Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist Femi Otedola has been invited on to the governance board of Save the Children and appointed as a vice president.
Save the Children was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children around the world through better education, healthcare and economic opportunities, as well as to provide emergency aid in natural disasters, war and other conflicts.
The invitation and subsequent appointment of the billionaire are a testament to his philanthropic efforts to improve the lives of Nigerian children through donations that have helped them secure beneficial education, healthcare services and economic opportunities.
His daughter, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, popularly known as “DJ Cuppy,” is a Save the Children ambassador.
In a press statement, the organization noted that Otedola’s influence and experience will advance its efforts to build sustainable partnerships in Africa and create opportunities for children on the continent.
Commenting on the appointment, Otedola said: “I am elated to be associated with the organization. We have to save our children from all manner of challenges and deprivations. And giving to the needy, particularly children, is the greatest love of all.”
Save the Children highlighted in a statement that Otedola has supported its programs for years to prevent and treat malnutrition and advocate for access to quality education for Nigerian children, impacting more than 6,000 kids in the Adamawa, Borno and Katsina states.
Since the organization’s founding over a century ago, it has grown into an international movement comprising 29 national member organizations in 120 countries. Otedola’s invitation will see him join the UK-based NGO as its representative in Nigeria and a high-level supporter.
Save the Children recently partnered with GlaxoSmithKline to equip 65 public health facilities in the Jigawa and Lagos states with medical equipment, instruments and consumables.
Otedola is the chairman of Geregu Power Plc, a Nigerian power generation company. He is also the single largest shareholder in Nigeria’s oldest financial services group, First Bank Nigeria Holdings Plc, with an ownership stake amounting to 5.07 percent.
