Ekiti govt presents cash gifts, food items to mothers of multiple births

In a bid to help improve the beneficiaries’ standard of living, the Ekiti state government has presented cash gifts and food items to mothers of multiple births across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

The event organized by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the office of the wife of the governor had over 100 mothers of twins, triplets, quadruples and others receive N100,000 each and food items.

The commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs ‘Peju Babafemi explained that the scheme which is the first in the country is in line with the plans of the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to ensure the welfare of the citizens, especially the vulnerable people.

She added that the programme supported by the state’s legislation is to assist mothers blessed with multiple children, noting that the government would continue to place priority on the welfare of children and women in the state.

Babafemi commended the wife of the governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji for her untiring efforts at improving the lives of the less privileged through her Widows, Aged, and Orphans Hope (WAOH) project in the last few years. 

According to her, ” the Multiple Births Support Programme in Ekiti State is backed up by enabling legislation designed to assist mothers blessed with twins, triplets, and other multiple births. It is heartwarming to see how society’s perception of multiple births has evolved. 

“What was once considered a burden or a mystery is now recognized as a divine blessing. As we all know, this Administration values development of the children as assets and future leaders and today’s programme again attests to this.”

She advised beneficiaries to use financial support for the care of the children, saying, “It is our collective responsibility to raise children who will not only be useful to themselves but also contribute positively to society.”

As the world celebrates the day of zero tolerance against Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) on February 6, Babafemi urged the beneficiaries and the people to support the administration’s efforts at eliminating the harmful practice from society.

“It is not only an unnecessary practice; it also affects the dignity, wellbeing and health of our girls and women,” she said.

Speaking, the wife of the governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji congratulated the beneficiaries for being selected to be part of the scheme under the Multiple Birth Trust Fund in the state, noting that the administration of Governor Oyebanji would sustain the project towards capturing more multiple birth mothers in the state.

The governor’s wife reiterated the commitment of Governor Oyebanji at initiating programmes and policies that would impact positively on the people of the state, saying that the gesture to the multiple birth mothers is one of the schemes.

“Our goal with MBTF is to empower women, enabling them to care for their children and give them the best possible start in life. It is a program that speaks to our shared commitment to the well-being and development of our children, who are the future of Ekiti State and Nigeria,” the governor’s wife said.

The First Lady appealed to the beneficiaries to make use of the support towards the growth of their babies and continue their support to the administration in the state.

On her part, the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye described Governor Oyebanji as a passionate leader who placed priority on the programmes that would impact the people, especially the downtrodden.

While calling on the beneficiaries to make use of the fund for their children’s upkeep, the deputy governor urged them to support the present administration in delivering the shared prosperity agenda for the state.

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