The Oloyos- How a Japa Couple is Recreating History and Creating a Future

Richard Akanmode

On December 12, 2023, Dr Sam and Mrs Julie Oloyo, founders of the Global Health and Indigent care Foundation Inc (GHICF), based in the United States of America, provided a second tranche of financial relief to struggling parents and students in secondary schools  and tertiary institutions, bringing the total intervention in educational support and scholarship awards in their native Ayetoro-Gbede and Igbaruku communities in Kogi State to a total of N7.5M. The first assistance, totaling N5,875,000 was provided in March, this year.

The educational assistance is an addition to the bouquet of social interventions that the foundation has executed in the communities for over a decade. Other philanthropic activities have included medical outreaches and food relief.

The post-covid relief covered about 4,000 families in the communities. In March this year, the Foundation had rescued many secondary school students who were on the verge of dropping out of school because of accumulated school fees. 

Apart from the general support for the students, the GHICF is focusing attention on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at the secondary school level and related courses at the Tertiary level. In the just concluded award, a total number of 138 students from the 4 public secondary schools were rewarded for their outstanding performances in STEM subjects while 29 students from 12 Tertiary institutions were awarded scholarships ranging from N100,000 t0 N250,000.

One exciting feature of the scaled intervention is the introduction of Quiz competition among the four public secondary schools in Ayetoro-Gbede. Very early on December 12,2023, the schools; Community High School, Government Secondary School, UBE 1 and UBE 2 had crowded the Community Hall to have the first taste of inter-school quiz. Anxiety had covered the faces of the Lead participants, who, as indicated in one of the Use of English questions that came up later in the competition, didn’t know what question would come ‘as a bolt from the blues.’

The quiz competition has a history behind it, but the students were too young to know. Dr Sam Oloyo, the Chairman of the GHICF was a champion of Quiz competitions ran by the NTA Ibadan in the early 80s. As a winner of one of the series in the competition he had the opportunity to travel on an all-expenses paid trip to London for the first time in his life. He also won a Television set, a fridge and other memorabilia that turned him into a superstar among his peers. It is possible that what the Oloyos have done through the introduction of the quiz competition was not only to test or broaden the knowledge of the students but to also boost their confidence. ‘We also wanted to encourage the spirit of competition, as this will be a great asset to have in the years to come, when you will have to rub shoulders with other colleagues from all over the globe’, he disclosed. From the recesses of his mind, therefore, he is not only seeking to recreate memories but to put in place a system that creates a great future for the village- based fertile minds, who should not be village champions but future global leaders. From the proceedings during the quiz session, this objective may not be far-fetched, because some of the students responded to questions with an assuring confidence that demonstrated their capacity to hold their own anywhere. 

There are not a few Nigerians who have had their humanitarian interventions frustrated by the local executors. Conscious of this trend, the Oloyos creatively opted to work with a dependable community-based association, The Ayetoro-Gbede Global Network (AGN), a well-structured body that has provided interventions in some community assets. The Association, led by Mr Oladele Oyelola, a former Bank Executive, facilitates projects initiated by its members. Good enough, Dr Sam Oloyo is a member of the Association. From this Association a five-member committee was formed to manage the process of identification, selection and administration of the fund provided for the beneficiaries. 

The Committee functions under the name, Scholarship and Educational Assistance Programme (SEAP). Members include, Mr Richard Olonishuwa , a retired Banker ( Chairman), Professor Adesiji Olorunmaye, an academic, Mrs Funke Esseyin, Senior Bank personnel,  Mr Paul Ibidun, a foremost Administrator, Mr Eniola Bello, Managing Director of Thisday Newspapers, and Mr Richard Akanmode (Secretary), an entrepreneur. The safety valves provided by the dignity of the Committee members have contributed immensely to the success of the programme.

The Special Purpose Committee has acted as hand holders to the students, ensuring the right responses to documentation and envangelising the vision of the funders of the scholarship awards. Addressing the parents at the award ceremony, Mr Richard Olonishuwa reinforced the vision of the Oloyos, as according to him, “The aim of the scholarship programme is to encourage the study of STEM related subjects at the secondary school level and also encouraging more students to study STEM related courses at the tertiary level. The scholarship programme also helps indigent students to alleviate the burden of payment of school fees and thereby giving more students access to education in the face of the present economic hardship”.

The articulation of this objective is an indication of the desire of the funders to equalise life through the medium of education. As Dr Sam Oloyo expressed in his own address the pivotal role that education plays in the life of a child, stressing that, “It levels the playing field. To be deprived the opportunity to acquire meaningful education should never be allowed to happen in a child’s life, particularly in these early stages.”

The great impact that the Oloyos are making back home, away from their own nearly ideal world has drawn accolades from community leaders, students, parents, and peers. Many find it difficult, to reconcile the somewhat privileged childhood that they both had while growing up with their current disposition to support the needy. 

Dr Sam Oloyo’s parents were among the frontline business elites in their generation. It is, therefore, deeply appreciated by close observers that he could give so much attention to the needy. A part of the name of the Foundation, ‘Indigent Care’ says a lot about this disposition. While beneficiaries eulogised the kindness, the funders’ hope is, “that this gesture will achieve the intended goal when in years to come we will see most of you achieve laudable goals in your chosen careers.” 

In the first phase, the GHICF provided financial assistance  to 318 students in the 4 public secondary schools  in Ayetoro-Gbede, amounting to N2,605,800, by paying the arrears of school fees while rewarding 39 students who were outstanding in their class work.  Similarly, 11 students from 7 higher institutions studying 6 STEM courses were offered financial assistance to the tune of N1,320,000.

In addition, the foundation supported Ayetoro Gbede Global Network (AGN) with the sum of N1,250,000 in the payment of salary of the STEM Teachers employed by AGN in the Community High School.  During the same period, the public schools in Igbaruku community were also provided financial assistance of N700,000 to promote STEM education.

In the second, and current phase, the 2023/2024 academic scholarship programme  witnessed an increase in the number of beneficiaries. A total number of 138 students with 230 various awards in the 4 public secondary schools in Ayetoro- Gbede were assessed to have done well in the various STEM subjects and the use of English Language. These awards amounted to N1,410,000. 

At the tertiary level the Foundation awarded scholarship to 29 students from 12 different higher institutions who are students studying various STEM courses such as Medical Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Electronics, Mathematics, Building Technology, Environmental Sciences, Animal Sciences, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Statistics, Quantity Surveying and Education Technology.

These 29 financial awards amounts to N4,000,000. The Foundation’s annual financial support of N1,250,000 to AGN in the payment of the salary of the 8 STEM Teachers employed in the Community High School was released, while the annual scholarship programme to Igbaruku community was raised from N700,000 to N800,000.

With the consistent attention  that the Oloyos has given to social issues, particularly education, it is evident that in their geography the sky is beyond the confines of Ayetoro-Gbede and Igbaruku. The sky must be that borderless and elastic peak that bestrides the United States of America, Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia and the entire globe. This is the world they conceive and seek to plug the feet of impressionable minds that could ultimately find expression in a global village where limits may only be self-appointed.

It is also not unlikely that a family with such a demonstrated passion for the less privileged would one day sponsor the winner of a quiz competition on a trip to their base in Texas, either for a visit or for studies. Truly, the Oloyos spirits are abroad, but their hearts are at home.