By Onoja Baba
Businessman and philanthropist Idris Kashim Hussein on Thursday crisscrossed Dekina Local Government Area in Kogi State, commissioning completed projects and flagging off new ones through the Idris HK Foundation in a day-long outreach that drew massive crowds and royal blessings.
The tour began at Ogbabo Junction where hundreds of excited villagers lined the road to usher him into the local government. From there the convoy moved to Biraidu, where traditional rulers gathered at Emewe Opada to receive him. HRM Acheneje Abdullahi, the Onu Ojomi and HRM Matthew Daikwo, the Onu Igbologwu, speaking on behalf of the Onu Abocho, presented the first kola nut of the day and formally adopted Idris as a son of Biraidu. All traditional rulers from the Biraidu district were present for the ceremony.
In Emewe Opada, Chief Imam Bashiru Amodu led prayers as Idris officially commissioned the newly completed erosion control project that had reconnected the community to the state capital after six months of total isolation caused by a massive gully. Community leaders testified that Idris single-handedly financed the reclamation work immediately after learning of their plight.
The community commended the foundation for clearing the school fees of three hundred and fifteen students of Ofoji Community Secondary School. The Principal of the school, Yahaya Ocheni, joined the Community Development Chairman Akpa Lawrence Atuluku, students and the President of Biraidu Students Association of Prince Audu Abubakar University (PAAU), Muhammad Egbojo, in presenting an award of honour to the philanthropist.
“I feel highly honoured to use this opportunity, stating categorically that the management, the students and staff of the above mentioned School hereby convey their heartfelt gratitude to Hon. dris HK for the bulk payment of school Fees for the entire students of the School in recent time.
“This wonderful life-touching and humanitarian gesture from you has not only relieved students and parents of the financial burdens but has also boosted students passion for education and learning. We are not unaware of the numerous Projects you have executed across the Igala land the good reason we proudly define,” the principal said in his speech.
Abocho youth leader Siaka Usman also spoke in appreciation, after which Idris pledged to settle outstanding fees for any student still owing and reaffirmed his promise to sink a borehole for the area before 15 January 2026.
The entourage paid homage to HRM Shaibu Abu Okolo, the Ogohi Onu Anyigba, at his palace in Anyigba, presenting kola nut upon arrival. Idris apologised for installing an electricity transformer in Obeya Lile community without first informing the royal father, explaining that he acted immediately after seeing a Facebook post about the community’s years without power. The Ogohi prayed extensively for him, describing the transformer as a personal gift since Obeya Lile are his subjects, and declared the entire Igala kingdom indebted to the businessman.
The day continued with the flag-off of electricity extension work at Ate Uge, where engineers are to be mobilised by 15 December, and ended at Etutekpe where a mammoth crowd welcomed him. There he pledged to facilitate mobile network coverage for the community and paid school fees for students while promising to clear any remaining balances.
Speaking to journalists after the last event, Idris Kashim Hussein insisted that all his gestures remain purely humanitarian and carry no political colouration. “As of today I have no ambition for any political office. I am only a businessman who loves his people. But if one day the communities call on me to contest so I can serve them better, I will not disobey, because political office will give me greater resources and authority to execute capital projects that private efforts alone cannot handle,” he said.
He thank the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Executive Chairman of Dekina Local Government, John Urah for their exemplary leadership as well as their community developmental strides, noting that the foundation will continue to complement government’s efforts to better the lives of the people.
Idris commissioned the projects in the company of friends of the foundation, Sheikh Ibrahim, Kamar Olachane and other members of the team.
Traditional rulers, youth leaders, students and residents across the visited communities showered prayers and gratitude on Idris, hailing his swift-response philanthropy as a model for community development in Dekina Local Government Area.
