NAME: AKIRI WINIFRED BRASORITEI

SCHOOL: ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA AKOKO.

COURSE OF STUDY: LAW

LEVEL: 400 LEVEL

THE BATON: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE IDEOLOGIES LEADING TO AIYEKU FOUNDATION CONCEPTION IN COMPARISON TO THE PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI.

Introduction

The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the perspectives, ideologies and beliefs which

brought about the conception of the Aiyeku Foundation, while comparing it to the philosophical

perspective of Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

 

The topic chosen, if merely glanced at without a deep pondering may be judged as not relating

to the question asked. However, the purpose of critical thinking does not end at considering the

present question only, it also aims at birthing resolutions for the future.

 

Before moving on to discuss exhaustively, the ideologies of the Aiyeku Foundation, it will be

briefly explained, why the topic was coined the way it was.

 

After critically thinking, I realized that the philosophical perspective of Fela Anikulapo Kuti which

includes helping the poor, needy or marginalized with no strings attached is like a baton which

he left in the sands of time and in due time, the Aiyeku Foundation picked up this baton and

began to run with it.

 

This point was further emphasized in my mind as I recalled the speech given by the president of

the foundation during the last Scholarship Award Program. I remembered how he admonished

the students to not just receive help from the foundation, but that in their own time, also extend

 

help to people in need.

 

As I also remembered how I was inspired during the program so much that I made a firm

decision in my mind that I would by God’s grace become a beacon of hope to youths in my own

time the way Aiyeku Foundation has become to me, I was compelled to agree with the thought

conceived in my mind that indeed, the ideologies of the Aiyeku Foundation is a baton which was

received and will be passed down to the next generation as well. It was based on the premises

that the title of the essay was birthed.

I will now go on to analyze the ideologies of the Aiyeku Foundation.

 

THE ANALYSIS OF THE VISION OF AIYEKU FOUNDATION.

Aiyeku Foundation’s vision is rooted in the principles of altruism, compassion, and social

responsibility. By providing support to the needy, poor, and marginalized without expecting

anything in return, the Foundation embodies the spirit of selflessness and generosity. This

approach is grounded in the recognition that social inequality and injustice are pervasive and

require collective action to address.

 

Proof that the foundation acts from a selfless motive is reflected in the fact that the members

are well to do, some of them not even in the country and so, it is not as though they are doing

these Philantrophic deeds with an expectation of something in return because in the actual

sense, since they are well to do, whatever monetary reward given might just be a drop of water

added to the ocean they swim in.

 

All of these goes to show that the reward which they do all of these in hope for is not an earthly

one but an eternal one, one which transcend human history.

 

The Foundation’s zero tolerance for any form of corruption and doing due diligence to ensure

that no corrupt students partakes of the benefits it shares shows that the foundation is really

concerned with making a change and not just to promote its name and spread its fame.

 

In a country where connections are needed to gain access into almost every sphere, the

foundation has made it self, its services and its benefits available to all in need of it. By making

the criteria for applying for the scholarship to be a level of performance in academics, the

foundation has emphasized the message that poverty is not an excuse to perform poorly and

also buttressing the fact that opportunities only favor the prepared.

 

The Foundation believes that helping the poor and marginalized as well as the needy should be

with no strings attached. The nation Nigeria is one where the syndrome of, “scratch my back

and I’ll scratch yours” is pervasive. What this means is that people rarely lift a hand to help

others if they won’t receive a form of gratification in return.

 

This is seen in the political, economic and even in the educational sector. Hence in most

instances, positions of power or influence are not given to those who qualify for it but rather to

those who can afford it.

 

The foundation however is fast correcting this social wrong by a form of leadership by example.

This has been mentioned in the introductory aspect of this essay.

 

Moreover, the phrase “no strings attached” is significant, as it emphasizes the need for

assistance to be provided without any ulterior motives or expectations of reciprocity. This

approach recognizes that the act of giving is not about personal gain or recognition, but about

genuinely making a difference in the lives of others.

 

Helping the needy, poor, and marginalized is an act that not only benefits the recipients but also

brings a sense of fulfillment and happiness to those who give. This notion is rooted in the idea

that true happiness and reward come not from material possessions or personal gains, but

from making a positive impact on the lives of others. By providing assistance without any

conditions or expectations, individuals can create a ripple effect of kindness and compassion

that can spread far and wide. This ripple effect is what the Aiyeku Foundation is creating by its

selfless acts.

 

In a world where corruption and greed often dominate the headlines, the acts of the foundation

serves as a reminder that there is still good in the world. It highlights the importance of empathy,

compassion, and kindness in breaking down the barriers that separate us and creating a more

just and equitable society.

 

COMPARISON OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL IDEOLOGIES OF FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI WITH THAT OF AIYEKU FOUNDATION.

On the surface level, one may be quick to conclude that the philosophical ideologies of Fela

Anikulapo Kuti are incomparable to that of Aiyeku Foundation thinking that they have no bearing

however when one critically analazyes it, one will see that there actually similarities in some of

these ideologies.

 

One major similarity is the crux of the actions of the Aiyeku Foundation as well as that of Fela

Anikulapo Kuti which is a desire to bring about a change in the corrupt societal norms. This

desire is portrayed in Fela’s musics as well as his activism. It is safe to conclude that for Fela,

what drove him, what made him push despite the difficulties and challenges which stood in his

way, was his desire to cause a positive change in the country. Some of the difficulties he faced

includes the fact that he was arrested on over two hundred occasions and was jailed as a

consequence for his open vocalization of the violent and oppressive regime controlling Nigeria.

For instance, the song ,” Authority Stealing” spoke against government corruption and theft,

emphasizing the need for accountability. Despite the hardship that followed release of songs

like that, he didn’t allow all of that deter him from his goal.

 

When one considers Aiyeku Foundation as well, one can easily decipher that what pushes the

president as well as members of the foundation to keep working to help students, is their desire

to bring about a positive change. The foundation keeps on achieving its goal not allowing

challenges like distance to be a limitation for them.

 

As a musician, Fela Kuti used his God given talent to also preach the message against

corruption and terrorism in Nigeria and therein lies another similarity in his ideologies and that

of the Aiyeku Foundation. The Foundation makes use of that which they have been bestowed

with which is great wealth to achieve their goals.

 

Another similarity which one can decipher is the fact that both the Aiyeku Foundation and

Fela Kuti believe in contributing their own quota in furtherance of the country’s development.

This particular ideology is one which I encourage everyone to imbibe because it will bring about

speedy development if people take it upon themselves as a responsible to make Nigeria better

in their own small ways and not waiting for one imaginary savior to come change the state of

things.

 

Lastly, one area to compare is the place of impact. Both the Aiyeku Foundation as well as Fela

Anikulapo Kuti have successfully impacted people in no small way. Through his music, Fela

Anikulapo-Kuti challenged the status quo, advocated for social justice, and inspired a generation

of activists and artists to use their voices for change. On the other hand, a lot of students have

been helped, pushed and impacted by the Aiyeku Foundation.

 

CONCLUSION.

The purpose of critical thinking as stated in the introductory part of this essay is not just to

state facts but to rather propel a pondering which will bring about answers to questions and

solutions to problems.

 

Having addressed that, it is safe to say that all that the Aiyeku Foundation is doing now is not

meant to end with just helping the students but rather as mentioned last year, to imbibe in the

helped students, the desires to become helpers in future, thus creating a chain reaction!

 

It is for this sole reason, that I tagged the ideologies behind their actions, “a baton in time” and I

pray that their utmost desire will be granted, which is that beneficiaries pick up this baton and

run with it and in turn hand it to the next generation as this is the eternal reward which lies in

helping the poor, marginalized and needy with no strings attached – it is that a chain reaction is

created and is passed down through generation as a baton is handed to the next leg of runners

in a relay race.

 

 

 

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