The daughter of the late prominent comic actor Moses Adejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala, Dr. Oyindamola Adejumo-Ayibiowu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Oratorio Music Foundation, has made a plea for job opportunity for a physically challenged graduate, Obaloluwa Aworanti.
Moses Adejumo was a renowned filmmaker, comic actor, movie director, and world-acclaimed entertainer until his passing.
Dr. Oyindamola Adejumo-Ayibiowu was moved by the current condition of Obaloluwa Aworanti, a physically challenged graduate who slipped into depression due to prolonged unemployment and lack of social support.
In her message to the Osun State Governor, Mr. Ademola Adeleke, Oyindamola Adejumo-Ayibiowu pleaded with Governor Adeleke and his wife to urgently offer Obaloluwa a job, in order to improve her quality of life and save her from depression.
Dr Oyindamola in a copy of the message made available to journalists on Saturday stated that: “I am writing with deep concern for a young woman in urgent need of support Obaloluwa Aworanti, a physically challenged graduate graduate who is slipping deeper into depression due to prolonged unemployment and a lack of social support.
“My name is Dr. Oyindamola Adejumo-Ayibiowu, Baba Sala’s daughter and founder of Oratorio Music Foundation, a youth mentoring and talent development initiative I started in 1996.
“I personally vouch for Obaloluwa and I urge the government of Osun State to take immediate action to save her before it is too late. I first met Obaloluwa in 2008 when she joined the Oratorio group at the Federal Polytechnic Ede, in Osun State.
“Despite the condition, which affects her legs that affects her height and makes are walking difficult although she does not use crutches Obaloluwa stood out for her spirit of service and her joy in singing.
“Unlike many who sought financial help, she never asked for anything; instead, she wanted to give back, to contribute.
“She comes from a rural area near Ilesa, where her elderly parents struggled as peasant farmers. Yet despite her humble background, she pursued her education with determination, completing both her ND and HND at the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State.
“I had assured her that with her degree and her status as a disabled woman, opportunities for employment would open up, especially given Nigeria’s policies that favour the employment of persons living with disabilities.
“But nearly eight years have passed since she graduated, and no job has materialized. Her father passed away five years ago, and Obaloluwa had no choice but to return to her village and her father’s farm, where she found herself isolated and further cut off from employment opportunities.
“Four years ago, she managed to find a teaching position at a nursery and primary school in her village, earning just twelve thousand naira per month.
“I prayed for her and wished I had connections to bring her plight to the attention of government officials, as her disability qualifies her for automatic employment. Despite her own struggles, Obaloluwa continued to think of others, often sending me small gifts of farm produce, like vegetables and locust beans.
“A year ago, she expressed her desire to move to Ibadan, praying to save enough money to rent a room. While I wanted to support her, I worried about the challenges she would face unemployment and loneliness in a city where she had no friends or family.
“Then, she withdrew. She stopped talking about her struggles and plans, and over time, we lost touch. I never imagined that the weight of her circumstances had pushed her into depression.
“On, August 26, 2024, I received a message from her after months of silence. She congratulated me on the success of a recent Oratorio concert.
“When I asked if she had moved to Ibadan, her response shattered my heart.
“She revealed that she had left Nigeria and arrived in Côte d’Ivoire. She had no job, no accommodation, and had been stranded on the roadside since her arrival. Her frustration had driven her to leave her home with no clear destination, just an escape from the pain.
“I am concerned about her safety and well-being. I fear she could fall into the hands of traffickers, kidnappers, or worse. Obaloluwa is at a breaking point, and I do not want her life to be cut short by desperation or tragedy.
“I appeal to the government of Osun State to come to Obaloluwa’s aid. I know that many state governments in Nigeria reserve employment slots for persons living with disabilities, and I believe Osun State is no exception. I implore the First Lady of Osun State, the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, and the Commissioner for Women, Children, and Social Affairs to intervene urgently. Obaloluwa’s life is at risk, and she needs help now.
“Let us not allow a capable, educated young woman who has fought so hard against adversity to be abandoned in her moment of greatest need. With the right support, Obaloluwa can be brought back from the brink, and her life can be transformed. Please, let us act swiftly and save Obaloluwa.” Oyindamola stated.
and then