Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, the Chief of Philanthropy and CSR in Nigeria
These days, the mantra is ‘every man for himself’, and it is increasingly rare to find people who do not go the usual selfish route, but work hard to provide solutions to societal challenges.
If you do a quick Google search on the name ‘Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi’, you would be amazed at the content you’ll see, but this old newspaper clipping from 1967 might be one of the most striking things you’d see.
If there’s anything to note about the year 1967, it was the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War. During that time, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, OFR, mni had just been unanimously elected as the Associate Secretary for Africa in the International Students Conference (ISC) in Leiden, Holland. He was also the first Nigerian to be elected. On assuming the role, one of his first tasks was to lead a 17-nation delegation team to the war front during the Nigerian Civil War for advocacy and a peaceful resolution. We wonder if Nigeria still has such youths who are willing to trail this great man’s footsteps, in the process, build a legacy for themselves.
Although he studied Pharmacy at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), he veered off the pharmaceutical route and went on to study law at the University of Lagos later on. Since he embraced law practice, he has taken up several pro bono cases to support prisoners and the underprivileged in the society.
He joined the Rotary Club of Ikeja in 1969 where he served as the president of the club in 1977/78. He also became the first district governor of Rotary District 911 (Nigeria) where he laid a solid foundation for the growth of Rotary in the country.
With such a history of philanthropy, it comes as no surprise that he is the current Chairman of MTN Foundation, an organisation which has invested over 21 billion Naira since its inception. The MTN Foundation has brightened lives all over Nigeria through more than 900 impactful projects in health, education, economic empowerment, and national priority.
Through the MTN Foundation, he has championed causes including donations to orphanages and correctional facilities, lent his voice to the fight against substance abuse, powered education through the donation of e-libraries, and provision of healthcare facilities to improve maternal health.
In celebration of a life committed to improving lives, the MTN Foundation, in commemoration of the erudite Chairman’s birthday has revamped a library in his alma mater – the Obafemi Awolowo University – and converted it to an e-library.
The virtual handover ceremony took place today, Thursday, July 30, 2020.
