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| Prophet Joseph Ade Ologbonyo receiving the award. |
...Pledges more philanthropic, humanitarian support for less privileged
The United Nations (UN) has honoured the renowned man of God, Prophet Joseph Ade Ologbonyo with an award of Eminent Peace Ambassador.
The award was presented to Ologbonyo, who is the planter of Christ Apostolic Church (Boanerges) at Rochester in the United State of America (USA).
The honour done on the Cleric, the United Nations said was in recognition of philanthropic activities in and outside Nigeria over the year.
Most of awards went to black people doing well in humanitarian across the world alongside Ologbonyo honored and decorated by Per Stafsen, World Peace President of the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA).
Prophet Ologbonyo through his annual Prophet Ade Ologbonyo Foundation Empowerment Programme had distributed various gifts to and empowered over 600 widows, orphans and other vulnerable persons, and given free medical/ health care to the people.
He said the programme came to him through a divine instruction from God who told him that widows and orphans are suffering and gave him the assignment of taking care of them.
The Cleric who is presently in the USA, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday said, "The Foundation which started on April 4, 2008 has since cared for over 600 widows and awarded 40 scholarships to students who are now graduates and over 30 other students still on scholarships.
"Many young widows and orphans have been trained at various level of apprenticeship with necessary equipment such ass sowing machine (both manual and industrial), grinding machines, shoe making machines, generating set and so on, gifted to the beneficiaries."
He said the foundation is an initiative that is aimed at showing the true meaning of love to people in the society, adding that food items, apart from the aforementioned, are also being given to widows, orphans and the less privileged irrespective of their religions or tribes. "Putting a big smile on the faces of the less privileged in communities around us is our assignment."
Advising well-to-do and kind hearted people to always support the less privileged and vulnerable persons in the society with their resources, he said government alone cannot cater for all.
“I believe that government alone cannot do it, we need to support them to alleviate poverty in our society and to contribute our own quota to the development of our society.
“We have been able to impact and empowered thousands of widows and orphans. As we speak, we have over 30 students that we are sponsoring from primary to the university level. We have a school with about 40 staff who are on our payroll, where younger generation are being impacted as well".
He said real happiness comes through benevolence and doing things to help others.
"I am a lot happier and fulfilled whenever I have the privilege of putting smiles on people's faces or solving their problems".
The foundation according to him has contributed immensely and still contributing to the welfare of Nigerians, especially the people of Ekiti State and its environs, through its diverse benevolent gestures.
In his acceptance speech, Ologbonyo said the award means more to him than he can express. "I am grateful for this acknowledgement of the work that we have been doing to promote peace, kindness, and humanity.
"Today, I stand not alone but with the strength of a dedicated team behind me—the Ade Ologbonyo Foundation team, who work tirelessly to support widows, widowers, orphans, and the vulnerable in our society. Together, we have built a school in a remote village, a small hospital that provides basic healthcare, a guest house, and an ongoing cathedral project, all with the goal of creating a safe haven and a better future for our people.
"My desire when I depart this world to to have created abundance of impacts. I want to die empty, having poured out all of me to impact the next generation, teaching them everything that I know and blessing them with whatever grace and ability that the Lord might have granted to me."
"The numerous widows, widowers, and the vulnerable that we serve are the heartbeat of our foundation. It is for them that we continue to strive, to build, and to give hope. Their resilience, courage, and strength in the face of adversity inspire me every day to keep pushing forward".
While appreciating the United Nations for what he called an incredible honour, the man of God said "This award is not just for me—it belongs to all of us. To the community that I serve, the widows, widowers, and the vulnerable, and to my team, I dedicate this honour. Together, we will continue to work towards a world where peace, compassion, and kindness are the foundation of everything we do".
He said the UN award will spur him to do more for the less privileged in the society and continue to put smile on the faces of Nigerians.