Appraising Orajiaka’s Philanthropy, Stewardship at 48

As the Founder of Adnol Group, a diversified business group with an interest in technology and real estate, John Orajiaka turns 48 years old this August. Sunday Ehigiator writes on his philanthropy and stewardship, while also appraising his life trajectory

John Orajiaka is a Nigerian-born serial entrepreneur and the chairman of Adnol Group, a diversified business group with an interest in technology and investment. Orajiaka had many years of professional experience in telecommunication: engineering, management, and leadership before founding Adnol-Multimedia in 2013, a company he successfully grew into a formidable business group with operations in six African countries and North America.

Orajiaka was born in Onitsha but grew up in Warri, in Southern Nigeria. As a child, his father hated seeing him idle on weekends and during school vacations, so he would always take him and his siblings to his craft shop called M.Orajis Craft Center to teach them the art and craft of woodworking and soapstone carving.

This made Orajiaka and his siblings good at crafting and then they started making wood carvings and curios which they sold at their father’s shop and made huge profits from. At only about 14 years old at the time, he was

making thousands of naira every month from his sold wooden crafts and curios, and he usually reconciled financial accounts on his sold crafts with his father’s accountant during school holidays.

From this experience, an entrepreneurial mindset, integrity, and dedication to hard work were instilled in Orajiaka and his siblings.

After his first University degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, he had some time before enrolling for the mandatory Youth service program, which he spent in Lagos with his brother-in-law while helping his younger brother in his Toys trading company in Idumota.

At a point, Orajiaka wanted to dive into the trade of importation, but he was dissuaded by his uncle, who wanted him to put his engineering degree to use, which he did and excelled successfully.

For John Orajiaka, it is not just about business and engineering, he believes giving back to society is a service to God and a virtue all businesses and Nigerians must emulate. Over the years, Orajiaka has contributed immensely to the development of rural women. As an entrepreneur with a passion for community development, he has dedicated his time to helping rural women

achieve sustenance through starting and growing small businesses. Orphans, widows, and the less privileged have benefited from his several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects. 

In a bid to reach out to more people in need, Orajiaka and his amiable wife, Dr Nkiru Orajiaka 2016 incorporated a foundation: Arunne Azia Foundation (AAF), a non-profit organisation for their philanthropic endeavours.

Speaking with THISDAY on why he is passionate

about giving back to the less privileged, he stated, “With every given day alive, it’s another opportunity to be thankful for the gift of life; I am grateful for the blessings of a great and loving family and good friendships cultivated over the years. Growing up, generosity was a regular endeavour my siblings and I were taught by our parents.

“Naturally, you develop that inclination towards lending a hand of support to courses that uplift others and your community.”

On his foundation, he added, “AAF is primarily focused on empowering rural women in entrepreneurship through business training, seed capitals, micro credits and mentorship. We strive to create self-sufficiency for these hard-working women. And currently, we have over 100 women within AAF folds in Anambra State.

“The inspirational model for AAF came from reading and learning about the Bangladesh social entrepreneur, Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Foundation.  We have leveraged the social model in successfully operating  AAF since 2016 and in expanding our scope and reach over the years.  

“Arunne’ is the title given to my mother. She was a big inspiration for this foundation as well because she had always cared for the rural women in our village called Azia in Anambra State.  Most of these rural women need support with learning  trades to start businesses and growing their  small businesses through capital grants  and mentorship.”

With the foundation, Orajiaka has been able to develop a sustainable model through which rural women have access to training,  capital, and mentorship.  

“And for the past seven years, these women have greatly achieved a lot in their

entrepreneurial goals and sustainability. And seeing the AAF woman succeed through these past years often leaves me with great happiness, ”he explained.

Speaking further, he said it is always a blessing to give back to one’s community, “Everyone should find a way to give back, no matter how small. Giving back helps our younger generation and community at large grow. Areas of interest for philanthropy abound in the country. What matters is the interest to help as much as you can; such help goes a long way in uplifting society.”

While giving a word of advice to the youth and his plans for the future, Orajiaka said, “Hard work, integrity and perseverance will certainly build the character for success. Continuous learning through reading gives an edge, and above all, faith in God is also very important. My plan for the future is to keep growing the reach and scope of our foundation- AAF.

“As an admirer of the achievement of Grameen in Bangladesh on social and economic empowerment programs for the poor and needy through the Grameen bank and ventures, I believe our foundation-AAF can also replicate such successful systems in the near future for the advancement of the goals for our immediate communities in Nigeria.”