Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has issued a fervent call to the nation’s billionaires, urging them to emulate the benevolent gestures witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Speaking passionately on the pressing issue of hunger plaguing the country, Olajengbesi emphasized the urgent need for philanthropic intervention from the privileged elite.
“Our dear country is going through one of the toughest times in history, economically, no thanks to the policies of the new government,” stated Olajengbesi, managing partner of Law Corridor. “Multinationals are exiting the country, thousands of jobs lost. There is hunger in the land.”
In a heartfelt plea, Olajengbesi underscored the correlation between hunger and civil unrest, highlighting the burgeoning protests across Nigeria as manifestations of the populace’s discontent with prevailing hardships.
“As the saying goes, ‘a hungry man is an angry man,'” he remarked, urging the affluent to recognize their pivotal role in alleviating the suffering of fellow citizens. Notably, Olajengbesi applauded Afrobeats sensation Davido for his pledge to donate N300 million through his foundation, the David Adeleke Foundation, to orphanages nationwide.
“Singer Davido’s announcement of an N300 million donation to orphanages on Tuesday is a commendable step,” remarked Olajengbesi. “This is a good development that should be emulated by the privileged few. History won’t forget the benevolent. God bless Nigeria.”
The current economic strife gripping Nigeria, exacerbated by the removal of petrol subsidies and a burgeoning forex crisis, has triggered a surge in food prices and essential commodities, igniting widespread protests.
This echoes the hardships endured during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted unprecedented philanthropic gestures from Nigeria’s billionaire class.
Notably, during the pandemic, luminaries such as Aliko Dangote spearheaded the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19, alongside other prominent figures including Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Folorunsho Alakija, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, and Oba Otudeko, who collectively made significant contributions to support relief efforts.
As Nigeria grapples with the specter of hunger amidst economic turmoil, Olajengbesi’s impassioned plea serves as a clarion call for the nation’s affluent to rise to the occasion, echoing the spirit of solidarity and compassion witnessed during times of crisis.