Seyi Akinwumi said he learned to promote the welfare of others, by the generous donation of money to good causes from his mum, Sports247 reports.
The lawyer cum football administrator made this assertion during his birthday celebrations at the Maracana Stadium in the heart of Ajegunle, Lagos on Sunday 29th December 2024.
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A total of 10 students were beneficiaries of different degrees of scholarship at last year’s edition of the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, SACF, solely sponsored by Barrister Seyi Akinwumi with support from family and friends.
The 2024 edition is the 11th year of this philanthropy effort which has hundreds of young boys and girls football talents as beneficiaries sponsoring their education while they also develop their football skills.
The former first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, recalled how his Philanthropy’s journey started.
“My first foundation begins with paying my gardener’s child school fee when he was driven out of school and I have been doing charity for 20 years”, began Barrister Seyi Akinwumi.
The soft spoken grassroots football lover speaks further on how his mum influenced his giving attitude.
“I learned from mum during my school early school days where my mom will bring foodstuffs on Saturdays to share with the students in the hostel”.
“This is my second foundation and the first one is purely education over 200 children have passed, we have first class graduates. It’s just always been an attitude of giving throughout my life.”
The Barrister speaks on the vision for the foundation and how successful the Barrister Seyi Akinwumi Charity Foundation has been faring in changing lives.
“I can’t tell you over the years the numbers of children whose lives have changed”. I have seen over the years those who are better at school and incredibly play football well. The logic I guess is that they have to pass their exams and to do stuff and the responsibility that they imbibe from school also shows on the pitch.”
“They have changed their parents mentality it’s really incredible. Everyone can just do their bit, Nigeria will be completely different.”
“More importantly we have been able to imbibe in them that footballers can also be educated and they’ve all gone away with that”.
On the location of this year’s edition, Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa, Akinwunmi said the plan was to move the celebration around but the choice of Ajegunle is strategic as Ajegunle has proven to be a place where lots of talented footballers are concentrated while the population of the needy are as well many.
“What we decided is that we are going to move around, we are done in Uyo, in Gombe, we have done in Abuja, Lagos Island, and then we thought, we came here for something, Ajegunle this is the heart of indigenous children, why can’t I do it there” ? the Barrister asked rhetorically.
Barrister shed light on the source of funding for the foundation.” At the moment I run it with my own funds and my friends also give me money to support the foundation and we have been to achieve this. Just do good to your next man and don’t expect anything back”.
The celebration of Seyi Akinwumi’s 64th Birthday celebration was a gathering of close associates, friends, family and the media .
One of the highlights of the occasion saw Team Ajegunle United against Team Lagos U 15, where Team Lagos defeated the Team Ajegunle by 9-1.
