Photo credit: Daily Trust
We have kings and we do have kings. Like we all know, kings are royalty, and they might not necessarily be concerned with the suffering of the masses.
Remember Nero?
One of the very few Obas in Yorubaland that have chosen not to forget the masses is the Kabiyesi I’m talking about.
He’s all about the lecture circuit impacting knowledge to various bodies like the Nigeria Police, the National Youth Service Corps, Osun State University, Redeemer’s University Ede, and others.
He’s also interested in children, especially children from poor homes.
As a result of his interest, he has an orphanage where children from all walks of life are taken care of.
To crown it all, he has a secondary school, Abolarin College, Ila Orangun. One unique thing about this school is the fact that it’s a no-fee paying school.
And it remains for children of the poor. For instance there’s a Sefiu who doesn’t know the whereabouts of his parents in the school. There’s another Opeyemi who was a garage boy in the school.
Learning in the school is not straight jacketed. Apart from the normal classes, pupils are encouraged to farm, drum and those who are interested in arts and culture are also encouraged.
Above all, pupils are taught religious tolerance. I understand all pupils are conversant with the two major Abrahamic religions.
The proprietor believes, if we fail to educate the children of the poor, our own children might not be safe. But unknowingly, he has unwittingly put a lie to the claim of those who say free education is not possible.
The Kabiyesi himself, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, is a great mixer. He doesn’t look down on anyone.
He welcomes the elderly just as he welcomes Youth Corps members posted to his domain.
Even in his agbada made from aso oke, he goes boogying every year with his old Ife mates.
Kaabiyesi is making a statement with his every move!
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