Olakunle Churchill is the chairman of Big Church Group and other subsidiaries including Big Church Foundation. In this interview with SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH, speaks on his foundation and the recent spat in his family.
Your Foundation has been in the news since last year, what is your motivation for doing this?
Well, it’s something we are passionate about. Big Church Foundation is basically designed to empower and provide charity functions. Started it from
Ghana before cutting across states in Nigeria and beyond
During your 4- day Walk For Love” charity campaign in commemoration of United Nation World Disability Day, you invested a lot. How is your Foundation Funded?
Yes, that was a memorable charity event. I am glad it was successful. At least a lot of the physically challenged were empowered; we lectured them on how to discover ability in disability. Our income comes from favour, goodwill, besides 10 percent of our profit or revenue from Big Church Group is transferred to charity to the foundation charity account.
Recently, your house help or domestic staff disclosed to an online media that you had issues with your wife and that you have not been home just after your December foundation project last year?
Every family has its ups and downs but I would not want to talk about my family.
It was said that after you left home, you were alleged of having an affair with your Female PA?
Well, it’s funny to me, because I don’t have a female personal assistant. My PA is Mr Paul, who has been working with me over the years. Besides, it was a sponsored blackmail.
Gist had it that your wife, Tonto Dikeh Churchill caused uproar in your mother’s home, i.e her mother- in-law, when she was alleged to have pushed her down and broke everything in her house within 2 hours due to her marijuana reactions
These issues are private to me and my family.
Rumour has it that because of domestic violence from you, your wife moved out with your son?
I wonder where they got such gist from. I don’t believe my wife will say that, besides I frown against such even my foundation preaches against domestic violence in some of our charity awareness campaigns. It is obvious that all these channeled attacks are targeted to drag my image and what I believe in to the mud. Well, the truth is that I have never raised my hands against my wife. I have evidence of CCTV Cameras in my mum’s house when this happened. It can be replayed if you what us to go that far.
The news earlier today, posted and deleted by one Uche Maduagwu, said that you have relationship with Bobrisky and Swanky Jerry? What is your take on that?
Truly, I did not see it posted because I am not a social media person, but got wind of it later. It sincerely beats my imagination to think of such relationship…well, don’t know Bobrisky but got to know Swanky Jerry through my wife. I believe whoever my wife likes as a friend; I also take as a family friend. I am too busy to think of such unpleasant issues, let alone cooking up defense.
Your Son’s One Year birthday is a few days from now; do you have plans to celebrate it? Guess you will be celebrating him with your wife?
Oh! My son, I sure miss him so much. I have planned a worthwhile birthday party for him with friends and family members but it’s sad to say that all efforts to reach him proved abortive, and this is affecting my business and emotions, The mum won’t pick calls and the nanny, our son has been with the mother and not at home for now. I truly, should not be granting this interview if this is all about my family. I’m very optimistic that the family will unite together for King Andrea’s birthday even though channels to reach my wife are temporarily off.
How do You perceive all these happening in your family?
I see nothing in it; it’s a phase of life, since it does not affect my cheques and savings. But I truly want to call on bloggers or on social media addicts to verify facts before assuming. Every marriage has its good and bad moments; it’s just unfortunate that I recently discovered that the alleged marriage instability is making headlines on some media platforms. Please Tonto Dikeh fans and well wishers take it easy on her, guess she is still adjusting to motherhood. With time, it will be well.
The news had it that your son owns his own company Kindred Realtors, a real estate firm, don’t you think he is too young?
(Laugh), the company, Kindred Realtor was actually one of my companies before I changed it to our son’s name after his birth. I feel it’s one of his benefits to start building up a brand for him as he grows.
Back To Your Projects, the Big Church Foundation fearlessly stormed war ravaged Southern Kaduna to provide aid as a result of the KADA massacre?
Well, To God be the grace, we went, we touched lives and we came back in spite of the killings. It was a sad experience, they needed food, shelter, medications, *sobs*. I just Thank God, many of them smiled with our presence.
Big Church Foundation was Loud by December with Billboard Seasons Greeting and Scholarship in UNIABUJA? Tell us about it?
The season greeting was the foundation’s decision which I guess, was good at that time. It was appreciating our clients, partners, foreign colleagues, fans etc. Well, for the scholarship, it’s part of the scheme in the Big Church Foundation. The Big Church Scholarship scheme is a project which offers sponsored education for the beneficiaries across different level of academic qualification or levels. Yes, we were in Uniabuja recently, we discussed with the Senate and unveiled some of the student’s beneficiaries.