Written by:
Adegbenro Adebanjo
Abeokuta

GFF: EMPOWERING PEOPLE, CHANGING LIVES

The relief on their faces was visible. They had come form different parts of the state to benefit from one of

the socio –economic empowerment programmes of the Gateway Front Foundation, GFF, which has consistently

identified with people at the lower rung of the economic ladder. As Yeye Olufunke Daniel, chairperson of the

GFF began the distribution of crash helmets to commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada; the

beneficiaries could not hide their joy. Songs of praises broke out in different corners of the Southwest Resource

Centre, Abeokuta, Venue of the empowerment programme.

That simple gesture by the Non Governmental Organization founded by Otunba Gbenga Daniel in 1999 and

which his wife is now running put 500 Okada men back to business. Prior to the Wednesday, January 21 event,

most of them could not really do business as their inability to buy the helmet that is now a statutory

requirement put them on collision course with the law. Kayode Ogunwale and Babatunde Animashaun, two of

the beneficiaries said by giving them the crash helmets, Yeye Daniel gave them new lifeline for their daily bread.

The initiator of the gesture, Yeye Olufunke Daniel said it was meant to support the new safety measure put in

place by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and to empower cyclists who may not have the means

to comply with the new order and remain in business. The GFF’s support for the Okada men, according to her,

is in tandem with the objective of the non governmental organization which targets poverty eradication and the

economic empowerment of the less privileged in the society.

Femi Egbeoluwa, Permanent Secretary Bureau of transportation says the GFF action will reduce road traffic

accident, improve the quality of life of the riders and even save many lives. Mr. Olu Olagunju, the State

Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp, also commended the efforts of GFF saying such gesture and

the cooperation from the State government has made his job a lot easier. To the beneficiaries Yeye Daniel

and the GFF have shown their concern for their economic well being and survival.

The empowerment of Okada commercial riders through the distribution of crash helmets by the GFF under the

leadership of Yeye Olufunke Daniel will not surprise many people. Since its establishment by Otunba Gbenga

Daniel well before his assumption of office as the Governor of Ogun State, GFF has maintained an unbroken

relationship with the people, especially those who are in constant battle with economic survival. GFF regularly

unfolds initiatives targeted at changing their economic status and making life better for them.

Though a Non –Governmental organization with a multi-sectored orientation that it has discharged creditably

well, GFF has also distinguished itself in the area of poverty alleviation and economic emancipation of the

people. The GFF has carved a niche for itself by touching the lives of its immediate constituency where they

need it most. Through its trade empowerment scheme beneficiaries from field as diverse as block making, ice

block molding, hair dressing, tailoring poultry farming, mechanics, petty trading, fishing and many more get

various items of trade to start them off or augment what they already have. GFF also operates a Micro credit

Scheme. Under this scheme revolving loans are giving to needy people to jumpstart their business ventures.

Because of its belief that more women find it difficult to get loans to start of businesses the micro credit

scheme is tilted to favor them. The NGO also trains unemployed youths in different vocations, after completion

they get Micro credit that enable them to set up the vocation they have learnt.

In the last ten years GFF has created opportunities for unemployed people to become employers of labour

thereby contributing to the fight against unemployment. It has helped in the drive to raise the production base

of the economy while also fighting rural urban migration and raising the aggregate income of the rural

population. Ayo Farinu, a beneficiary says it is clear that the GFF has succeeded in catering for the poor and

also redressing social and economic imbalance of the society.

The GFF also boasts of the most extensive rural connection in Ogun State and which may be unbeatable in any

part of Nigeria. GFF services for instance have been taken to several villages and all the 236 wards in Ogun

State. For GFF no terrain is too difficult, no settlement too far when it comes to taking its services to the

people.

GFF is therefore having a direct impact on the life of the poor. The foundation through its operation has been

able to alleviate rural poverty. Its micro credit scheme has increased the pace of economic activities in the rural

areas. People who hitherto had no means of livelihood or whose petty business were on the verge of collapse

have used GFF micro credit scheme to embark on small business ventures and resuscitate ailing ones. GFF

according to one of its management staff provides credit facilities to the poor without collateral security. This is

a novel idea which has gone a long way in providing an alternative source of funds and also reducing the

exploitation of the masses by moneylenders.

Research findings have confirmed that rural household income has increased by about 60% as a result of the

activities of the GFF in the last 10 years, since beneficiaries are engaged in productive ventures, which fetch

them income from time to time. Thus, the former situation where most rural house-hold farm or trade mainly

on a subsistent basis has continued to decrease. The economic implication of this in terms of per Capital

Income and National Income can simply be described as “remarkable”.

If nothing else, GFF has succeeded in making a valid statement for the poor. It has debunked the erroneous

impression that the poor are not ready to work. It has proved that if financial resources are made available to

the poor at reasonable terms and conditions, the poor can contribute to the economy of the nation significantly

rather than being burden on the economy.

GFF is not a mono service outfit; it carries out other services for the benefits of the people. The Other life

changing programmes of the GFF include but are not limited to Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses.

Under this scheme GFF regularly takes the battle against childhood killer diseases to the nook and crannies of

the State. It is also directly involved in the immunization of children against diseases. GFF also carries out

regular de-worming of children, which it does through competent medical experts while treated mosquito nets

are given out to help the people reduce the incidence of malaria. GFF is also involved with activities related to

maternal health, Oral health and dental hygiene, advocacy campaign on breast cancer and fibroid, vision testing

and free eye care and treatment of people with heart related diseases.

On the social plane GFF has continued to carry out activities that are contributing meaningfully to the overall

development of tomorrow’s people, the youth. GFF is changing the course of their life for better. The

foundation carries out counseling of youth to discourage them from walking the path of drug abuse under its

drug demand reduction scheme. It also mounts vigorous campaign against cultism and doping in sports.

Another flagship initiative of GFF in the social sector is Care for the Aged Progamme. From time to time GFF

organizes the proramme in designated local government where the aged receive various materials that include

blankets, foams, stoves and cash. The aged during the programme also undergo medical examination and are

giving drugs supplied free of charge by the foundation. Thousands of beneficiaries have also been given wheel

chairs under the Wheel of Hope Initiative, which also involves training of the physically challenged in vocations

suitable to their situation.

Expectedly education also ranks high in the scheme of things of GFF. This is in tandem with the philosophy of

its founder, Otunba Daniel who has never wavered in his support for the development of education in Nigeria.

Under education GFF runs two major schemes, Scholarship and brain masters. The foundation gives out

scholarship to indigent but brilliant students while through the Brain MASTERS students are encouraged to

improve in the art of public speaking. Those who excel get mouth-watering prizes from the chairperson of the

foundation.

If the success of a scheme is hinged on the positive impact it has on the lives of its target beneficiaries, then

GFF, with all modesty, can be described as a tremendous success. In qualitative and quantitative terms, GFF

through the guidance of its Chairperson Yeye Olufunke Daniel has had such significant impact on the

beneficiaries that it is now becoming an institution for the economic emancipation of the poor.

To the masses therefore, GFF represents bacon of hope and the dawn of a new era. Apart from making the

poor relevant in the scheme of things, it has stopped their gradual economic and social marginalization. The

impact of the Foundation now reverberates not only in Ogun State but also through out the length and breadth

of the federation and even beyond.