Screening Commences for Ekiti First Lady’s Empowerment Project

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has pledged her readiness to ameliorate the suffering of widows and empower them for self-fulfilment and to contribute positively to the economy at the grassroots.

Oyebanji said widows should not be abandoned to their fate but be given hope and support to take care of themselves, their children and also be given sense of belonging as important stakeholders in the Ekiti project.

The first lady made the remarks on at the weekend during the commencement of screening of widows for her pet project, Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project at her office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Over 25,000 names of prospective beneficiaries under WAOH were collated paving the way for their invitation in batches to participate in the screening exercise to know their areas of needs and intervention for their assistance.

 Oyebanji stressed that widows are a vulnerable segment of the population that must be given the needed assistance, noting that WAOH was established to give them succour, assist them to fulfill their potentials and rescue them from hardship imposed on them by the demise of their husbands and breadwinners.

Speaking through WAOH Project Coordinator, Mrs. Kemi Dairo, Oyebanji explained that the screening of the prospective beneficiaries was an important step towards the official launch and the full take-off of the scheme adding that registration still continues to incorporate more beneficiaries.

According to her, the screening exercise became necessary to avoid confusion as well as ensure that the rightful beneficiaries were given relief materials.

The first lady, who said she identifies with the widows, urged them to see WAOH as a critical platform to better their lives and to help them overcome the challenges of the position fate has thrust on them.

She said: “Through this project, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji is making a strong statement that widows in Ekiti should not suffer. We are under a government that put smiles on the faces of the people of the state.

“As Governor Biodun Oyebanji is working hard to make life easier for the people of the state, the First Lady is not relenting in complementing the efforts of her husband in bettering lives of our people in the grassroots.

“The first lady is assuring the widows that their welfare is of paramount importance to her and we want you to go back to your communities and spread the news. Those who are yet to be registered for the scheme are still free to do so.

“We want to know the needs of each of you so that we can know which areas to intervene in assisting you. Another team will visit you in your places of residence and business to further authenticate the information you have supplied. That is the purpose of this screening.”

Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Idowu Mustapha and Mrs. Moyo Tawose, commended the first lady for coming up with the initiative which they noted was not influenced by political affiliation and other primordial considerations.

Mrs. Mustapha said: “This is a very laudable programme and we are grateful to our First Lady for this. I was very happy when I was invited to come here today. I don’t know anybody in government and I don’t belong to any party.

“I just went to my LCDA to go and register and that was it. Our First Lady is a God-send person to assist  the widows and God will help her and answer her prayers.”

Mrs. Tawose said: “We want to appreciate our First Lady for remembering we widows. I received a call to come to WAOH Office today and it was then I realized that this thing is real. I am very excited for this and we pray for her she will receive God’s favour for this gesture of hers.”