Founder of The Yinfanny Foundation, Olayinka Faniyi, on Thursday explained why she set up a foundation in honour of her late mother-Chief (Mrs.) Bola Faniyi, BF Foundation.
This is just as Faniyi, through the foundation, distributed food and some other items at the popular Sabo market, Ibadan.
The launch attracted important personalities, community, political and religious leaders as well as staff of The Yinfanny Beauty and Spa where Faniyi is the Chief Executive Officer.
Faniyi said the foundation was not a decoy to join politics. She added that it was out of the need to continue what her mother was known for that motivated her.
According to her, “This morning, I drove myself around town. I was saddened by what I saw. There are lots to be done for our town and the state in general. It is time to rally round our people.
“I can remember my late mother used to finish the allowance meant for a month in a week. I was always complaining that does this woman think it is easy to make money. One day, I made a trip home; I enquired how she spends money and she showed how she spends her money. And I was dazed to know that my mother has been assisting people. Mummy would give people more than what they needed. She died 3rd Sept 2021, we are meant to be celebrating her 68 years birthday today”.
On what the foundation seeks to achieve, Faniyi explained that “We will conduct eye test for between 700 and 1000 people. They will be given free eye glasses. A comprehensive health service will be carried out, there will be referrals. So that Ilesha will not clap with one hand, the foundation will partner many indigenous associations. Charity, they say, begins at home; that is why we will be starting with Ilesha.
“I may not be too rich but I am heavily networked. My profession has attracted me to a lot of people.”
Late Chief (Mrs.) Faniyi fondly called Mama Goman, in whose honour the foundation was set up, was a civil servant who retired at the last level as the Chief Principal Executive officer. She was also a serial entrepreneur. The grand patroness of Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria (GOMAN) Osun chapter as she was as well a prophetess who was spiritual gifted with the gift of visions. She was survived by a daughter and three grandchildren
“She was highly regarded as a great philanthropist. She never had much but she shared what she had gladly. Helping others not just in cash but in kind was an obligation and her faith reassured her it was the right thing to do. In her honour, to further propagate what she did while alive and what she taught us, I introduce BF Foundation”, she said.
The foundation, will among other things, cater for the poor and needy and those in need of medical attention.
Faniyi listed other programmes as food support and maternal child care programmes.
Faniyi’s friends, community, political leaders commended her for the gesture.
