By Eric Elezuo
Born 50 years ago in Mushin, a major suburb of Lagos State, Nigeria, Jamil Omobolaji Eniola has educated at some of the world’s Ivy league institutions, over the last 20 years. He has also been involved in United Nations Consulting, International Diplomacy Consulting, Negotiation and Decision-making, Conferences, Seminars, and Workshops around the globe.
Quite an enigma, Eniola Founded and named HEN Foundation as a befitting memorial to his late mother, with the objectives of empowering the needy with basic healthcare and access to basic education in Africa and developing countries. HEN Foundation’s Mathematics Skill Pilot Program benefited over 5,000 pupils in public primary and secondary schools in Nigeria in 2015. Additionally, over 800 students in the inner city of Lagos State, Nigeria, benefited from free University entry forms and free tutorial classes for the University Matriculation Examination. Also, in 2017, HEN Foundation conducted a free Cancer Screening Exercise for over 1,500 patients, in collaboration with the University of Ibadan Cancer Research Centre at the Akerele Healthcare Centre, Surulere, Lagos, at which valuable medical equipment was donated to both the cancer research Centre and the healthcare Centre, University of Ibadan. Since 2018, three scholarships have been awarded to girls through his foundation to mark International Girl’s Day. The Hen foundation sponsored Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) programs in Kebbi State, Nigeria in 2019 and 2020 to improve education development in Northern Nigeria – the state with the lowest education level.
The Hen Foundation awarded ten graduate students a mini-MBA scholarship in 2020 and 2021 to develop their entrepreneurial skills at Tekedia Institute. A training workshop on leadership for University of Ibadan students and financial aids for rural women to expand their small businesses in Oyo State, Nigeria. Since 2013, the Hen Foundation has organized empowerment programs in Nigeria on an annual basis.
A well-educated individual, Eniola studied two master’s degrees simultaneously; an MA in International Criminology from the University of Greenwich, and an LL.M in International Law from the University of East London, graduating, in the same year, as best overall class student in International Criminology, and a Credit Grade in International Law, a rare feat, and an outstanding performance. His other academic laurels include LLB in Law at University of Sussex; M.sc and MA respectively in International Relations from Royal Holloway University of London and Middlesex University; an Advanced General Management Certificate from the University of Cambridge; an Executive Certificate in Negotiation and Decision Making from the London School of Economics; International Politics Certificate from the University of Oxford; an Advanced Certificate in Housing and Welfare from Trans-Atlantic College, London; a Diploma in Computer Studies from Manchester City College; and a graduate of Microbiology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In the summer of 2024, Eniola will join Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government’s Emerging Leaders Program. He is currently a Ph. D candidate in Conflict Management and Resolution.
Quite apart from his philanthropic activities in Africa, Eniola has also been a veritable source of hope and succour to the needy in the U.K., and was among the first people to come to the aid of victims of the June 14, 2017 Grenfell fire disaster in London, while he continues to assist his local mosque, the Al Amanah Mosque to provide temporary shelter and provisions for the survivors at the Westbourne Grove, Kensington area of London.
Eniola has also been a veritable pillar of support for many organizations, including Girl Child Network Worldwide Founded by CNN Hero, Betty Makoni, Girls2Women Initiatives, Kamuna Widows Empowerment Initiative, Okwui Mask Scheme for Survival of Domestic Violence, Mothers Pride Initiative and others. He regularly volunteers for Organization which supports people striving to learn the English language, and other aspects of education necessary for British socio-cultural integration.
The Hen Foundation is an international partner of Celebrate! Maya Angelou Project based in Arkansas and taking part in annual activities in Arkansas since 2018. Eniola serves on the Campaign for Maya Project Fundraising Committee. Eniola was named an honorary citizen of Little Rock, Arkansas, the home state of former US President Bill Clinton, by the Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas in October 2019. Eniola is an active member of the annual Clinton Global Initiative in New York, founded by President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton.
HEN Foundation has been granted United Nations ECOSOC status under non-governmental organization with access to the UN building and participation in the UN events, Conferences, and seminars in New York, Geneva and Vienna.
Eniola is CEO Hen & Associates Inc, Director Vaughan Energy Services, Director of Sales Profound Realtors, UAE, a member of Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs); a Member of the Diplomatic Council at The Hague, Netherlands; a Member of the British-Africa Business Alliance; a former Director of Travel and Exchange, All Nigeria United Nations Association (ANUNSA) Nigeria Chapter; a Member of the International Youth & Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN), Geneva Switzerland; a Member of the Action Committee for Peace, Bonn, Germany; a Member of the Association for Innovative Co-operation in Europe (AICE), Brussels, Belgium; and a former member of the steering committee of Amnesty International, Luxembourg.
Eniola, a member of United Nations Association-UK since 2004, regularly participates in the activities of London International Model United Nations, University of Cambridge Model United Nations, and Oxford University International Model United Nations. For more than ten years, he has been participating in the Annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers in London, and in 2011, in the company of foreign diplomats from more than 150 countries, he represented the Nigerian High Commissioner to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in London, in remembrance of fallen UN Peacekeepers.
Some views about Eniola by some global citizens:
“A global renaissance man”- (Bob Nash, Former Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel for White House Clinton Administration)
“Culturally and stylishly: crème de la crème”- (Janis Kearney, Personal Diarist of President Clinton at Oval Office, White house)
“A multi-faceted, brilliant man”- (Eartha Dunston, Senior Personnel US Department of Commerce, Biden Administration Washington DC)
“An upwardly mobile gentleman”- (Chief Dele Momodu CEO, Ovation Media Group)
“I had the great pleasure to do some philanthropy work with Jamil. He is a man who thinks outside the box in order to help people in need of all ages”- (Princess Tessy of Luxembourg)
“The Cultured Philanthropist”- (Dr Yomi Garnett World Class Ghostwriter)
“A kind and gentle giant on the move” – (Angel Burt, Non-Profit, Executive Director)
Awards/Honors
-Honorary Citizen City of Little Rock, Arkansas USA
– Man of the Year, International Women 2021
-Alumnus of the Year Faculty of Science University of Ibadan
-Ambassador for Peace by Universal Peace Federation, UK
-Global Goodwill Ambassador USA
-Professional Accomplishment Honor by the International Alumni Association USA
-Inspiring Personality Award by Ghana Nigeria Achievers
-Exemplary Young International Life Change of the Year by Black Leadership Recognition Awards UK
-Associate- Negotiation & Conflict Management-International
-He For She Everyday Hero Award UK
-Award for Community Development in the UK by Gathering of Africa’s Best (GAB)
-Community and Inclusion Service Award by Uncelebrated Nigeria Award, UK
And many more.
This is wishing a good man a royal golden jubilee, and may life and health be kind to you for another 50 years!
