By Ikenna Asomba
Come Saturday, February 17, 2018, drums will be rolled out with pomp and pageantry to celebrate the Founder and Chairman, Kazeem Royal Properties Limited, Amb. Dr. Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo as he commemorates his 40th Birthday, at the Great Banquet Hall of Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This is even as the Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation would be officially inaugurated amid the presence of eminent monarchs, envoys, career diplomats, academics, politicians, former and serving leaders at the Federal Level and across the States of the Federation, among others.
Ambassador (Dr.) Prince Kazeem was born on February 14, 1978.
In a statement on Sunday, the Executive Director of the Foundation and Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the event, Mr. Victor Gotevbe, expressed happiness over the berth of the Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation, saying “the Foundation has come to alleviate poverty and foster the social and economic condition of the disadvantaged in our society.”
The statement read: “As we celebrate this monumental milestone of making the Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation a reality, it is important to take a moment to appreciate the Almighty God who has made it possible for us in creating a positive change for a brighter and better tomorrow for the less privileged which is our Mission: To alleviate poverty and foster the social and economic condition of the disadvantaged in our society.
“Our Celebration is not so much a festivity but a solemn occasion to pause and recollect that our country, Nigeria since its independence undoubtedly shows that it is blessed with enormous natural and human resources but remains a paradox; with so many people living in poverty.
“Hence, it is a reminder to look ahead the mountains we must climb in bringing succour to the needy.
The Foundation is open to collaborations with other non-profits and charitable organizations as well as beneficial partnerships to ensure that the underserved communities in Nigeria are served.
“As we have entered a new year of philanthropy, we will keep on assessing the evolving needs of our people. To this end, our Board of Directors will continue to welcome input and fresh ideas. We pledge to utilize our resources to fulfil a vision that creates an enabling Society that would foster equal rights to opportunities.
“We do not intend to SAVE THE WORLD but to constantly strive to achieve landmarks and extend our reach throughout Nigeria and beyond.”
About Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation
Gotevbe, who is also the Publisher/Editor, Diplomatic Watch, major media partner of the event, revealed that, “The Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation is a not for profit organization working to eradicate poverty through education and personal development programmes including school improvement, access to quality education and community motivation and participation predominantly in some less privileged areas across Nigeria.
“The foundation is an independent and privately supported charity, with a Vision to create an enabling Society that would foster equal rights to opportunities.
“Among other things, the Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation seeks: To helping students continue their studies by providing scholarships, grants and educational materials to students for better success in school education; To assist young people through employment skills development with particular emphasis on children from deprived backgrounds; To engage in youth and women empowerment programmes, vocational trainings, skill acquisition and career talks; To set up old age homes and to look after and assist persons who are unable to look after themselves due to poverty, disease and other infirmities; To establish and manage aid programmes providing relief and help to the needy and the poor during calamities alleviating human suffering from catastrophes; To create an environment for the integration of sports particularly football (soccer) as a vehicle for positive social change; To provide sponsorship to individuals pursuing artistic and performing arts (musical) career; to inspire creativity and cultivate emerging talent and To assist in the arts where the goal is to educate and expose the Nigerian public on Nigerian cultures.”
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Foundation, Mrs. Bolanle Adebayo, who would be on ground to welcome guests at the epoch-making event, stated that, “in order to accomplish its goals, the Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo Foundation shall frequently join efforts with organizations, institutions and individuals; provide financial support, awards scholarships and prizes on a competitive basis; organize charity events; assist in the organization of symposia, conferences, seminars, exhibitions etc.”
Who Is Prince Kazeem Eletu Odibo?
Ambassador Dr. Prince Kazeem was born on February 14, 1978 in Lagos into the Eletu-Odibo family; a royal family that historically served as the Chief Kingmaker who crowned the Oba of Lagos.
This was unknown to him for several years that he was born with a silver spoon. Prior to when his life took a new turn to prosperity, he grew up in a suburb called Ajegunle where he worked as a bus driver, a bus conductor and even a scanvenger.
He has attended numerous educational training programmes both within and outside the country. He has shown over the years that he is a dynamic, result-oriented leader with a strong track record of performance in his enterprises. Amb. Dr. Prince Kazeem as Founder and Chairman of Kazeem Royal Properties Limited, has done a lot of remarkable projects in the real estate sector and this earned him the City People Magazine 2017 Real Estate Award as Most Outstanding Royal Family In Property Award.
Philanthropy is associated with Amb. Dr. Prince Kazeem through the Prince Kazeem Eletu-Odibo Foundation.
His kindheartedness is visible amongst many individuals whom he has touched; he personally likes putting smiles on people’s faces irrespective of their tribe, ethnicity, creed or language. As a matter of fact, he singled-handedly, constructed many roads at Osapa London in Lekki axis in Lagos state following their dilapidated state.
Today, Osapa London is a prime area and has very expensive properties situated in it. He has made several donations to many groups, civil societies including the Rotary International and a lot of individuals, running into several millions of naira.
He also set up the Prince Kazeem Eletu Royal Football Academy in order to give young people the opportunity to grow and showcase their talents.
A good number of them are now playing outside the shores of the company. Music is one thing that could not escape his attention; the Kazeem Royal Music Empire does justice to this. Some artistes have been signed under this label.
His philanthropic lifestyle has attracted a lot of awards from various quarters such as the Nigerian Army, Ecowas Youth Organization, the Yoruba council and the Nigerian youths just to mention a few.
He recently was awarded an honorary Doctorate and United Nations Ambassadorial award in Washington DC, USA on November 18, 2017. Amb. Dr. Prince Kazeem is married with children.
