Valentine’s Day 2020 will remain evergreen in the memory of founder of Funmi Ayinke Humanity Foundation (FAFH), Engr. Funmilayo Waheed. In her usual selfless manner, the young philanthropist in the company of her husband, Professor Waheed Adekojo, hosted beneficiaries of her foundation, many of whom came from different parts of the country to Lagos.
To make it a happy event for beneficiaries, the amicable host asked that her guests, majority of who are students, to come with their partners. Some took up the generous offer, while others preferred to come alone.
Before Friday’s joyful gathering, many had read or heard about Engr. Waheed’s heart of gold. Amazingly, some of those who’ve benefited from FAHF hardly had the chance to meet her in person and so when the FAHF Foundation Valentine Hangout was announced, they jumped at the opportunity of seeing their benefactor in person.
Predictably a couple of beneficiaries got emotional, with some shedding tears of joy, when narrating how FAHF came to their rescue.
They came from all parts of Nigeria, the South-East, the North as well as the South-South. The South West, especially Ogun people were not left out.
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANs) sent in a powerful delegation to honour Engr. Waheed as their matron. Their chronicle of her achievements for them had to be cut short by the Masters of Ceremony as they continued to reel out her interventions on behalf students at every level, from primary to secondary and tertiary who ordinarily would have dropped out of school.
In her welcome address, Engineer Funmilayo Ayinke Waheed who looked dashing with her red pant suit attire went down memory lane to explain why she started the Funmi Ayinke Humanity Foundation. She also gave details of how far she had gone with videos of interventions carried out for widows as well as single mothers in Ogun State towards the end of the year. She further revealed that the Foundation caters for students at different level of their education. To the joy of her guests, the FAHF said she is happy with the way Nigerians have responded to her show of love.
She also had a word for those who were hearing of her activities for the first time telling them that the reason they were asked to fill forms at the point of entry into the venue of the event was to collect their data, know how her Foundation can assist.
The Registrar of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta was on hand to give a lecture to encourage the youths about ‘Charting your own Course and Destiny. It was a moving lecture because he shared his own story how he became an orphan at 6 having lost one of his parents at 4 and the second on the day he came back from school with his first elementary school result. Undaunted, today, he holds a PHD and also occupies an enviable position in the academia.
Then came the awards and appreciation which came from many angles. Many of the young and old, who came around with gifts for the humanitarian shed tears as they gave testimonials on how they initially doubted that help could ever come from someone who didn’t know or have never met them, yet they were bailed out by the Foundation. Many did not have the opportunity to share their experience because of time constraints. But the most awed were indeed those who never knew Funmilayo Waheed herself as they saw her dancing and mingling with members of FHF family and sharing jokes devoid of airs.
A major highlight of the day was the electrifying performance by former BBNAIJA star and guitarist, Debbie Rise. Her performance left the crowd asking for more as she seemed to have something for everybody from the elderly with her serenade performance to the youths with the electrifying steps. They just could not have enough.
There were other performances on the day as talented members of the FHF family also came out to perform. The torrents of gifts that Funmilayo Waheed received spoke volumes. She has always been the giver but it was Valentine’s Day and those who felt touched and who had something to give back came, with paintings, cake, roses, and various other gift items. Even the Masters of Ceremonies had to comment that the gifts were reminiscence of a society wedding. It was sheer expression of love and appreciation in its pure form and it was mutual.
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