By Bilesanmi Abayomi KOKO
A UK-based Nigerian freelance journalist, Dare Lasisi, with multiple aliases such as “Alujoni writer,” “Jagunmolu,” “Egunmogaju,” “Baba Karamo,” and several others, has paid a courtesy call to the President of Arise Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joel Odumaki, ahead of his 50th birthday.
Several human rights activists and comrades joined Dr. Joe amid joy and happiness to welcome Nigeria-based residents of Scotland.
Jagunmolu who will be a year older on February 17, just returned to Nigeria on Wednesday evening to celebrate his 50th birthday anniversary, see his comrades, and discuss how to make the country a better place.
He was accompanied by friends, lawyers, journalists, and fans to the Arise Women organization office at Omole Phase 1, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, where he was shown around the new office.
He was described as a humanist and philanthropist; consistent and passionate about his course; intelligent; iconic; an advocate of the masses; and a social media influencer, among others.
The elated February-born celebrant, Jagunmolu, who was also affected by the current scarcity of naira notes that has crippled many economic activities over the past few weeks, shared pounds sterling with friends and comrades in attendance.
Jagunmolu, who is also a mentee of Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, was later hosted and entertained by the president of Arise Women.
He stated, “I came to Nigeria to have my birthday because I will be 50 next week on the 17th of February, and my leader and boss said that I should come to see her in the office today to meet my comrades, and I said okay, I will come around and see my comrades and discuss issues on how to make the country a better place. So, I’m so glad to be here. To be honest, I’m not even ready to go to sleep because I cannot say no to the command of my boss.”
Reacting to the new naira notes, he said, “Although, at the airport, I am yet to get my luggage and stuff, and it’s very hard to even change my pounds to naira because of the scarcity in town. It was very hard. I just imagine I came with my money, and I don’t have Naira to change it; the bank is not open. I am still glad to be here; I’m 50 now, and 50’s a landmark.”
Continuing, he said, “It’s not a small age, and if you are lucky to be at that age in life, 50 is worth celebrating. I said I should come to Nigeria, which is my country of birth, and celebrate it with my friends and comrades. I’ll be seeing some nice people, like my friends Mr. Elijah and Abiodun Salami, who have been nice to me. When I arrived, he came to the airport and picked me up. He has been a nice man to me since I came. Thank him for me and some of my friends as well; they have been very nice to me.
“I will be celebrating my birthday because my mind told me I should come to Nigeria and celebrate the birthday; I don’t need to do it in Scotland or London because I am a Nigerian. I am a proud Nigerian,” Jagunmolu said.
While explaining the high cost of the flight. He, however, reiterated his commitment to fight for human rights and extend helping hands to Nigerians.
“Coming to Lagos is not cheap because the flight ticket is a lot; I paid about N1.2 million just to be here today. It’s not that cheap, but as long as I’m alive, I’m committed to fighting for justice. Fight for human rights and defend people. And people know my commitment on Facebook as well.”
On empowerment, he said, “Till today, I’ve given more than 50 laptops to total strangers on Facebook, and people can testify. All because I want to give them hope to learn some skills in IT to go back to university to have some knowledge. This is, of course, my money. It’s not from politicians or anything, because I want to give hope. After all, 21 years ago, I was given hope myself at the Commonwealth Office in London.
“They gave me that scholarship to go to London and said I needed to give back to my society. I need to be of help to people; I have sponsored the education of many on Facebook. I have paid many bills just to be grateful to God for the new stage in my life at 50. My dream is to do more to be more committed to humanity, to fight for justice, to help the less privileged, and to be the voice of change.”
He noted that the president of Arise Women, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, was among those who inspired him, and she has been his mentor as far back as 1993.
“Because I’ve been inspired by many people. Most importantly, my mentor is here. I met her in 1993. That was when I was a student at the University of Ilorin, in Kwara State, and she had been so nice to me and so supportive. And she was even a friend to my late mother. “We used to relate as friends, so I’m glad to be here,” The Egunmogaju of Nigeria Bloggers said.
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