Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, won the
Philanthropist of the decade award (People's Choice) at the Thisday newspaper
awards 2020 which held in Lagos on January 20th.
Recall that in November 2019, Otedola made major headlines
when he donated a whooping, N5 billion to Save the Children foundation, the
highest donation ever made by an individual to charity in Nigeria.
Otedola who attended the event in company of his daughter,
DJ Cuppy, dedicated the award to the millions of children in the areas of
conflict who have no food to eat or guaranteed a future.
I would love to dedicate this award to the millions of
children out there who are in the areas of conflict, who have no food to eat,
who are not guaranteed of the future. I pray to God Almighty that he would
bring succour to these children and I want to also say a few things about the
N5 billion I gave to Save the Children for the children of the North East.
When I sold one of my businesses, my majority shareholding
in Forte oil, I woke up one day and I said to myself I am 57 years old and for
me, the age for the departure lounge from this world is 85 so I now said I have
only 28 years left. Out of the 28 years,
of course I sleep 10 hours a day, so I said most likely if God permits me like
our father Chief Adebanjo, I would have 12 years awake. I said Okay and then
called my CFO, she said Sir, you have sold the business, one of the arms of the
business, in 5 months you have N5 billion interest. I said okay, we will give
it to charity.
She looked at me Sir and was like what did you say? I now
had a meeting with my family. I think one of my children said to me 'Papa you
are giving out our inheritance''. I said I have done my best for you kids,
giving you the best education, so you go run with that.
I thank you very much'' he said
