Introduction
The meaning of life is to live the one that uplifts others, provide succor to those in difficulty and create opportunities for the downtrodden. Politics, according to Tansley, is the act of gaining and exercising of power. Getting power involved moving with the people while exercising it must be for the people. In Osun State, Obokun/Oriade is one of the two federal constituencies in Ijesaland and one of the three in Osun East Senatorial District. Why do I want to represent my people of Obokun/Oriade? What benefit will I bring to them? Follow me as I walk you through who Olufemi Akosile is, his mission and his movement.
The Man
“I want to be remembered for the number of lives I have touched positively” – Chief M.K.O Abiola
Engr. Olufemi Akosile is a seasoned professional, thorough-bred technocrat, enlightened political icon, leader per excellence and philanthropist. He is a pressure equipment integrity management guru in the oil and gas industry. He is a first-class honors’ graduate of mechanical engineering from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria and an alumnus of the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering).
Professionally, he is a registered professional engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada, an American Petroleum Institute (API) certified API 510 pressure vessels, API 570 process piping and API 653 aboveground storage tank inspector. He is also a USA National board of boiler and pressure vessel certified inspector. As a Sr. Pressure Systems Integrity Engineer and Regional Inspection Authority for an exploration & production corporation, he is presently leading and assuring the integrity of four offshore production platforms topsides pressure equipment, including pressure vessels, piping, and tanks for the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region.
He was born some decades back and hails from Ikeji-Ile, Oriade local government area. Even though he has spent some years abroad, Akosile lost no touch with the grassroots as he is one of the few Nigerians in diaspora who have been recognized for their philanthropic gestures at home.
Engr. Olufemi Akosile likes to quote the late Chief M.K.O Abiola who was fond of saying “I want to be remembered for the number of lives I have touched positively”. This is the motivation behind founding of the King’s Touch & Care Foundation, an NGO he established with his wife to provide educational supports to the less privileged children in Osun State. Through this NGO, hundreds of lives have been touched (check the links down for news report of recent ones).
His philanthropic activities through the foundation include the following:
1) Establishment of Engr. Olufemi Akosile community grants award and giving grants to 54 market women across Oriade and Obokun. A gesture that received wide commendation across Osun state.
2) Donation of relief food items in all 22 wards of Oriade and Obokun during covid-19 lockdown.
3) Annual donation of notebooks to all primary and secondary school students of Ikeji-Ile, Osun State, from 2016 to date.
4) Payment of annual salaries of three (3) PTA teachers in Ikeji-Ile High School. Ikeji-Ile Ijesa.
5) Establishment of Engr. Olufemi Akosile Scholarship Awards and Mathematics Contest for Secondary School Students in Oriade and Obokun Local Government Areas, Osun State.
6) Launching of widows and people assistance program. Donated food items and gifts to over 110 widows and old people in Oriade and Obokun during festive period.
7) Sponsorship of students in universities, polytechnics and law school in Nigeria.
8) Donation of teachers’ recruitment pins to 50 applicants in Oriade and Obokun.
9) Donation in support of Toria Foundation for the Widows and Orphans within Erin-Ijesa established by the Akinla of Erin-Ijesa, HRM Oba (Engr.) Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni.
10) Renovation and furnishing of sick bay at Ajayi Crowther Memorial Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos.
11) Donation for the establishment of Prof. O. O. Mojola Prize, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
12) Donation to Esa-Oke Grammar School Development Fund.
In political sphere, Engr. Olufemi Akosile has participated in several struggles towards emancipation of people and democracy. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has been part of grassroots mobilizers for the party. Amongst contributions to the development of the party in the grassroots are constant donations to wards and local government for smooth running of the party.
He is also a member of the APC-USA Houston chapter and an advisor to his party local government chairman on diaspora matters.
He is married and blessed with promising children.
The Mission
“Through Education, Agriculture and Entrepreneurship, poverty shall become a thing of past in Obokun/Oriade” – Olufemi Akosile
The mission is to unlock the potentials of every Obokun/Oriade resident by giving them a voice at the national stage without denying them their local entitlements. As a lawmaker, if given the opportunity, Akosile is ready to bring his international experience, exposure and education to bear to develop the two local governments through reasonable empowerment programs, scholarships, investment in agricultural sector, tourism and mining.
The mission is embedded in the following points:
Poverty Eradication: The most important goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development goal is zero poverty. As we speak today, Akosile has sincerely admitted that despite the industrious tendency, entrepreneurship skill of the people of Ijesaland and the natural resources they are blessed with, there is still pervasive poverty in the land. The reason is very simple. It is the fact that past representatives who are supposed to compliment the efforts of the state government have not done much. This is what Akosile shall tackle headlong. He has been doing this and he is ready to do more. Four hundred (400) businesses shall spring up during his four years in the chamber. How to do this shall be explained in the policy paper to be presented in no distant time.
Agricultural Advancement: Ijesaland has been one of the foremost communities in agricultural production. The land is fertile, our youth are virile and ready to tap into the sector. What is needed now is the right support towards mechanization. We shall ensure we partner with the right groups, organizations and government to start agricultural revolution in Ijesaland.
Education: Poverty of the mind is more brutal than other types of poverty. To fight this, effort shall be at top gear to compliment the works of the state government on education. More of this shall be explained in the policy document.
The Movement
“I have a dream to move with my people, not as their leader but as their chief servant; not as their boss but as their voice.” – Akosile 2020.
The movement is a movement of masses led by a focused, determined, dedicated, intellectually loaded and goal-oriented man. The movement is to re-elect Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for another term in 2022 and to deliver 40,000 votes for Akosile come 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The movement is to uplift the people, create opportunities and vibrantly represent them at the Green Chambers of the National Assembly. The movement is to give voice to the voiceless and ensure that legislation is done to advance people’s course.
The following are the links to programs executed by King’s Touch and Care Foundation.
Jubilation as Akosile gives grants to small businesses in Obokun, Oriade LGAs
Akosile Progressive Vanguard launches scholarship for Osun students
To join the movement, contact:
Tel: +234 803 243 4218; +234 803 801 7372
Email: [email protected]
Office Address: No 67 Oke Oja Street, Ira, Ikeji-Ile Ijesa, Osun State
Akosile! For people’s advancement…
