For Fakayode Daniel Olagoke, a young Nigerian resident in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, a future that once looked depressing is now vibrant and colourful as he has received support of $10,000 to enable him obtain his commercial pilot licence.
The support is coming through Tobi Adegboyega, renowned philanthropist and founder of SPAC Nation, London.
Olagoke, an aspiring commercial pilot, was about to round off his training but was beset by financial issues. This disrupted his plans and life became miserable and desolate for him. He had to leave school to fend for himself in the midst of hostility and xenophobia.
He also had to leave a predominantly white-populated neighbourhood for lack of funds to live in the suburbs. In the course of his travails, he slept in the streets, encountered countless muggings and assaults.
Even after approaching people of prominence within his family’s reach, he was still met with disappointments – until Pastor Adegboyega came to his rescue.
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Reacting to the humanitarian gesture to him, Olagoke, 35, said the major aim for the money is to obtain his commercial pilot licence.
“I have already obtained my private pilot licence here in South Africa,” he said.
Olagoke’s journey started at Airline Pilot Training Centre, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It should’ve been a 12-month programme but he could not complete it due to financial reasons. This led to him opting out of school to do some other things. It was because of his father’s dream that money was raised for him to start afresh at Madiba Bay School of Flight, South Africa.
He started the commercial pilot training but could not continue due to financial issues and unfavourable exchange rates.
Olagoke, an indigene of Osun State Nigeria, and his folks being ardent followers of Pastor Adegboyega on all social media platforms and seeing his philanthropic works approached him with their challenge.
“He promptly came to our aid and helped us put an end to this long and embarrassing saga for our family,” Bolarinwa, a sister to Olagoke, narrated.
“He fulfilled a father’s wish of seeing his son, not only alive, but also as a commercially licensed pilot.
“This is all due to Pastor Tobi’s influence and assistance. Just when all hope was lost, a shining light came in the form of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega. We are indebted to this great man of God for doing the Lord’s work in this family,” she added.
While confirming the news, Adegboyega said what necessitated the gesture was his belief in mankind, not just because of his constituency as a pastor but him as a person and as a humanitarian and a philanthropist.
“This is just testament to my willingness to go the extra mile and sacrifice my all to ensure that all Nigerians are able to achieve their potential and I am willing to do this as much as I can with anything that is within my capacity,” he said.
