A diocesan micro-finance bank, Ave Maria Multi-Purpise Investment AMMIL, belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Oyo has been commissioned by Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo diocese on September 18, 2018.
The financial Institution is located at a new building, opposite UBA bank, Owode in Oyo state.
As a landmark achievement for the diocese, the financial instituttion is aimed at creating wealth, through advisory service, investment and loan facilities to eligible individual and groups irrespective of gender, age and religion.
The event commenced with the Holy Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Ibadan, His Grace Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin as the Chief Celebrant, the Catholic bishop of Oyo diocese Most .Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo who is also the legal holder of Ave Maria Multipurpose Investment Limited, Monsignories and priests within and outside the diocese concelebrated the Mass.
The homilist of the day, Monsignor Emmanuel Yakubu described the establishment as the essence for which Christ has created the Church, which is re-creating the world, contributing to the development and lifting up of human life.
He analyzed the evangelization format into two dimension which are the anthropological and theological dimension and of which the Micro-finance Bank is based on the anthropological dimension, which he said is the social study of humanity, caring for the needs of others as Christ as rightly said, ‘’if you do these to the least of my brothers, you do it to me’’ (Matthew 25:40).
He said the aim of the Church towards re-ordering the world has been made manifest in the establishment of the Ave Maria Micro-Finance Institution, which is intended to enable more people have access to common resources and to live a good and happy life; that is reaching out mostly to people at the grass root level.
He enjoined everybody to see this as a great instrument of evangelization, reaching out to people in promoting human dignity and to always put-on the armour of prayer which is the theological dimension of the evangelical format.
After the Holy Mass, various remarks were given from those who constitute the board of members and from the various customers of the financial institution which includes the Okada riders, food vendors, Onimaalu in which all commended the effort of Rev.Fr. Gabriel Adeleke, the coordinator of JDPM and the staff’s for their foresight in creating the remarkable intervention program.
They further expressed their assurance that the institution will go a long way in improving the life of the people in the diocese, Catholics and non-Catholics.
AMMIL which was previously known as Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), is an integral part of Justices, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) and its registered with the Corporate affair commission (RC. 158760).
Investment opportunities open to customers includes Floating, Gold, Platinum, My kids investment and the likes. Other available services are LOAN PROJECTS such as Kowope, Basiri, Project Financing Scheme and other products.
Bishop Badejo in his words said the Church through the establishment is merely fulfilling her responsibility towards the realization of the will of God and not competing with any business establishment and that is what the Church does all over the world and Oyo will not be an exception. The coordinator of JDPM, Rev.Fr Gabriel Adeleke, also made it known that the Ave Maria Institution is established to collaborate with the government, helping and supporting the people, youths who have ideas but does not have the financial ability, that is promoting human dignity which is the aim of the Church.
The managing director of the financial institution, Mrs. Orebiyi Oyekunle Taiwo, said the financial institution aimed at modernizing those at the grass root level, to enhance local operators by creating various activities for them and helping them financially, providing advisory services which are the sole aim of the institution.
In her vote of thanks, Rev. Sr Victoria Dada, SSMA, on behalf of JDPM of the diocese acknowledged the presence of all who witnessed the program after which the commissioning and unveiling was done by Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo together with all present.