The 4th Anniversary of the AKEM Foundation was held in Lagos on the 9th of May, 2026.
It was established in 2022 by Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan along with his siblings- Abiodun, Aduke, and Folorunsho Ogunsan as a living memorial to their parents late Engr. Akinola Ogunsan and Madam Emiola Ogunsan whose passion for education, discipline, enterprise and compassion for humanity shaped their children and countless others.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of AKEM Foundation, Dr. Ogunsan recalled that his late parents, Engr. Akinola and Mrs. Emiola Ogunsan died some years ago.
“22 years ago, 5th May we lost our mom, Mrs. Emiola and 4 years after, our father died. If one couple dies, except there is no love, that is the day the other couple also dies. I remember how he would say to me, ‘Ayo look at the time, is it right for a woman to leave home and not be back by now?’.
I was naive and not well-informed about how to be mature in such circumstances, I will just tell him straight, ‘Dad, our mother is dead’ It was later that I realized that I should have used wisdom to talk to him, such emotional moments.
This is why about 5 years ago, myself and my siblings decided that we must keep this legacy alive having been tutored by these wonderful beings. We are a product of good parenting. The parents we are celebrating today got it right. We are four children and we are all doing what they taught us to do”.
On the thrust of the AKEM Foundation, he continued: “One of my parents, my dad is passionate about education and the other, my mother, is passionate about entrepreneurship.
So we started this journey by putting our resources together to help people who do not have opportunities to progress either academically or sustain their business. It is an open competition, we don’t try to influence it.
This year, we got 71 applications which were reduced to 46 then to 21 and now 5 finalists. These are young Nigerians not known to us, we have never met them, we just threw the opportunity into the public space and now the first prize winner will go home with NGN1.5million, the second prize is N1.25 Million, the third prize is NGN1 million,the 4th prize is NGN 750,000 and the 5th prize is NGN 500,000”, he stated.
Similarly, the MD/CEO of AKEM Foundation-Dr. Abiodun Ogunsan also made some sterling revelations. He said: “We are not just building an organization, we are building hope, transforming lives and shaping a future where no dream is limited by lack of opportunity.
Our mission is noted in education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable empowerment to ensure that the youths are equipped to rise above challenges and become catalysts of change in their communities.
At AKEM Foundation, we remain committed to creating pathways for growth, dignity, and self-reliance, we believe empowerment is not just about giving. It is about enabling people to stand tall, thrive, and impact others positively”, he concluded.
The five finalists who emerged out of 71 initial applications were physically present at the Anniversary event to pitch their business ideas before a 4-man panel comprising Ezekiel Ishola, manager at Standard Chartered Bank, Prof. Festus Ope Davies, Dr. Wunmi Alabi from The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Dr. Moses Oladimeji, the LSSTF-CACCOV State Coordinator and an engaging audience with over 300 in attendance.
The pitch competition produced Adetolani Amokaye as the First place winner with her grand prize of N1.5 million upgraded to over 2 million by some dignitaries who supported the project. Adeola Deborah Agboola emerged 2nd place winner and her N1.25 million was upgraded to almost N2million; the third prize winner Nkechi Gift had her N1 million prize upgraded with the immediate 100 orders of her sweet potato products from the Chinese community as well as access to agricultural products, sales and packaging. All- courtesy of the Chinese business leader, Madam May Ma.
Ekom Gideon Fidelis who came 4th position got 750,000 plus the support he got from the Chinese community, over his house rental business and Ajala Tiyinoluwa Busola who emerged 5th position got N500,000 prize.
Dignitaries who were drawn from the security sector, academia, business community, diplomatic circles, faith organizations, and civil society that converged to celebrate with the Ogunsans included: The MD/CEO of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu; Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dr. Sam Egube; Patron of AKEM Foundation, AIG Lanre Bankole (retd) and his Wife; Board Member of LSSTF, DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover (retd); DIG Bode Adeleke (retd) and his Wife, Mrs. Modupe, AIG Hakeem Odumosu (retd).
Others are: AIG Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, AIG Force CID Annex Alagbon, AIG Simeon Udofia Akpanudom; Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Fatai Tijani; Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. A.O Owolabi; Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Mohammed Asuekome Imam; Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS BEECROFT, Naval Base Apapa, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu; CP Western Ports Authority Police Command.
Others were: CP Toyin Agbaminoja; CP Saadat Ismail Rtd; Comptroller, MMIA Command, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Comptroller CC Christopher; General Manager, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency, Prince (Dr.) Ifalade Oyekan; DCP Bayo Suleiman; DCP Olugbenga Adeoye; DC Admin, Lagos Command, DCP Khan Salihu; ACP Aka Shittu; ACP Mary Ayim; Chief Security Officer, CSO to Governor of Lagos State, CSP Kunle Fagbemi; Commander, RRS Lagos, CSP Shola Jejeloye; DPO Man Center Division, CSP Ayo Elijah; DPO Denton Division, CSP Komolafe Solomon; DPO Lekki, CSP Owoseni; CSP Awe Kayode.
Some other dignitaries included: Founder/CEO, Diamed Hospital Lekki, Dr. Mrs. Abiola Olorede (nee Adebutu); Deputy Leader, Chinese Community, Mrs. May Ma; Territorial Director, South West, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Frank Dix Unuigboje; Founding Director, Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos, (CEDHUL), Prof. Tunde Ope-Davies; Founder, Greenspring School, Mrs. Lai Koiki; MD/CEO, Infinity Paints Int’l Ltd, Pastor Johnson Sehinde; Founder, The Mantle Prayer Ministry, Pastor Isaac Olaomo; Consultant Ophthalmologist, MeCure, Dr. Sunday Alabi; SSA on Infrastructure to Lagos State Governor, Hon. Siji Adegoke; SSA to Lagos State Governor on Students’ Union Affairs – Tertiary Education, Comrade Kappo Olawale among others.
In their respective goodwill messages, the dignitaries at the event shared their perspectives on the amazing impact that they have observed that AKEM Foundation is having on the society.
Mr. Sam Egube, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor remarked: “I am excited about the AKEM Foundation because it shows that we can all contribute to society and it does not matter how much or less you are doing as long as you are bringing change.
Well-done AKEM Foundation, as you continue to do what you do, we look forward to having others do similar things so that when we connect it all together, it becomes a fresh ocean of very good deeds, changing of lives and building of enterprises. Thank you!”.
DIG Bode Adeleke (retd) remarked that ‘’AKEM Foundation is a brilliant initiative. May everyone contributing to It continue to be blessed. It is good to start something beautiful. I will encourage everyone here to start something no matter how little”.
The Patron of AKEM Foundation, AIG Lanre Bankole (retd) stated that: “I am very happy to be here today. This is a noble idea, thinking about immortalizing your parents and in the same vein helping the downtrodden to navigate their way in life. Dr. Ayo and siblings I thank you on behalf of all those that have benefited from this initiative and I know it will grow from strength to strength”.
Also, AIG Moshood Jimoh of Zone 2 Onikan made his remarks: ‘’I have witnessed significant improvement in what AKEM Foundation did last year and now. They have modified and improved upon last year’s achievement. Let’s not get tired of supporting the AKEM Foundation”.
AIG Simeon Udofia Akpanudom of Force CID Annex Lagos said: ‘’We are here because of the legacy of godly parenting and to assert that we are blessed to be a blessing. We appreciate the efforts of the Ogunsans for the society, the lives you have touched are generational”.
In the same vein, The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command CP Fatai Tijani said: “I am not surprised by what I am seeing here because Dr. Ayo Ogunsan who is the chairman of AKEM foundation is an impact-driven person. He impacts the lives of everyone who crosses his path. I pray that this foundation will grow from strength to strength”.
CP Toyin Agbaminoja, CP of Western Ports Authority Police Command added: ‘I want to congratulate Dr. Ayo Ogunsan and the family for this feat. Thank you for having feelings for the vulnerable in society. This is something I wish to replicate in my family too. I will always support this Foundation”.
Senior Immigration officer, Comptroller Christopher Uzoma, the Comptroller (NIS) Murtala Mohammed International Airport appreciated Dr. Ayo Ogunsan and family for what he is doing for Nigeria.
From the business community, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, MD/CEO of First Bank Nigeria Plc explained that “the heart that gives is the heart of gold. Everything that we have is useless if we don’t give out. We are going back with nothing and people will spend the money after us but when we give out on earth, the joy remains. I pray that the Spirit of God will be with this family and joy will perpetually be with them”, he added.
Madam May Ma from the Chinese community added: ‘’We appreciate the AKEM Foundation for all the good work they do. We will continue to support”, she explained.
Dr. Mrs. Abiola Olorede nee Adebutu, Founder Diamed Hospital Lekki, stated: ‘’Dr. Ayo is someone who amazes me every time because every aspect of life that he enters, he strives to excel there. I pray that the grace of God in the family will not stop, she added, While Pastor Andrew Umoru prayed heartily for the family.
High point of the event was the presentation of gifts to the winners.
