No fewer than 400 widows, aged and orphans in Ekiti state have been empowered with working equipment and funds by the wife of the state Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji.
Mrs Oyebanji, through the pet project, the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Support Foundation, awarded scholarships to 50 pupils from primary school to University level, presented education support cheques of N100,000 each to 50 undergraduate students, and provided over 300 widows and orphans with working tools they would need to fend for themselves.
This came as Governor Biodun Oyebanji admonished wealthy Nigerians to cultivate the habit of helping the vulnerable and less privileged.
The equipment included freezers, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers, processing machines, and financial support.
The event was attended by Governor Oyebanji, Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, among others.
Empowerment was part of the First Lady’s initiatives to improve vulnerable women’s and children’s well-being by providing them with the necessary tools, skills, and financial support to enhance their livelihoods.
Dr Oyebanji, while addressing the people, said the initiative was to complement the efforts and vision of her husband, the Governor, to reduce poverty among women and children and empower them to live more independent and fulfilling lives.
The Ekiti First Lady revealed that she conceived the empowerment program to ensure that the widows and orphans in the state not only survive but thrive, particularly in raising and educating their children.
In his remark, Governor Oyebanji commended his wife for her generosity of spirit and commitment to uplifting the less privileged. He expressed happiness that the WAOH project, which was conceived by his wife to give back to society, is making a tangible impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals.
The Governor urged wealthy Nigerians to cultivate the habit of helping one another, emphasising the importance of community support and solidarity. He noted further that while government initiatives are essential, citizens also have a role in helping and lifting each other out of poverty.
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