The Chief Executive Officer/Founder of Tayo Leslie Foundation, (TLF) Ms Tayo Ann Leslie was the cynosure of all eyes at the 2026 Egbe Unity Day, which held at Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, at the weekend.
The elegant Ms Leslie shone like a million stars as she joined other illustrious sons and daughters of Egbe who were proud recipients of Awards and conferment of Chieftaincy Titles in recognition of their various contributions to the development the community.
Specifically, the Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayodele Irukera honoured Ms Leslie with a Merit Award to celebrate her dedicated and outstandingly generous humanitarian contributions and philanthropy.
The Tayo Leslie Foundation (TLF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization.
The foundation focuses on poverty alleviation, education access, and community support, with deep footprints across Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area, and the broader Okunland region in Kogi State, as well as Abuja.
In July 2024, TLF hit the international newswires unveiling an education lifelines programme dedicated to providing academic and school-age support to underprivileged primary school children to university level.
TLF is renowned for regular distribution of emergency food items (such as bags of rice, semolina, groundnut oil, red oil, salt, and seasoning cubes), cash grants to widows and families affected by violent crime and banditry; cash support to patients in need, including medical bill assistance at institutions like ECWA Hospital Egbe; distribution of vocational and entrepreneurial empowerment start-up kits, and community welfare programmes—dating back through COVID-19 lockdowns and economic downturns.
A broad spectrum of members of the community, who later besseeched the Leslies’ Oke–Agada, Egbe family residence was treated to funfair and cash gifts, lasting an entire day.
Addressing the crowd of well-wishers, who included women groups, youths, students, artisans, transporters and commercial motorcycle riders, Leslie expressed gratitude for the love and affection showered on her.
Speaking in her local Yagba dialect, she said she viewed her community as her vital energy, believing that without them, existence loses all its flavour.
According to her, her people are her ultimate strength, who over the years gave her the feeling that life would be completely hollow without them.
‘Prince Olatunji Olusoji As Egbe Son’
CEO/Founder TLF, Ms Tayo Leslie announced the donation of N10m from the Co-Launcher, who, according to her, was unavoidably absent. He is Prince (Asiwaju) Olatunji Olusoji, Group Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Grosvenor Global Services Ltd and Chairman PROOF Foundation.
She said Prince Olusoji’s absence was due the clash of dates with a major family event in Lagos. She disclosed that Asiwaju Olusoji had promised to visit Egbe community on October 23.
A visibly elated Leslie did not however stop at the announcement of the donation.
Leslie said Egbe community welcomed Prince Olusoji as a son of the soil through the process of adoption.
Leslie said:”Prince Olatunji Olusoji is now one of us through adoption. He is our adopted son. Elegbe of Egbe and his Olori are his (Prince Olatunji Olusoji’s) adoptive parents. Let’s all welcome this newest member to this great, big Egbe Mekun family”.
Leslie’s declaration received a standing ovation.
Olusoji is a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist with several charitable projects and programmes for the people of his hometown Ayere, Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State as well as other parts of Nigeria.
EUD In History
Egbe, also known as Egbe Mekun is a Yoruba, predominantly Christian community located in Yagba West Local Council in Kogi State, whose origin is traced to Oyo and Ile-Ife in the South Western part of Nigeria.
Oba Irukera (Ajaamoto II), who is also Chairman, Yagba West Traditional Council, upon ascension to the throne in 2014 created the Egbe Unity Day (EUD). The EUD, since it debuted in 2015, has come to stay as a once in a year forum, where sons and daughters of the town celebrated their communal developmental achievements.
One of the major achievements of the yearly event, is the all-imposing Egbe Central Palace.
The EUD is modelled after the yearly Ojude Oba festival of the Ijebus in Ogun State. It is held at the Egbe Central Palace, itself a product of generous donations at previous gatherings from indigenes and friends of Egbe. The palace is located at the centre of the community as a symbol of unification.
Prominent sons and daughters of Egbe present at EUD 2026 or sent their representatives included members of the EUD 2026 Local Organizing Committee, the Baale of Egbe, Oba Abiodun Agbana and his Olori, Egbe Council of Chiefs, Senator representing Kogi West and Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Sunday Karimi who was Chief Host, Engr Adefaramade Oniya, Corporate Leader in Altrad Group providing industrial services and technical projects in the oil and gas industry chaired the occasion (represented by Elder S.K Oniya), Mr Sunday Oluwaseyi Asagun, MD/CEO, Entourage Entourage Integrated Trust Ltd, who was Chief Launcher, Chief (Mrs) Christiana Ibiyemi Igunnubole (Chairperson), and President-General, Okun Development Association (ODA), H.E Ambassador Akenson Rotimi.
The list included Mrs Agnes Aduke Dada, accomplished educationist and retired director in the Kogi State Civil Service, Princess (Mrs) Olubunmi Olorukooba (Nee Denki), Barrister Deji Aina, Engr Toba Adebayo Belushi, Project Director/Vice President, Standard Connection Ltd, Mr Toyeeb Awe, Chief Operating Officer, Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd, Firstmade Foundation founder, Mr Olufemi Olusanya, Yagba West Council Chairman, Hon Tosin Olokun (represented by Yagba West LGA All Progressives Congress Chairman, Hon Abayomi Sunday), Executive Secretary, Yagba West Local Government Education Authority, Comrade Jude Olumide Ogunjobi, Barrister Taiye Alabi, Pharm Balogun Frederick, MD/CEO Botimo Pharmacy and Stores, among others.
As it were, friends of Egbe community, from far and near, also joined in the latest celebration of Egbe’s culture and development.
Notable guests who graced this year’s edition are: Member, House of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon Leke Abejide (Special Guest), Chairman, Yagba East Local Government Area, Hon Dare Joshua Monday, Member, Kogi State House of Assembly, Yagba West and Yagba East State Constituencies, Hon Ibikunle Idowu (represented) and Hon Emmanuel Obaro.
Also present were former Member, Kogi State House of Assembly, Yagba West State Constituency, Barrister (Hon) Toyin Lawal, Dr Benjamin Kakule Malikidogo, Medical Director, ECWA Hospital, Egbe, representatives of Medical Mission (EMM), Care África, etcétera.
As the commemorative event progressed, both Egbe homies and guests donated handsomely to the N500m Egbe Developmental Projects Fund Raising.
