever form, hence this donation to my village where I was born and had my primary education. This was where I learnt the rudiments of basic education, which I later built upon to become whatever I am today.
I did the project to secure the future of the coming generations. It is better you guide those that are coming after you, so that they can achieve better than what you have achieved today.
“It is also meant to support the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and demonstrate that tackling the needs of the people is not only the government’s responsibility.”
Bamgbose, an Assistant General Manager with the Ogun State Television (OGTV), Abeokuta recently bagged a doctoral degree in Applied Psychology from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
“Nobody ever thought I would become the little that I have become in life today. I’m convinced that the grace that God gave me to build this will surely make pupils that will sit in the building to become greater than me,” he noted.
“As a pastor, I believe the only person that could honour one is God. But I will have eternal joy and satisfaction when I see or hear about pupils who will sit in the classrooms to learn and later become greater than I am now.
“I will never abandon my roots, my ancestral home – Ilogun Orile. I do not joke with it and that’s why I always bring my children here. No matter how big a tree is, its root is somewhere. This is my own root, Ilogun and I am very proud of it.”
Bamgbose appealed to Nigerians never to forget their homestead and their alma mater.
Head Mistress of the school, Mrs Towobola Olufunmilayo Afolake, expressed gratitude to the donor, describing him as a man with large heart.
“Dr. Bamgbose is a true son of the soil and his philanthropy touches my heart with serious impact on his community. I pray that God will continue to enrich his pocket. I also want other people in Ilogun Orile to emulate him.”
Bamgbose’s uncle, Chief Isaac Alabi Bamgbose told the reporter that his nephew was a rare gift to the family.
“Yemisi is a rare gift to our community and we will continue to pray for him and appreciate him. He is someone that will eat and want others to eat too. He has done real well for the family, the elders and even my own son too. We thank God for the courage and wisdom He has given him to do this thing for his school. We will continue to appreciate him.
Chairman of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Authority, Abdul Jelili Okewole, who represented the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, commended Bamgbose for the donation.