By Durotoye Abiodun Ayinde

In a society where success can sometimes create distance between people and their roots, Kolawole Suuti stands out as a man who has continued to remember where he started and the people who formed part of his journey.

His story is not simply about personal achievement; it is also a story of compassion, generosity and commitment to community development. Through his various philanthropic interventions, Suuti has consistently demonstrated that true success is not only about what one acquires, but also about what one gives back to society.

Despite the progress he has made, he has never forgotten his humble beginnings. Rather than allowing success to separate him from his roots, he has continued to identify with his community and contribute to its development in different ways.

Investing in Education

One of the areas where Kolawole Suuti has made a notable impact is education.

He has reportedly paid the WAEC examination fees of more than 100 students of Gbongan and Odeomu Anglican Grammar School, the institution where he himself had his secondary education.

This gesture is particularly significant because it reflects a personal connection with the school and the desire to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent young people from completing an important stage of their education.

For many families, examination fees can constitute a serious financial burden. By taking responsibility for the fees of numerous students, Suuti has helped provide opportunities for young people who might otherwise have struggled to sit for their examinations.

His intervention also represents a meaningful way of giving back to an institution that played a role in his own formative years.

Contributing to Community Infrastructure

Suuti’s philanthropy goes beyond individual assistance. He has also contributed to projects designed to improve the physical environment and wellbeing of the community.

Among his interventions is the construction of a perimeter fence at St. John’s African School, Isale Oja, Gbongan.

He has also supported the procurement of solar street lights covering the route from Oju Court through Idi Ifa to Oke Egan, an initiative aimed at improving visibility and contributing to safer movement within the community at night.

Such projects demonstrate an understanding that community development requires more than helping individuals. Infrastructure that serves the wider population can have a lasting impact on residents and businesses.

Empowering Young People

Another area of his intervention is the empowerment of young people in Gbongan.

Through empowerment initiatives and support for youths, Suuti has continued to demonstrate an interest in helping younger members of the community become more economically independent and productive.

Youth empowerment is particularly important in any developing community because providing young people with opportunities, skills and resources can have effects that extend beyond the individual beneficiaries to their families and the wider society.

A Man Who Remembers His Roots

Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of Kolawole Suuti’s philanthropic journey is the fact that his generosity remains closely connected to his roots.

He has not forgotten the environment where he grew up. He has not forgotten the school where he received his secondary education. He has not forgotten the community that helped shape the person he eventually became.

Instead, he has continued to return to that community with support whenever the opportunity arises.

His story therefore carries a message that is particularly relevant to successful individuals: wherever life takes you, never forget where you started.

Philanthropy, at its best, is not merely about giving money. It is about identifying needs, responding to them and helping create opportunities for others. In this regard, Suuti’s interventions in education, infrastructure, youth empowerment and other areas represent different expressions of the same philosophy—giving back to society.

Building a Lasting Legacy

The WAEC fees paid for more than 100 students, the perimeter fence at St. John’s African School, the solar street-light initiative and youth empowerment efforts are among the interventions associated with Kolawole Suuti’s commitment to his community.

And there is, as the saying goes, more to come.

His philanthropic journey demonstrates that one’s humble beginnings do not have to be forgotten when success arrives. On the contrary, they can become the very reason to extend a helping hand to those coming behind.

Through his foundation, Suuti Kolawole Abeefe Foundation (SKAF), many lives have been positively impacted. The foundation has become a platform through which he continues to support individuals, families, students and communities, particularly in areas of education, youth empowerment, community development and humanitarian assistance.

Through SKAF, numerous people have benefited from educational support, empowerment initiatives and other forms of assistance aimed at improving their livelihoods and creating opportunities for a better future.

As Gbongan continues to produce people who make their mark in different walks of life, the story of Kolawole Suuti offers a reminder that achievement becomes even more meaningful when it is used to uplift others.

Kolawole Suuti is not merely a man who remembers where he came from; he is a man who continues to invest in the place and people that shaped his journey.

And that, perhaps, is one of the most enduring definitions of a philanthropist: to rise, remember your roots, and reach back to lift others.