A non- governmental organization, Ogunmola Foundation (OF), has presented cash gift to no fewer than 500 widows drawn from the 10 Local Government Areas of Oke-Ogun geo-political Zone in 0yo State.
The move is to uplift the economic status of women, most especially widows in the zone.
The foundation also in the presence of eminent sons and daughters of the area in appreciation of the academic prowess and to encourage more students to excel in their studies also awarded scholarships to three best but brilliant students each from all the 12 secondary schools in ATISBO Local Government Area in the state.
Making the presentations at the Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ago Are, OF founder and immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of ATISBO LG, Dr. Jacob Funmi Ogunmola, called on sons and daughters in the zone to find ways of contributing positively to the development of the zone.
He specifically seeks for assistance in the areas of functional education and uplifting the living conditions of people in the zone particularly the widows who have over the years been neglected, subjugated and stigmatized due to various cultural cum social practices that are militating against their survival .
“What this foundation is all about is a better life for our people.
“For the students, what we are giving them is to better their education, they should face their studies and they are going to enjoy it, the widows, whatever we are giving them in terms of empowerment, they should use it to do business so that they will not be moving and going around and be begging for money.
Speaking on the efforts of the foundation to positively torch the lives of people of the areas in the last 10 years, Ogunmola declared that the foundation has contributed to the development of the area in many ways.
According to him “We empowered over 1,000 rural men and women by supporting their various businesses in 2006, Sport wears were provided to all teams in our locality in 2007, 2000 pairs of sandals were provided to school children and the populace in 2008.
“We distributed exercise books to all Primary and Secondary schools in our locality in 2009, under our scholarship awards, best three students in each of the secondary school in our locality, (total of 39 students benefited from the scholarship) in 2010, Ogunmola Foundation also made donations to various religious organizations.
“We gave scholarship award to the best three students in each of the secondary school in ATISBO Local Government Area, and relief package for all widows in ATISBO Local Government (2011), Scholarship Award to 30 best students in ATISBO Local Government and relief packages for widows in ATISBO and Saki East Local Governments 2012.
“In 2013, scholarship awards to 30 best students in ATISBO Local Government and relief packages for widows in ATISBO and Saki East Local Governments, Scholarship award to 30 best students in ATISBO local government and Empowerment of 500 widows in 10 local government of Oke Ogun area of Oyo State and motorized Borehole at Central Mosque Ago Are 2013, Scholarship award to 114 best students in ATISBO, Saki East and Saki West Local Governments and Empowerment of 550 widows in Ten Local Government of Oke Ogun area in 2014.”
The State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi represented by the former Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli commended the efforts of OF in putting smiles on the faces of the people of the area as he called for more proactive measures to reduce the menace of illiteracy in the state.
Ajimobi while describing the founder of the organization as a reference point for others in the area implored parents to take the training and upbringing of their wards seriously saying education is the greatest legacy this generation can bequeath to the generations yet unborn.
Highlight of the event that had former Commissioner for Education, Professor Solomon Olaniyonun, All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo North Senatorial District, Chief Goke Oyetunji, traditional rulers, party stalwarts and members of the ruling APC in the state in attendance was the symbolic presentation of the money to some of the beneficiaries.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone D and their counterparts from the zone also seized the avenue to present awards of excellence to the founder of OF, Dr. Ogunmola.
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