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The President of the Association of Ondo State Poets, Hon Goke Williams, made this assertion in one of his poems in the honour of Dr Tolu Bayode (RM, PSM, MD) a philanthropist, who is the Founder and President of the Dorian Home–an orphanage.
Speaking at the event to mark the 2023 World Poetry Day in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Hon Goke described the humanitarian services being rendered by the orphanage as unparalleled amongst others. He further said that the humanitarian cum philanthropic activities of the Dorian Home to the development of the humanity and the society at large were among the reasons considered that qualified Dr Tolu for the honour. He prayed for God’s protection and provision for the recipient of the award.
Also, an Award of Humanitarian par Excellence was presented by the President of the Association, Hon Goke Williams, in company of Mr Jide Ogidan, the Association General Secretary and some other executive members of the Association to Dr Tolu Bayode.
Hon Goke equally presented her some copies of his book: Bible Books Proper Pronunciation with CD, and a Motivational CD: You the World Greatest, at the event.
The Association wrote six poems to celebrate the woman of substance for her passion to the growth of orphans and widows in Africa. The poems were read to the hearing of Dr Tolu, who could not hide her joy as she listened with an apt attention.
Responding, Dr Tolu said she was humble to have received the award because she was a lover of poetry. Her words ” I am humble to receive this award because I love poems. The award is a big deal to me because it will spur me to do more to the society”. Speaking further, Dr Tolu appreciated the Association, saying for the Association of Ondo State Poets to have sat down and considered her for an award and also recited various poems in her honour was a big deal to her and that the good gesture was something that touched her heart.
The orphanage of just two years of existence has a total number of staff strength of fifty two (52) as at the time of filling this report and it is gender sensitive. It houses seven hundred children and one hundred rooms in all. The charity home had extended hands of fellowship to many widows by way of training them in various skills acquisition in order for them to be self reliant. There are ongoing projects like training centre building, multi-purpose hall, church auditorium and modern library that when completed would go along way in boosting the infrastructural facilities of the orhanage to anchor more imparted programmes for the less privileged. The Dorian Home is an abode for social development and charity.
Other highlights of the event included: reading of citation of the recipient, musical interlude, testimonies from the Awardee’s families and friends, and inspection of the Dorian Home facilities by the Association of Ondo State Poets.
The award was in commemoration of the World Poetry Day which is celebrated annually on the 21st of March. The World Poetry Day was declared by UNESCO in 1999 and it is aimed at supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.