Among students of higher institutions especially in the Southwest axis, Funmi Ayinke Waheed Adekojo is a household name. Thousands have benefited from her support and many more are still benefiting.
Her philanthropic works also include helping widows and single mothers many of who she empowered either by providing equipment for small businesses or cash to start something worthwhile. Through her Funmi Ayinke Humanity Foundation, FHF, she has been touching lives and continues to.
Only a few weeks ago, she came to the aide of school kids in ONDO State by providing exercise books for thousands of students n Akoko area of the state, to the joy of parents and traditional rulers in the area.
The female Engineer, who is a mother herself will always tell you she is what she is today because her husband has been there for her. A Fellow of the prestigious Nigeria Society of Engineers, FNSE, she also holds fellowships of many other local and International organizations such as Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers, FNIMechE, Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants FIMC, Fellow, International Management Specialists UK, FIMS. She also holds two honourary doctorate degrees from reputable Universities.
Her engineering company is reputed to be one of the most reliable with government and private sector clients.
Despite all these successes, she has also ventured into music. It was gathered that the music stint came as inspirations from God hence the type of songs she sings.
She started out as musician last year and her second single, I will Make it, is already making waves in radio Stations in Lagos and Abuja. A few weeks ago she won awards for Inspirational Song of the Year as well as Songwriter of the Year from organisers of West Africa Gospel Music Awards. She writes all her songs herself and she has confided in friends that she has an avalanche of songs already written. Her songs is being played on radio stations in Nigeria and in the United States where she is quickly gaining grounds as an Inspirational song buff.
According to her, she set out to sing after she had received lyrics from God and she documented them only to later find that they could be put together as songs. The interesting thing about her new pursuit is that she is neither trained as a Songwriter nor as a singer. The talent is however obvious, listening to her presentation, one would however not be left in doubt as to its originality, subdued voice as well as the passion behind the songs. After the first song, others have come including her rendition of Halleluyah which was a major break on YouTube.
In all these, Funmi Ayinke sees the hand of God. Her music, just like her philanthropic activities are all geared towards encouraging people, motivating them, especially the youths to believe in themselves and their God-given potentials.
‘I believe God has given me this talent to reach out to more youths’ she stated, adding that when you write, they hardly read, but through music, you can reach out to them, put your message across and they listen in their closets, on their beds and while on the move. ‘If they continue to cherish their talents, and their ability to make a headway, they will soar and the world will be a better place for all. ‘I use my life as an example, and let them know that if I can make it, they also can, she added.
She recently introduced another platform to reaching out to the youths using Instagram. This she has done by hosting weekly Talent Hunt and Motivational talk programme essentially for youths. Speakers who are eloquent, distinguished achievers are invited to come and speak to the audience. After their speech, participants who have fulfilled the task of the week and prejudged by a panel are presented and the winners as selected by the judges go home with as much as 170,000 Naira. In some instances, as many as 15 people have been selected. Her followers on Instagram look forward to this opportunity as it helps in honing their skills, while providing an avenue to make money and use same for their personal development.
