Peter Abidemi Olaoluwa: An Icon Of Philanthropy In The Art Of Politics (Part 1)
Philanthropy “derives from the ancient Greek phrase ‘phylantropia,’ meaning ‘to love people’.
Today, the concept of philanthropy includes the act of voluntary giving to promote the common good.
It is noteworthy to know that some levels of giving is seen as charity and there is a good number of people everywhere that give a lot of charity to a huge of people around them.
In recent times across the world, many have come to the conclusion that Microsoft’s Bill Gates was number one on the list of the world’s top philanthropists with $27 billion in lifetime donations, next to him was Warren Buffet with $21 billion, and George Soros at $8 billion, while the likes of Azim Premji, the Indian-American of Wipro, with $8 billion down to Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
In this part, specifically in Nigeria, many agreed that Aliko Dangote. Rochas Okorocha, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia and few others are among top philanthropists in Nigeria even though none of their specific donations can’t be quantified or measured.
Aside from all the above philanthropists, there are still many silent of such who preferred to remain unanimous and choose not to tell their philanthropic gesture story themselves.
One of such is the Fiditi born Chartered Accountant, Peter Abidemi Olaoluwa, who is so passionate about his people not only in Fiditi, Afijio local government but Oyo State as a whole.
Before now, he has poured majority of his hard earned resources into many communities across the state to quicken their development with notable achievements.
This level of philanthropy is not just limited to this part of the world but even worldwide.
Who then is Peter Abidemi Olaoluwa?
PETER ABIDEMI OLAOLUWA- B.Sc (Accounting), AAT, MBA, FCA, CSM, hails from Fiditi town in Afijio Local Government area of Oyo State, Nigeria.
Peter is a Fellow of “The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria” (ICAN) with over 20 years experience as a seasoned professional Accountant, a trained Auditor, a Certified Business Analyst, a Certified Scrum Master, a Data Analyst, a Business Man, a seasoned Lecturer, a large scale commercial farmer, a philanthropist, and a politician.
He started his career as an Accounting Officer with Excel Professional Centre in June, 1992, after which he joined Akinmade & Company (a firm of Chartered Accountants) as Audit Trainee in June, 2002.
In January, 2003, he joined Oludiran & Co (a firm of Chartered Accountants) as an Audit Senior on contract for specialized audit of unclaimed dividends after which he joined Serv Armour Nigeria Limited in November, 2008 as the Head of Accounts. Serv Armour is a Holding company with four (4) subsidiaries into divers areas of business concern.
Olaoluwa got employed by Shonga Farms Holding Ltd as the Accounts and Admin. Manager. Shonga Farms Holding Limited is a Holding Company with thirteen (13) subsidiaries located in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
He secured an appointment with Nigeria leading producer of cement, Dangote Cement Plc, in November , 2010 as the Chief Accounts Officer where he handles the development of business model for new business ideas using financial modelling skills, reviewing the performance of the company’s subsidiaries in line with the budget set and as a member of the “Team” that handle the conversion from Local Standards (SAS) to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
In January, 2003, alongside the appointment with Oludiran & Co, he secured a lecturing appointment with Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo and rose to the position of Lecturer II before he left in October, 2008.
In furtherance of his skill and expertise, Olaoluwa secured employment with First Deepwater Discovery Limited (a company in the Downstream Sector of Oil and Gas Industry) and her sister company, Star Synergy Ltd. as the Head, Finance & Accounts where he was able to secure an offshore loan at a single digit interest rate (all inclusive) to refinance the assets of the company and to augment its working capital.
Olaoluwa joined Bellpoint Energy Limited (a company in the Downstream Sector of Oil and Gas Industry) and her sister company, Refuel Energy Ltd. in 2014 as the Head, Trade Finance and Accounts before relocating to United States of America.
At Bellpoint Energy Limited, Peter efficiently and effectively managed $100M Inventory Finance Facility (IFF) for the importation of refined petroleum products and help the company to recover her stolen funds in excess bank charges back in billions of Naira from financing Banks.
Peter Abidemi Olaoluwa, a community leader who believes in community self sustainance and being independent show this by example when he cultivated 30 acres of cassava and maize and this has been a yearly ritual as part of his efforts in ensuring sustainability of food supply to the society.
Until now, Peter is the founder of Peter Olaoluwa Foundation (POF), a charity outfit with the aim of helping the helpless and selfless service to humanity.
The Foundation’s website is- www.peterolaoluwafoundation.com
Peter was elected as the General Chairman/President of “Ifesowapo (Celica) Community along New Ife Road in 2020 for a 3year tenure.
Ifesowapo (Celica) Community is divided into 11 zones where each zone has its own chairman and exco and all the chairmen report to the General Chairman, Peter Abidemi Olaoluwa.
Peter, who understands the principle of “Good Governance and Delegation of power” to achieve impactful results, used the “committee system” to successfully govern the community because he was still actively working in Lagos then.
During his tenure as the General Chairman, in Ifesowapo communities, Peter Olaoluwa achieved so much that this space can not contain all, but few, among many included but not limited to:
Procurement of a 500kva transformer, which was financed by the members of the community.
Secured a pooling unit for the community.
Revatilised the federal government abandoned borehole.
Giving scholarships to the less privileged students.
Installation of the street lights in the community.
He administered palliative to the members of the community during the “Covid 19” era just to mention a few.
Peter is a Fellow of “The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria” (ICAN), a graduate of Accounting from Ambrose-Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo-State in 2005. He holds masters degree in Business Administration from Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife, Osun-State in 2008/2009.
Peter became an Associate Member of “The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria” (ICAN) in November, 2002, an Associate Member of “Associate Accounting Technicians” in March, 1998.
He possesses a certificate in accounting software such as (Oasis, Peachtree, Quick Books, Dac-easy, Iscala, SAP, and Advanced Microsoft Excel) and Microsoft word.
Presently, he’s working with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in West Virginia State, United States of America, as the Accountant/Auditor and a business analyst.
Its indeed glad to know that this has not included the number of people he has rekindled their hope in furthering their studies through a scholarship scheme. Notable also is the fact that many of those who have benefited from his largesse are not necessarily his relations.
His humility, composure, caring heart, soft spoken and large heart, especially how he brings relief to people in need, you will then begin to ask, is this man a Nigerian?
In a chat with newsmen sometimes ago, Peter said and “I never contemplated this idea of politics when I began caring for my peoples’ welfare, but I was just interested in developing the place and by extension, the whole Oyo state populace and Nigeria ultimately”,
“Up till this moment, many of my friends and associates always wondered why I am venturing into the murky waters of Nigerian politics, but I believe that if good people abstain from the affairs of the land, there will be no future for our children, particularly the unborn who could be left with no meaningful future in the years ahead,” he said.
He feels that he can not sit idly by when his people are enveloped in misery and severe poverty while God has made the kind of provisions he gave him.
He said that he can not wallow in wealth while the bulk of his people are wallowing in poverty.
“For God has given me more than I need for my immediate and extended family members and it was only fair that I distributed the huge extras for the welfare of my people.”
..Media office, Peter Olaoluwa Foundation POF.