By Onyekachi Victoria Philip
Chief Executive Officer of the ever popular La Campagne Tropicana resort, Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, has challenged wealthy Nigerians and Africans to turn birthday gifts into donations for the less privileged.
Akinboboye made the call shortly after marking his 68th birthday on August 16th, 2026, urging wealthy people to encourage their friends, families and business associates to donate to people in need instead of buying personal gifts for celebrants.
He also added that his own birthday tradition of redirecting gifts to orphanages, motherless homes and charitable organisations has produced significant results over the years.
According to him, the practice can create a much bigger impact if wealthy people adopt it across Nigeria and Africa.
Akinboboye also explained that if two hundred friends and associates of one wealthy person donate N20,000 each instead of buying a birthday gift, the total donation would amount to N4 million.
“Imagine one wealthy man or woman, that 200 of his or her friends in Nigeria accepts this philanthropy challenge and donate N20,000 each. The money that goes to the needy becomes N4,000,000,” he said.
He further estimated that if wealthy Nigerians celebrating their birthdays every day adopt the initiative, about N20 million could reach the poor daily, amounting to N7.3 billion in one year.
“Now let’s add up, approximately, one wealthy man or woman in Nigeria celebrates birthday everyday. Meaning that, daily the poor can receive a daily giving of N20 million daily! And in a year, the less privileged would have received N7.3 billion and more,” Akinboboye added.
He said the initiative could also encourage more people to give and increase the circulation of money among less privileged communities.
“Now, it does not stop there because more people will be encouraged to give! A new standard of living will emerge, more circulation of money and goodwill going down the social ladder will emerge, the multiplier effect would be overwhelming in the long run,” he said.
One of the notable humanitarian gestures linked to the tradition was the free eye surgery provided for 60 Ethiopians in Turkey in connection with his 60th birthday.
A Cataract Donation Certificate from Turkey, titled “Katarakt Bağış Sertifikası,” revealed that 60 Ethiopians were selected to benefit from eye surgery.
The certificate stated that the beneficiaries included people at risk of losing their sight due to ageing, malnutrition, healthcare challenges, congenital conditions, unsafe water and poor hygiene.
It also appreciated Akinboboye for supporting vulnerable people, describing him as someone who had become “the eyes of the oppressed.”
The certificate was signed by Kemal Özdal, General President.