Official launch: DWAC foundation committed to impacting more people — Damilola Wale-Aremu
In a bid to expand her humanitarian impact, US-based philanthropist and medical scholar, Princess Damilola Wale-Aremu, on Saturday August 16, officially launched the DWAC Charitable Foundation in Ilorin, pledging greater support for education, healthcare, youth empowerment and community development.
The event which was held at the Banquet Hall in Ilorin,drew top government functionaries, philanthropists and well wishers who came together to show their support for the initiative.
Speaking to Journalists at the event, the Founder and CEO of the foundation, Princess Damilola Wale-Aremu (Nee Fagbemi) disclosed that the idea of the foundation was borne out of her interest in giving back to the society.
The US-based philanthropist noted that the foundation has delivered many life-changing initiatives since it began operation during the period of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
“The idea of the foundation was borne out of my passion to help people during Covid-19 pandemic when i decided to share my pay check and give back to the community. I started by reaching out to one person, later to churches and local communities” she recalled.
A graduate of University of Ilorin who is now pursuing a Doctorate degree in nursing in the United States of America, Damilola noted that although the foundation was officially incorporated in October 2023, she said the launching signaled her commitment to take the foundation to the next level.
“We started giving food to widows and needies in the communities.Our first initiative had 22 beneficiaries and the last time had over 60 people. Our plan is to break the record this year” Added the Obbo Aiyegunle-born princess who stated that the foundation also intend to have a food bank where people can get food to eat in the nearest future.
Amongst other interventions, Princess Damilola noted that the foundation organised Annual food drive for widow, pad-up a girl initiative where sanitary pads were distrubuted to young girls and were also given education on menstural hygiene.
She noted that the foundation has also concluded plans to organise a health awareness progamme in 2026 where experts will be brought together to provide free medical support to the vulnerables and people in undeserved communities.
The event also featured panel discussion on the theme ‘the missing middle: youth bridging power and possibility’ where the speakers urged the youths to tap into available opportunities around them and become an agent for positive change.
Prince Sunday Fagbemi, the father of the DWAC foundation Boss, who also doubles the Kwara State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) commended the initiative with its focus on impacting people positively.
Fagbemi who is also the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger State called on well meaning Nigerians, especially the youth to take a cue from the initiative and believe that they could turn their dreams to reality.
Among top dignitaries present at the event who gave goodwill messages include the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Yakubu Danladi and Commissioner for Communications, Honourable Bolanle Olukoju.
Other guests at the event include Owalobbo of Obbo Ayegunle;Oba Samuel Adelodun, the APC Lagos State Chairman; Pastor Cornelius Ojelade, Deputy Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly; Honourable Ojo Olayiwola, other members of the the 10th Kwara State house of Assembly, Spouses of the Chairmen of local government in Kwara State, APC Stakeholders and a host of others.
The event, interestingly also witnessed a Raffle draw where fantastic prizes were won by lucky participants, courtesy of the foundation.
DWAC charitable foundation areas of focus include but not limited to providing access to quality education, community health initiatives, youth empowerment and leadership development.
