…….Oluomo 1 Foundation unveils first batch of empowerment programme.
The birthday celebration of Chief Dr. Sunday Owoyemi, the Oluomo 1 of Akure and National Chairman of Oluomo 1 Foundation, became a major empowerment event on Saturday, 29 August 2026, as the philanthropist launched the first batch of his ambitious skills acquisition programme in the heart of Akure.
The event, held at 22 Yemi Ajibade Street, Akure, attracted an impressive gathering of traditional rulers, government representatives, captains of industry, business associates and community leaders.
Leading the dignitaries was the Deji of Akure, Oba (Dr.) Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi (CON), Odundun II, who used the occasion to commend Owoyemi for investing in the people and giving back to his community.
The initiative brings together several vocational and technical disciplines under one roof, with training available in beauty salon services, hairstyling, bead making, carpentry, truck driving,shoemaking and ICT, among others.
The launch marked the commencement of the first batch of the programme, which is being powered by Owoyemi through the Oluomo 1 Foundation.
The Deji of Akure applauded Owoyemi for choosing human-capital development as a major component of his philanthropic activities.
The monarch praised the businessman for remembering his roots and using his resources to create opportunities for people, particularly at a time when practical skills are increasingly important for economic survival.
The Deji also urged the beneficiaries to demonstrate seriousness and make the most of the opportunity provided by the foundation.
Government representatives and captains of industry who attended the occasion equally commended the initiative.
Owoyemi, popularly known as Sunny Owo, is an illustrious son of Akure and the owner of Sunbeth Hotels.
He also has interests in the haulage sector and maintains business relationships with associates across Europe, Africa, Canada and America.
However, his public profile extends beyond business.
Over the years, Owoyemi has been involved in various philanthropic and empowerment interventions that have benefited thousands of people in Akure and beyond.
The new skills acquisition centre provides a more organised platform for continuing that commitment.
The philosophy behind the initiative is to equip beneficiaries with skills that can remain useful long after the programme ends.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn practical trades and technical skills that could enable them to establish businesses, secure employment and, eventually, create jobs for others.
The inclusion of ICT alongside traditional vocational skills also gives the programme a contemporary dimension.
In his inaugural speech, the President of Oluomo 1 Foundation, Mr. Lukman Gbemi (3T), expressed appreciation to Owoyemi for his philanthropic gesture.
Gbemi urged the trainees to take their training seriously and concentrate fully on their chosen areas.
He advised them to remain disciplined and committed, stressing that the opportunity provided by the foundation could become a turning point if properly utilised.
The launch coincided with Owoyemi’s birthday and provided an opportunity for friends, associates, beneficiaries and well-wishers to celebrate with him.
The occasion featured cultural displays, entertainment and other funfair, adding colour to the ceremony.
But the most striking feature of the celebration was its purpose.
Owoyemi did not simply gather people to celebrate another year of his life. He used the occasion to create opportunities for others.
The birthday therefore became a celebration of both life and impact.
For the beneficiaries, the new centre offers a chance to acquire practical skills and begin a journey toward self-reliance.
For Akure, it represents a significant privately powered intervention in human-capital development.
And for Sunny Owo, the birthday has become another chapter in a philanthropic story that is increasingly centred on one idea:
Give a person a skill, and you give that person a chance to build a future.
As the first batch begins training, expectations are high that the initiative will grow and reach more beneficiaries in subsequent phases.
At Yemi Ajibade Street, a birthday was celebrated.
But beyond the music, culture and festivities, Akure gained a new platform for skills, enterprise and opportunity.
