……Calls for Broader Societal Involvement in Lifting Vulnerable Groups
By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Women in Management (EKWIM), a group of female officers in management positions in the Civil Service, has congratulated Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, wife of the Ekiti State Governor, on her impactful initiatives through her pet project, Women and Orphan Hope (WAOH).
The statement made available to Newsmen in Ado Ekiti, EKWIM explained that Dr. Oyebanji’s dedicated efforts over the past two years have transformed the lives of hundreds of vulnerable women and children across Ekiti State, earning her the admiration of numerous advocacy groups.
The second edition of WAOH took place at the Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex in Ado Ekiti, where the First Lady extended financial support and essential working tools to over 400 widows and orphans.
Also, 50 deserving pupils received scholarships covering their education from primary school through to University. EKWIM members among other Women Advocacy Groups, attended the program and acknowledged the First Lady’s contributions.
The WAOH Support Foundation’s program this year distributed various empowerment tools such as freezers, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers, and other essential resources to widows and orphans.
The empowerment was aimed at providing recipients with means of income generation and self-sufficiency, as well as addressing pressing economic needs within their communities with Over 300 women and children as beneficiaries of the various packages.
The EKWIM coordinator Dr. Oyeyemi Kayode-Ojo who noted that WAOH’s vision aligns with the current administration’s agenda, which include reducing poverty and equipping vulnerable groups with skills and resources for a better life stressed that the WAOH project will lead widows and orphans in the Ekiti State to better and more fulfilling lives as they possess the means to support their families.
Noting that widows and orphans always experience touching stories, EKWIM lauded the WAOH initiative as a beacon of hope that restored their sense of purpose and self-worth, expressed the readiness of the organization to always partner with the WAOH initiative.
Dr. Oyeyemi Kayode Ojo, noted that EKWIM, since inception, has taken many measures and strides to support civil servants particularly female officers and workers in the lower cadres of the State Civil Service by providing career guidance, moral support, and financial assistance where necessary, aside from the annual outreach to schools in Ekiti.
She explained that having a bigger program embarked upon by the First Lady is a testament to the efforts of the government in nurturing and empowering women and children within Ekiti State.
Dr Oyeyemi Kayode Ojo who emphasized the importance of leveraging donated resources effectively, urged the beneficiaries to use their new tools and funds to foster economic self-reliance, saying that the initiative would continue to lift up vulnerable groups across the State as well as inspiring lasting impact on the lives of countless families.
She called for broader societal involvement by encouraging well-meaning individuals and organizations to support the less privileged, stressing that collective action is vital for a more inclusive and prosperous society. She stated, “When everyone steps in to help those in need, it makes the world a better place for all. It is a shared responsibility.”