The Wife of Ekiti Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, on Tuesday presented gifts of school materials to 400 indigent pupils drawn from 16 local government areas across the state.
Oyebanji, who gave the gifts to the pupils in Ado-Ekiti restated her readiness to reduce the challenges faced by vulnerable people in the state.
Oyebanji distributed brand new schoolbags containing water bottles, food warmers, 60-leaves exercise books and transport allowances to each of the beneficiaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that majority of them are orphans under her “Back to School Programme for Vulnerable Children”.
She said that the Education Empowerment Programme, which was part of her Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project, was to give relief to the guardians and caregivers of the pupils, who would have to shoulder the financial burden of schools resumption.
She explained that the gifts to the children was an opportunity to make an impact in their lives, give them a sense of belonging, support their education and motivate them to do well in their studies.
The governor’s wife, who promised that the support for the pupils would be a continuous exercise, also said that her office would incorporate more beneficiaries also revealed that her intention to launch an Interface with Adolescents soon to cater for their needs.
Oyebanji disclosed that WAOH Project would be formally unveiled in October , with not less than 30,000 widows, who were registered under the scheme.
She explained that the project would support and give them succor socially and economically.
She, however, said 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.
“This is not a political jamboree, this is not a government sponsored programme. It is with the support of my office, friends, partners.
“This is an opportunity for people and organisations to support our project, so that we can make more impact in the lives of the vulnerable persons among us.
“Every week, I drop N200,000 at WAOH’s office to be shared to the needy widows because God has put us here to have impact on their lives,” she said.
According to Oyebanji, we have to give them live, we have to give them hope and we have to assist and give support to those who have been left on the fringes of the society.
Orphans in tertiary institutions and other matured orphans, who are not in school would be considered when we come to provide financial assistance for their studies and various vocations.
She revealed that over 30,000 widows in the state were registered for various forms of assistance through her pet project, noting that the screening conducted for the intending beneficiaries had helped to identify their needs and how to meet them.
The Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, commended the governor’s wife for offering hope to the needy especially the widows and orphans, noting that the gesture would sow a great seed of hope in their lives.
She said the Back to School Programme of the governor’s wife would boost the pupils’ interest in education and give them a sense of pride among their colleagues as the new school session is about to take off in the state.
She also commended Oyebanji for coming up with the WAOH initiative, which would alleviate the suffering encountered by widows and give them hope and joy in their time of need.
The event was graced by the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mrs Bolaji Olagbaju, members of the State Executive Council, Local Government Chairmen, top civil servants, labour leaders and other stakeholders in the education sector.