Role Model
I love getting involved in worthy causes – Akinlade

Yewa Descendants Union in the United Kingdom and Ireland held its 2024 Yewa Day in Kent recently in London. It was an event that brought together Yewa sons and daughters in the diaspora and from the home country Nigeria.
The event themed ‘Collective Actions for Yewaland, Nurturing Dreams and Collaborative Efforts’.
The night of the event was headlined by the giving out of awards to deserving Yewa sons and daughters by Yewa Descendants Union UK and Ireland.
On the recipients list was the Task Team Leader of Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation (FYIF), Mr. Kehinde Akinlade.
atotoDaily caught up with him for a brief chat on the honour done him by Yewa Descendants Union, UK and Ireland. Please, enjoy the Excerpt . . .

YDU Award presented to Mr Kehinde Akinlade by Chief Elegbede
atotoDaily: Your name appeared on YDU’s honour list in faraway United Kingdom. A list that included illustrious Yewa sons and daughters like Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Professor Rahman Bello, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos and head of Yewa Peoples Development Commission, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Chief Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun (IBD), Chief Adigun Socopao, Otunba Waheed Adesina (Wadoye) and others. That was huge honour, what is your feeling like?
Kehinde Akinlade: It is a great feeling and it cannot be otherwise. It is YDU we are talking about; One of Yewaland’s apex groups. You know the standing of the members of YDU in the society.
The honour list and the kind of people that Yewa Day UK pulled should say it all. When you plus that with the impact of the Union in Yewaland over the years you should know why I am happy for the honour done me.
It is a huge honour, I am so grateful to Yewa Descendants Union UK and Ireland, to every member of the Union for considering me worthy of that honour list.
atotoDaily: It was award of exceptional contributions, were you expectant of the award?
Kehinde Akinlade: No. It was a surprise that I so much appreciated and that makes it even sweeter.
atotoDaily: So what would you say led to the recognition far away from home?
Kehinde Akinlade: In the letter received from YDU UK and Ireland, the executive committee of Yewa Descendants Union considered it worthy to confer me with an award of Exceptional Contributions to YDU.
I read about YDU first roughly 9 years ago on a WhatsApp page. I never dream of getting involved with them. Somehow, one thing later led to another and through Otun Yeyemeso of Ilaro-Yewa, Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun 3ace, the founder of Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation who is a member, I became connected to YDU UK and Ireland.
You know I am coordinating Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation for Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun, conceptualizing and leading humanitarian projects of the NGO.
I became known to YDU members, I became a useful hand in actualizing their developmental projects in Yewaland adding my humble contributions towards the delivery of YDU projects.
They have done so well in giving back to the land of their birth. Their ongoing project as mentioned on Yewa Day UK night is furniture for schools which I have helped at home in executing.
I have been of assistance also in the crucial preliminary works for their next developmental project, intervention in primary health centres across Yewaland.
Time will not permit the explanation of all that the union has done directly and indirectly for the good of Yewa people. Yes indirectly because they have done other things for the growth and development of Yewaland.
As an organization, YDU has been very supportive of the empowerment projects of Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation. So the union has their large chunk of glory to claim from the humanitarian interventions of Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation across Yewaland.
My closeness to some members of YDU makes me privy to the fact that on personal capacities, they have been making differences in the lives of the good people of Yewaland.
atotoDaily: Is your support for the group voluntary or a paid support?
Kehinde Akinlade: My support is voluntary.
atotoDaily: From what we know, your involvement with Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation is voluntary, now you said your support for the projects of YDU UK and Ireland is also voluntary. How come you love volunteering?
Kehinde Akinlade: Good question. Here is the story. When I was growing up in Yewaland, opportunities that could help a child developed right in a way that will help him maximize his potentials were not there.
A lot of things I dreamed doing could not be achieved because of the marginalization that our land suffered from. The deprivation was much.
I grew up bitter and determined to spend my life in a way that will help others not to be limited by the deprivation that I endured and beat when growing up.
Of course, I am of age now but I am yet to be a Dangote that could expend huge sums of money to help people. So I decided that in place of money, I have time, I have energy, I have my humble level of education and also the knowledge of my environment.
I chose to deploy these towards all worthy causes and in support of groups and individuals that have ideas, wherewithal to help our world. I love getting involved in worthy causes.
Yes, I wish to help and since I don’t have the financial muscle, not bad supporting those who are ready to change our world but do not have the time.
atotoDaily: How would you rate YDU UK and Ireland based on this award?
Kehinde Akinlade: The Union has my 100 percent rating and on the awards given by them. Except you don’t know the people of Yewaland real well, all the people that were listed have really impacted on our land and people.
They were all deserving of accolades for their exceptional services to our land and people. That a person like me appeared on the honour list stamped the fact that the honour is unlike those done for the money. You would not say I bought it, would you? (laughter). The awards by YDU UK and Ireland were accolades, appreciation and a call to keep serving. I salute YDU.
atotoDaily: You did not make any attempt to receive the award on the Yewa Day podium by yourself, why?
Kehinde Akinlade: On the contrary, I did. Efforts were made by YDU as a union and individual members too were up in support to get me to the UK to receive the award. I think factor of time militated against the best of efforts of Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun 3ace, Otun-Yeyemeso of Ilaro-Yewa and my President at Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation, the President of YDU, Mr Kayode Amosun, my father, Ogboye Adetunji Ebo, my aunty, Ms Yetunde Odebiyi, my brother, Chief Biodun Elegbede the Balogun Ago Eyo, Oke Odan, my brother Omooba Fatai Adewusi and others that must have been very vocal in support and worked behind the scene in support.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to them all for the good and love ladden intentions. As a matter of fact, I am grateful to all members for the attempt.
atotoDaily: You have this honour for service to Yewaland and people, Mr. Kehinde Akinlade what next?
Kehinde Akinlade: To show more commitment, to be much more determined, to live on doing the right thing, to keep supporting good causes. These are next.
I was just doing what I have passion for, drive for and personally designed motivation for. Suddenly, honour came. It means what I considered as winking in the dark is being watched my some people and being appreciated by them. I will consider this award as a call for me to do more.
atotoDaily: Against the background of this award, what is your advice to the younger ones?
Kehinde Akinlade: To develop the act of volunteerism? To support good causes. To key into the saying that we can change the world one person at a time. To have passion for the growth and development of our land. To join in putting smiles on the faces of others and award plaques should not be the driving force for that.
atotoDaily: It has been nice chatting with you.
Kehinde Akinlade: My pleasure.

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