Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has expressed support for the N2bn endowment fund and charity initiative of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Lagos Metro Council. The initiative, unveiled at St. Leo Catholic Church in Ikeja, Lagos, aims to provide sustainable support for vulnerable Nigerians and empower future generations. Hamzat described the initiative as a model for partnerships between government and religious institutions to address social challenges.
The endowment fund, themed “Investing Today, Sustaining the Mission, Empowering Generations,” seeks to enable the Knights to generate income for charitable activities without relying on repeated contributions from members. Hamzat emphasized the importance of partnerships between government and religious institutions, stating that without such collaborations, the country would struggle to make progress. He cited the initiative as an example of a sustainable approach to supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
According to Hamzat, the endowment fund would allow the Knights to support various causes, including providing boreholes and educational opportunities. He also disclosed that the Lagos State Government is pursuing a similar initiative, with a bill sent to the state House of Assembly to establish a structure for preserving part of government resources for long-term investment. The bill aims to encourage other state governments and local governments to replicate the initiative.
The Lagos State Deputy Governor called for a return to communal values of caring for vulnerable members of society, warning against the erosion of traditional support systems. He urged young Nigerians to participate actively in nation-building, assuring them that the Lagos State Government would engage with the Knights on the initiative and support programmes aimed at improving the welfare and prospects of residents.
The Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, described the N2bn endowment fund initiative as a timely step that would strengthen the organization’s humanitarian work. Represented by the Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ayeni, the cleric acknowledged the difficulty of raising such a huge amount but urged members to trust God and remain committed to the project.
The Worthy Supreme Knight, Sir Steve Adehi, SAN, described the endowment fund as a legacy project designed to support the Church, members of the Order, and vulnerable Nigerians. He commended the Lagos Metro Grand Knight and his team for acting decisively on the initiative despite its challenges, urging members who had committed to the project to remain dedicated.
Key stakeholders, including Hamzat, Adehi, and Martins, emphasized the importance of the endowment fund in creating sustainable resources for present and future generations. The initiative marks a significant step towards fostering partnerships between government and religious institutions to address social challenges and promote national development.
Key points
- The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, supports the N2bn endowment fund and charity initiative of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria.
- The endowment fund aims to provide sustainable support for vulnerable Nigerians and empower future generations.
- The initiative marks a significant step towards fostering partnerships between government and religious institutions to address social challenges and promote national development.
