One of the most enduring and impactful legacies of Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi, is the establishment of the Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi Foundation (AYFF), a registered, family-owned philanthropic Non-Governmental Organisation dedicated to driving sustainable development initiatives in Ijesaland. 

Originally named the Olayinka Fasuyi Foundation, it was rebranded to its current identity following the installation of Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju in recognition of their community leadership roles. From inception, the Foundation was envisioned as a platform to meaningfully address key developmental challenges in Ijesaland, with education as its first major focus. AYFF’s philosophy has always been rooted in non-political, people-centred intervention, a principle that has distinguished it from many other community initiatives.

AYFF’s first project was the Teachers’ Support Programme, aimed at improving students’ academic performance in public secondary schools. The Foundation identified final-year students in selected public schools across Ijesaland and mobilised qualified teachers to provide extra lessons in core examination subjects

For two years, AYFF paid monthly stipends to these teachers as motivation for their additional work. This intervention was designed to strengthen students’ preparedness for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC). To create stronger motivation and reward genuine academic commitment, AYFF introduced an innovative Bursary Award Scheme; payment of WAEC fees for the top five students in each public secondary school in all communities across all six Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ijesaland.

The first edition of the WAEC Fees Bursary Award took place in 2017, when 100 students across the six LGAs benefited. The event, chaired by Prof. Rotimi Tayo, was attended by Traditional Rulers, school principals, parents, and community leaders. However, the programme initially faced skepticism. Some political actors and opinion leaders misinterpreted the bursary scheme as a veiled attempt to enter politics. Asiwaju Olayinka and Yeye Asiwaju Dr. Olubisi Fasuyi were quick to publicly dispel these rumours,
reaffirming that their interest was purely developmental and patriotic. Despite the initial controversy, AYFF pressed forward: 2018 (Second Edition) – WAEC fees were paid for 250 students.