Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has urged the wives of the chairmen of local government areas and local council development areas to make impact by coming up with ideas and programmes that will better the lives of people living in the grassroots.
Dr. Oyebanji who gave the charge when she received the spouses of local government bosses in the state who were on a courtesy visit to her said they should take initiatives to assist the less privileged people in their council areas and support their husbands in the exercise of their mandate.
Addressing her guests who came under the aegis of the Forum of Spouses of Chairmen of Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Ekiti State, Dr. Oyebanji said apart from their personal initiatives, they should also replicate various initiatives of her office in their areas to alleviate the suffering of women, children and the vulnerable segment of the population.
She identified some of the programmes of her office that can be replicated at the council level to include Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project, Back-to-School Programme for indigent pupils, execution of the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Management and Prevention Programme and establishment of Food Bank to tackle hunger in the grassroots.
The Ekiti First Lady suggested that the LG chairmen's wives can identify active and non-active widows in their areas for financial support, medical intervention, and other forms of assistance on ward-to-ward basis to complement what is being done at the state level for such individuals.
Dr. Oyebanji further motivated the council chairmen's wives to be active in the enforcement of the GBV Law and the defence, support and seeking justice for victims while her office would come in areas where support is needed.
She particularly commended the council bosses' spouses for coming out in beautiful Adire fabrics produced from the Adire Ekiti Hub noting that their gesture would go a long way in encouraging the youths of the state who honed their skills at the centre.
The First Lady disclosed that the state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) ordered for 180 pieces of Adire fabrics for its members for the celebration of the annual May Day to be celebrated on Wednesday.
Dr. Oyebanji also added that the state wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has placed an order for 5,000 pieces of Adire commemorative wears to celebrate this year's World Teacher's Day scheduled for October.
The Governor's wife noted that she had entered into discussion with the state chapter of the Association Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to nominate and sponsor youths from their areas for Adire training as a means of empowering them and take them off the labour market.
She also reminded the council chairmen's wives that they are the Coordinators of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu and her own WAOH Project in their respective council areas.
Dr. Oyebanji also tasked them to emulate her example by cultivating a garden in their council areas in fulfilment of the directive of the wife of the President to ensure food sufficiency and to tackle high cost of food items in the country.
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson of the Spouses of Chairmen of LGAs and LCDAs in the state, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayoola, hailed Dr. Oyebanji for the great impact of her programmes and initiatives saying members of the group would always partner with her to positively touch the lives of the people.
Mrs. Ayoola, a lawyer, said the progress of Ekiti is very dear to their hearts of the Chairmen's spouses and would always work to support their husbands to make life easier for the people at the grassroots.
She explained that the body fully supports and identifies with the WAOH Project and the Adire Ekiti initiative which explained why they were decked in Adire attires which attracted commendation from their host.
The state All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader, Mrs. Caroline Egunlusi; Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi and Special Adviser on Gender Empowerment and Mobilization, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye urged for more support for the Oyebanji Administration for the state to witness more development.
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