Ahead of the resumption of schools in Ekiti state, wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, on Monday showered gifts of school materials on about 400 indigent pupils from the 16 Local Government Areas.
Oyebanji distributed brand new school bags containing water bottles, food warmers, mathematical sets, six 60-leave exercise books and transport allowance to each of the beneficiaries of the exercise majority of whom were orphans under her ‘Back-to-School Programme for Vulnerable Children’.
The Governor’s wife explained that the education empowerment programme which was part of her Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) project was also to relieve the guardians and caregivers of the pupils the burden to be shouldered as the school resumption neared.
She added that the gifts given to the kids was an opportunity to make an impact in their lives, give them a sense of belonging, support their education to motivate them to do well in their studies and ensure that their smooth resumption back to school was not hampered by poverty.
The Ekiti first lady who assured the people that the support for the indigent kids would be a continuous exercise to incorporate more beneficiaries also revealed her intention to launch an ‘Interface With Adolescents’ very soon to cater to their needs.
Oyebanji who disclosed that the WAOH project would be formally unveiled in October revealed that over 30,000 widows have so far been registered under the scheme to support them and give them succour socially and economically.
She emphasised that the scheme was not government-sponsored but was bankrolled by her friends and partners urging privileged individuals, corporate bodies and interest groups to support her pet project with funds to enable her to assist the poorest of the poor.
According to her; “This is not a political jamboree, this is not a government-sponsored programme. It is with the support of my office, friends, and partners. This is an opportunity for people and organizations to support our project so that we can make more impact on the lives of the vulnerable persons among us.
“Every week, I dropped N200,000 I. WAOH’s office to be shared with the needy widows but God has put us here to have an impact on their lives. We have to give them life, we have to give them hope and we have to give them a platform to assist them and give support to those who have been left on the fringes of the society.”
She revealed that over 30,000 widows in the state had registered for various forms of assistance through her WAOH Project noting that the screening conducted for the intending beneficiaries had helped to identify their needs and how to meet them.
Speaking, the commissioner for women affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi commended the governor’s wife for the initiative towards lifting the vulnerable pupils in the society, adding that the ministry would collaborate with the governor’s wife for the betterment of the citizens.
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