Osinbajo Advocates Charity for Sustainable Social Change

Yemi Osinbajo delivered a memorial lecture in honor of HRH Igw Vincent Onyekelu, reflecting on the legacy of service and community building left by Onyekelu. Osinbajo articulated the distinction between charity and philanthropy, stating that charity provides immediate relief to urgent human needs, while philanthropy seeks long-term systemic change to address root causes of social issues.

He emphasized that charity addresses symptoms of social problems, whereas philanthropy aims to create sustainable solutions. Osinbajo noted that throughout history, charity has been a noble instinct among people, highlighting its role in alleviating suffering and supporting vulnerable communities.

He called for a shift from merely responding to poverty through charity to confronting the structural issues that perpetuate it, thereby fostering a more impactful approach to social change.