The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Olayemi Oyebanji on Monday through her pet project, the Widows, Aged, and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Support Foundation empowered over 400 widows and orphans in the state by providing essential working equipment and financial support.
In addition, Mrs Oyebanji awarded scholarships to 50 pupils, covering educational expenses from primary school to university level.
She also presented education support cheques of N100,000 each to 50 undergraduate students and provided over 300 widows and orphans with the necessary tools to support their livelihoods.
A statement on the state government’s Facebook page highlighted the variety of equipment distributed, including freezers, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers, and processing machines, alongside financial assistance.
This event was part of the First Lady’s broader initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of vulnerable women and children by equipping them with vital tools, skills, and financial resources to improve their quality of life.
Addressing the crowd at the well-attended ceremony held at Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Ado Ekiti, Mrs Oyebanji emphasised that this initiative aligns with her husband’s vision to combat poverty among women and children, empowering them to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
The First Lady shared that she conceived this empowerment program to ensure that widows and orphans in the state not only survive but thrive, especially in raising and educating their children.
Recognizing the challenges many beneficiaries face in meeting their families’ basic needs, she expressed confidence that by equipping them with essential skills, they would be able to generate income, ultimately restoring their sense of purpose and dignity.
“Today we are not just celebrating the passage of time, but also the tangible impact we have made together, especially for the women, children, and vulnerable groups in our dear state.
“As we mark this special anniversary, 50 public primary school pupils will be awarded scholarships to university level on the platform of WAOH by one of our major benefactors, 50 orphans in higher institutions will likewise be awarded with education support fund of one hundred thousand Naira each, and widows will be provided with various working tools.
“They would need to fend for themselves based on their requests, ranging from grinding machines to sewing machines, freezers, hair dryers and financial support. This is just the beginning of the WAOH vision to ensure that no widow, aged, orphan, or vulnerable person, is left behind in our quest for a more prosperous and inclusive Ekiti State”, she said.
During his speech, Governor Oyebanji praised his wife for her generous spirit and unwavering commitment to uplifting the less privileged.
He expressed his joy that the WAOH project, conceived by her to give back to society, is making a tangible impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals.
The governor urged affluent Nigerians to cultivate the habit of mutual support, emphasizing the significance of community solidarity.
He further noted that while government initiatives are vital, citizens also have a crucial role in helping one another and lifting each other out of poverty.
Additionally, he announced that, through his foundation, he would sponsor the education of 40 children across the state, supporting them from primary school through to tertiary level, as well as funding the education of two students each from both federal and state-owned tertiary institutions.
“I am just grateful to God for what he’s doing through Her Excellency, Wife of the Governor. Thank you so much. Life is useless if you don’t give back, if God blesses you and you decide to keep to yourself I don’t know the account you will give to God when you face him.
“As she recounts what she has done what she is doing and what people led by God are doing through her, I was challenged that I can do more than I have done. I just plead with all, let’s love ourselves, a selfish life is a useless life and we must learn to give back.
“On behalf of my Mother’s foundation, we will support by picking a child per local government and local council development area which is 38 and we will also add two people living with disabilities making 40 from primary school to tertiary level and from our institutions, we will pick two each and support them from first year to graduation”, the governor assured.
