The Alice Aniebo Soile Foundation (AASF) was officially launched in Lagos on Friday, with a host of dignitaries from Nigeria and the Diaspora in attendance.
The event, held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, drew prominent personalities, including the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, who served as the Royal Father of the Day; Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation and Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (publishers of the Tribune titles), Ambassador Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; and the Asiwaju of Remoland, Dr S.K. Onafowokan.
Also present were chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and registrar of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr Ronke Soyombo, both of whom served as guests of honor.
Many participants from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States also joined the event, either in person or virtually via Zoom.
Speaking at the launch, Oba Ajayi extolled the virtues of the late Mrs Alice Aniebo Soile, in whose honor the foundation was established, and lauded her son, Professor Lai Soile, founder of the foundation and a United Kingdom-based academician, for his vision.
The monarch, pledging his full support, urged others, both at the venue and online, to rally behind the cause. According to him, “there’s nothing more impactful than giving someone access to quality education.
It is a collective responsibility, not just the government’s.”
“The foundation’s focus on education, health, and community support reflects the enduring values that Mrs Soile held dear.
These are not just worthy causes; they are transformative forces that shape the future of individuals, communities and even nations,” she said.
Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu, herself a medical professional like Prof. Soile, commended his vision and efforts. Drawing from her over three decades of experience sustaining the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, she said:
“Longevity in such ventures demands clarity of purpose, resilient leadership and strong partnerships.
Building and sustaining a foundation is like planting a tree.
If rooted in integrity and watered with commitment, it will bear fruit for generations.”
Awolowo Dosumu, who was the special guest of honour, said further:
Referencing the enduring legacy of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Oba Ajayi praised Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu for her tireless work in sustaining that institution over the years.
He emphasized that similar dedication and resilience would be needed to ensure that the AASF thrives.
In her remarks, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, represented by Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Editor of Saturday Tribune, echoed Oba Ajayi’s sentiments. She praised the late Mrs Soile’s impact in Ogun State and described the foundation as a meaningful way to transform memory into mission.
“The foundation’s focus on education, health, and community support reflects the enduring values that Mrs Soile held dear.
These are not just worthy causes; they are transformative forces that shape the future of individuals, communities and even nations,” she said.
Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu, herself a medical professional like Prof. Soile, commended his vision and efforts. Drawing from her over three decades of experience sustaining the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, she said:
“Longevity in such ventures demands clarity of purpose, resilient leadership and strong partnerships. Building and sustaining a foundation is like planting a tree. If rooted in integrity and watered with commitment, it will bear fruit for generations.”
Awolowo Dosumu, who was the special guest of honor, said further:
“Today, we are gathered not only to celebrate the beginning of an organization, but to honor a legacy that is rooted in compassion and service. The late Mrs Alice Aniebo Soile was, by all accounts, a woman who lived for others.
Through quiet acts of care, steadfast values, and a generous spirit, she touched lives in ways that words may never fully capture, and her family, by establishing this Foundation, should be applauded for transforming her memory into mission.
“With its focus on education, healthcare, and community support, this Foundation reflects the enduring values she apparently held dear.
These are not just worthy causes.
They are transformative forces.
They shape, not only the future of individuals, but the destiny of communities and nations.
“It is instructive to note that the President of the Alice Aniebo Foundation and, evidently, its moving spirit, Professor Lai Soile, belongs to the medical profession like me.
I salute your vision and your efforts.
“I am particularly moved to witness this event, having spent over three decades sustaining the work of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, an institution committed to the vision and ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
That journey has taught us that longevity in such endeavors depends on clarity of purpose, resilient leadership and most of all, the strength of partnerships and networks.
“As someone who has the privilege of experience, I can testify that the journey of sustaining a legacy is not always easy. But it is always worth it.
Building and sustaining a foundation is much like planting a tree.
It requires nurturing, patience and protection, especially in the early years.
But if rooted deeply in integrity and watered with commitment, it will bear fruit for generations to come.
“As you embark on this journey, I urge you to build alliances, engage communities, remain flexible in strategy, but firm in purpose.
Your work is not only to remember the past but to shape the future.
I pray that this Foundation will move forward with courage, be sustained with fortitude, and remain steadfast in its determination to serve.”
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Lagos NIDCOM coordinator Hon. Dipo Odebowale, also praised Prof. Soile for the initiative.
She described the foundation as a model of how Nigerians in the Diaspora can positively impact their homeland.
“This intervention will undoubtedly uplift the less privileged in education, healthcare, and community development, thereby complementing government efforts toward national progress,” she noted.
Dr Ronke Soyombo of TRCN similarly commended the foundation but called for a broader scope:
“Beyond infrastructure, let’s also invest in teachers’ training and welfare to fully improve education outcomes.”
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Tunde Ogunsanwo of the Olabisi Onabanjo University traced the history of Western education in Nigeria from the missionary and colonial eras to the intervention of visionary leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose introduction of free education in the Western Region opened doors for many, including himself.
He lamented the current crisis in Nigeria’s education sector, citing dilapidated infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms.
“It’s time to stop pointing fingers and start acting. We all must contribute to education development, not only in Remoland but across Nigeria,” he said.
In his address, the President of the foundation, Prof. Lai Soile, thanked attendees for their support and called for continued partnership.
He emphasized the importance of everyone—regardless of financial status—contributing to educational development in Remoland, Ogun State, and Nigeria at large.
He recalled his mother’s deep passion for education, noting how she had positively impacted many children and youths during her lifetime.
“Education is the best legacy we can leave behind,” he said. “And it is a shared responsibility.”
The late Mrs. Alice Aniebo Soile, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 90, was a devoted and committed teacher known for her lifelong service to education and community development.
