…as Shittu Amoo and Olalonpe Durodoye Foundation giving back with purpose
Speaking on the philanthropic side of his life, Professor Raifu Oyewole Durodoye while feature on LÉRÒ T’ÈMI Podcast with Mukhtar Ajelogbon, often recalls the humility of his beginnings. “I was raised from the miry clay,” he said, noting that one of the American creeds he adopted at an early stage was simple yet profound: “Look Around You And See Whom You Can Touch, And What You Can Change In Your Environment.”
That principle has guided his actions for decades.
One of his memorable encounters happened during a meeting with community elders. In the middle of their discussion, he noticed a physically challenged man crawling by the roadside. While others looked away, the professor could not. “It was unbearable for me,” he recounted. His immediate response was to provide a wheelchair, an intervention that restored dignity to the beneficiary and relief to the family.
The Shittu Amoo and Olalonpe Durodoye Foundation: Giving Back With Purpose.
To institutionalise his humanitarian commitments, the Shittu Amoo and Olalonpe Durodoye Foundation was established as a channel to respond to the developmental needs of the people, especially the vulnerable.
One of the major projects currently underway in Osogbo is the construction of a recess and community-support center, a facility designed to serve as a safe space for youth engagement, vocational support, rehabilitation, counselling, and recreational development. The center, according to the professor, will be fully equipped to provide a functional hub for community upliftment.
Easing Economic Hardships: Intervening in Motorcycle Financing
Another concern that caught Professor Durodoye’s attention was the exploitative repayment burden faced by commercial motorcyclists who purchase motorcycles on installment.
A unit that should cost about ₦1 million often ends up being bought at ₦3 million, trapping riders in debt.
After reviewing the issue with a financial institution, he discovered that the prevailing interest rate was 36%, an unsustainable figure for low-income earners. He immediately set aside funds to support selected beneficiaries and negotiated for a reduced rate of 5%. Due to Central Bank regulations, the final allowable rate was 7%, but the intervention still drastically reduced their financial pressure.
His logic was straightforward: many workers spend ₦1,500 daily on transportation, amounting to ₦45,000 to ₦50,000 monthly. If such individuals could instead pay ₦60,000 monthly to gradually own their own motorcycle, they would gain both economic stability and freedom, as well as the ability to choose their working hours without stress.
Rallying Elites for Osun’s Development
Recently, Professor Durodoye met with a group of Osogbo-born elites and non-indigenes, stressing that the development of Osun State cannot rely solely on politics. Citing global examples, he noted that:
The Chinese believe that even if they have only ten years to live, those years must be lived in comfort and productivity.
Americans plan over 100 years ahead, building structures for generations.
“We, too, must take responsibility for our youth and plan ahead,” he emphasized.
He urged the elite class to move beyond partisan lines and contribute to long-term developmental planning for Osun.
Osogbo Agenda and the Gubernatorial Vision
For Professor Durodoye on the “Osogbo Agenda”, it is high time for Osogbo indigen to become governor. But it is not just about supporting an indigenous son for the governorship, he believes Osogbo, and indeed every town in Osun State, must evolve into a model for excellence, becoming an example for other states to emulate.
“Yes, an Osogbo indigene has the right to be governor,” he said, “but the greater priority is how we transform Osun into a state others will study as a benchmark.”
A Message Like Scripture: Changing Lives, One Story at a Time
His everyday message is simple, almost sacred:
“Look around you – what can you do to change people for good”
One incident that shaped this philosophy involved a struggling fish seller who depended on credit to stock her goods. After listening to her challenges, he arranged for capital support, transforming her business and her livelihood.
Over the years, Professor Durodoye has also sponsored the educational expenses of numerous students. One of the most touching stories is that of a young man who gained admission to study Pharmacy but lost the opportunity for lack of funds. When he secured admission again the following year, he was included in the professor’s support program, proof that the help was not based on tribal affiliation, but on a commitment that “no potential should be wasted.”
As part of his commitment to giving back, Professor Durodoye said he has helped more than 70 Nigerians relocate to the diaspora. He also facilitated a program involving the U.S. Vice President under President Bill Clinton during Nigeria’s Obasanjo administration, which eased travel processes for Nigerians.
