Lijirin Ruth Ayomide (JP), a native of Ode- Irele, Ikale, Ondo State is the Executive Director of LiRA Foundation.
The business administration HND graduate of Lagos State Polytechnic and Msc in management science from Ladoke Akintola University, disclosed that the foundation was established to empower people and help the less privileged.
She said: “LiRA is the abreviation of my name, Lijirin Ruth Ayomide. What brought about LiRA Foundation is that I grew up in a slum; Odunsi Street, Bariga. I know how we struggled to feed then and I decided that when I grow up, I will support people. For me, giving is not about how fat your bank account is but it is determination.”
She said the foundation which was established about four years ago is in the process of being registered.
In 2019, the foundation held the back to school programme at Ladilak area of Bariga where school bags, scandals, writing materials and so on were given to students who turned out enmass.
“The less privileged in my area; Bariga Local Council Development Area was the starting point because I grew up there.
We get support from individuals, private companies, governor, LG chairmen among others. I am just an intermediary between the rich and the poor.”
Lijirin believes that in the next five years, LiRA will get grant from foreign countries because of the contract she made when she traveled to Israel.
She said though there are many challenges facing the foundation, she is not discouraged.
She said she has been embarrassed by someone who told her that she is also a less privileged. “Some people will just embarrass me by saying; “if you don’t have, don’t force yourself.”
She said she has approached some dignitaries to support the activities of the foundation but they did not support and it was those she least expected that supported the foundation.
She disclosed that she works in a bank and people often ask how she copes with her job and the foundation. “Helping people around me is what I love doing,” she said.
She adviced the youth to be patient, consistent and not be discouraged no matter the challenges they face because Rome was not built in a day.
According to her, she is not yet fully into politics but she has done a lot for her community in terms of empowerment and if given an opportunity in politics, she would do more.
Lijirin said she has been to Ghana,Benin republic, Dubai and Jerusalem. She disclosed that she was supposed to be in UK sometime ago, but could not go due to Covid 19.
“Travelling is very good, you learn, meet people and exposed to different cultures.” She said.
