Kunle Adelabu
-Distributes food packages to 20, 000 Lagosians
Late Alhaji Kolawole Saheed Akinsanya, a retired senior police officer and foremost grassroots sports developer, has been fondly remembered and honoured with a novelty match by PEPC Foundation, his family, eminent personalities, sports family and residents of Ikorodu.
Late Akinsanya, who was also a Safety Ambassador, died on Sunday, August 19, 2024.
The novelty match played on Friday, December 20, 2024, witnessed the distribution of 20, 000 food packs to residents across Lagos State. The exercise, tagged, ‘Love Beyond Christmas ‘, is an annual humanitarian gesture by the foundation, and it was kicked – off with about 1000 residents going home with food packs for the Christmas.
The Adeboruwa of igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, and widow of late Akinsanya, Alhaja Akinsanya, performed the ceremonial kick – off at the novelty match.
At the novelty match, the Akinsanya Babe, which featured the eldest son of the deceased, Shamsideen Akinsanya, and his brothers – Monzor, Luqman (founder of the Pepc Foundation) and Bolaji Akinsanya, played 1 – 1 draw with…, at the Police Barracks Playing Ground, Igbogbo Road in Ikorodu, with the last born of the family, Bolaji who is a music act, and scoring the goal for the family’s team after coming in as a substitute.
The collaboration between the Akinsanya brothers in the midfield and attack gave spectators a bit of what they were made of back in the days when their late father managed different football teams and sporting associations.
Barr. Luqman Akinsanya, who recalled his little beginning at the barracks, said that his love for the community and humanitarian engagement, started from his father.
“I start knowing about community engagements by sweeping the entire blocks when we were growing up at the barracks. I swept from House A to the last house every morning before I go to school.
“I usually get to school late and would be beaten by my teachers. Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, (Chairman, Ikorodu Division Football Association) can bear me witness. Even though, he was my father’s friend, he used to beat me because I came late to school.
“My love for the community started from my father, because I learnt a whole lot from him. He used to tell me at all time that I should be humble, and care about others”.
He assured that his foundation will continue to extend humanitarian gesture to those in need in sustenance of his late father’s memory.
“I want us to know today that we can all make Nigeria great, no matter how little we can do. This little support is to show love and it means a whole lot to many people. It is part of our community development engagements.
“You did not leave your house because of this thing. You are here for sporting reasons; to enjoy, to show love, to show support, and I pray to Almighty Allah to support all of you too. I hope that you learnt one or two things from us today.
“Pepc Foundation will continue to support our communities, like my daddy did while alive”, he said.
Late Alhaji Akinsanya’s widow, also speaking at the event, thanked the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), eminent personalities in attendance, entire All Stars and residents, for supporting his family.
She also acknowledged and commended his children for honouring their late father and for sustaining his community works and humanitarian engagements.
Alhaja Akinsanya, who, like her husband, also founded and managed a female team – Ikorodu Tigress, like her son, also recalled how her children were trained at the barracks.
She described her late husband as the best father and husband ever.
Oba Semiudeen Kasali, in his royal remarks, paid tributes to the memory of late Akinsanya whom he said lived a fulfilled life filled with humanitarian engagements, community and youth development activities.
He commended Pepc Foundation for sustaining reaching out to the less privileged and others in need.
After the kick – off of the distribution of the food packs at the Police Barracks Playing Ground and Ibeju Lekki, Pepc Foundation, in compliance with the directive of the Lagos State Government, has gone to distribute the packs from street to street and house to house across the state.
Other eminent personalities at the novelty match were Otunba Fatai Olukoga, former Special Adviser on Education, Comrade Japheth Odesanya (KOLUJO), a Chairmanship aspirant for Ikorodu LG, Prince Ade Ajasa, a businessman, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ikorodu Police Divisional Headquarters, Mr Onasanya Babatunde, Chairman, All Stars Football Association, Ikorodu, Mayor Kalejaiye, Chairman, Grassroot Sports Development Forum, Alhaji Shamsideen Yusuf, former Chairman, All Stars Football, Ikorodu and Prince ibrahim Alani Onibudo, another Chairmanship aspirant among others, who all recalled the contributions of late Alhaji Akinsanya.
