BRIEF PROFILE OF BTA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT; BARRISTER TITILOPE AKOGUN

BRIEF PROFILE OF BTA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT; BARRISTER TITILOPE AKOGUN

Barrister Joseph Titilope Akogun was born on 1^st June, 1990 into the family of Chief Obanla of Okore Compound; Chief Gbenga Joseph, in the economically fast growing city of Omu Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Akogun as he is fondly called by admirers and political associates attended Joeson Nursery and Primary School, Boriya, in Baruten Local Government of Kwara State, a school he was one of the pioneers.

After his successful Primary Education, he thereafter proceeded to Emmanuel Baptist College, Ilorin, where he was also one of the Pioneers, and after an outstanding Secondary Education, proceeded to study law in the Better by Far University; University of Ilorin, Kwara State in 2008 and graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in Law.

Upon his convocation, he proceeded to the mandatory One year law school, in the Abuja campus of the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Nigeria Bar in the year 2014, before proceeding on the One year mandatory National Youth Service at Nassarawa State University, Keffi.

The young philanthropist started his law career with E.V. Uche Anene & Co. and then proceeded to Hope Ozegbe & Co., both in the city of Abuja, before establishing his firm TITILOPE EMMANUEL & CO. (Akogun Chambers), in 2017 in Abuja, FCT and Omu aran, Kwara State respectively.

The young Philanthropist, Political leader and Advocate, began his entrepreneurial and youthful leadership advocacy from his University days, wherein he was appointed a member of the Judiciary, Faculty of law, he thereafter proceeded to contest for a slot, to become a member of the Student Representative Council (SRC), of the Student Union, but lost the election woefully.

He was not deterred by this, but was further challenged to build a stronger political base for future political challenges. The Young Akogun had to engage in riding commercial motorcycle, despite being a law student, went to support his dad in his business while on holidays, and later had to pull resources together, get some loans from friends and families, to commence Akogun Soccer Show in Tanke, Oke odo, Ilorin, where he commenced several laudable initiatives that endeared him to the students and brought him to prominence, especially as a student. He thereafter contested as a Public Relations’ Officer of the Students’ Union in 2012/2013 and won with a landslide.

The young Akogun while in office, championed the staging of the First Ever Students’ Leadership Summit and launching of the Students’ Union maiden Edition Journal themed “Challenges facing the youths in the 21^st Century”. This had become an annual event till date in the Better by far University. This was towards inspiring the students of the University that there is hope for the youthful generation especially after graduation from School. While his tenure lasted, he made information accessibility close to the students, was always pro – active and ever available to the plight of students, both on and off campus, as he led students to protest against the epileptic power supply on different occasions with tangible results, thereafter started the Tanke Community Students’ Association (TACOSA), which was a communication bridge between the Tanke Indigenes, Tanke Student Residents, the Students’ Union and the Kwara State Government.

TACOSA under Akogun’s Chairmanship was accustomed to engaging itself in Community development services like burning heaps of refuse, repairing damaged roads on Tanke axis, supported by other Students and some Tanke indigenes. On Two occasions, TACOSA’s concerns and activities drew the attention of the then GM, Radio Kwara, who confessed his admiration for TACOSA’s efforts and on another occasion, drew the immediate attention of Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) as they immediately swung to action to complement TACOSA’s humanitarian efforts on roads.

The activities of TACOSA later endeared it to the SSA ICT; Usman Hamza, who was then always very supportive to all the Association’s activities, and also spurred the Executive Governor, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed, to release Five (5) new transformers to Tanke community on TACOSA’s formal request. A feat most of Tanke leaders and elders of thought had tried and was futile. The activities of TACOSA also endeared it to the Director of Programs of the ABS Constituency Project, Alh. Onila and Alh. Ibrahim Olayinka, whom upon TACOSA’s request to Sen. ABS, found the request worthy and approved the rehabilitation of Tanke Oke Odo community road which had in time past being a trap to motorists.

The list goes endless, as the Young Akogun was honoured as the “Most Innovative Executive of the Year” by the Students’ Union, University of Ilorin in 2013. He also while at the Nigeria Law School, led a delegation to the Kwara Political Leader; Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, which culminated to the support of all Kwara Law Students in 2014 by the distinguished Senator. A feat no other law school set had been able to beat or surpass.

Young Akogun has thus seen the need to prioritize the self reliance of his people, towards drastically reducing poverty, by granting interest free loans in his Compound Support Scheme (CSS) & his Artisans’ Support Scheme (ASS) initiatives towards improving the economy of his Local Government and its residents towards self reliance from the grasp of over dependence on Government and the community, re – branding his people as a very productive people, encouraging bright students via his Outstanding Students’ Scholarship Scheme (OSSS) and promoting communal unity through his Inter City Football competitions, Yam & Cassava Festivals and debate Competitions amongst students, under the umbrella of his BTA Foundation.

The Young legal practitioner speaks English, ibaruba, igboona and Yoruba respectfully, and is happily married to Mrs Esther Joseph with one son.