The Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji has praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her various interventions in Ekiti, including delivery of a trailer load of foodstuff for women under her Food Bank Initiative.
Addressing women during her visit to Ekiti Southwest and Ikere local government areas of the state on Thursday, Dr. Oyebanji announced that Ekiti women also benefitted from the First Lady’s initiative including distribution of fertilizers to women farmers, ₦50,000 grant for 1,000 women, and approval of an ICT center at Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti among others.
She attributed this support to the strong relationship between Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which she said has resulted in several investment opportunities and infrastructure upgrades in the state.
“The Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has a foundation, Renew Hope Initiative, a platform to reach out to children, women and vulnerable in our society, and wives of the 36 states Governors are the coordinators at the state level. So, whatever mama is going to give to women in any state, she will channel it through the wives of the governors.
“A typical example is the empowerment of female farmers where 20 women farmers were drawn from each of the states and the First Lady empowered them with five hundred thousand Naira each.
Another one is the fifty 50m that mama put in each of the thirty six states for small business owners, and in Ekiti state, that money was given to 1000 business owners”. She explained.
The Governor’s wife reassured women that her office is committed to their welfare, particularly in addressing gender-based violence, urging them to report cases of abuse to her office, stressing that her office remains open and unbiased, regardless of political affiliation.
She also restated her unalloyed commitment to women empowerment and development, adding that her various projects have successfully produced young Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) excelling in various sectors including Adire making.
Dr. Oyebanji disclosed that 400 youths from the two senatorial Districts have been trained through the Adire Ekiti hub are now manufacturing Adire fabrics in large quantities, serving both local and international demands. Work is on going on the training of another 200 youths and women from Ekiti North Senatorial district.
The Governor’s wife emphasized that the initiative has not only created self-employment opportunities for youths but also aligned with the zero-capital flight policy of Governor Oyebanji’s administration, disclosing all food items distributed to women during the tour were sourced locally, from artisans and farmers across Ekiti.
In her address, the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye promised more dividends of democracy to the people in Ekiti Southwest and Ikere local governments . She also promised those that had benefited from the present administration to contribute meaningfully to the development of their immediate environment.
She said Governor Oyebanji would not hesitate to work with our traditional rulers to remove any market woman who conspires against the people by making life difficult for them .
The Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe tasked women not to relent on their support for the present administration and promised them more political offices as there are still boards appointments that would soon be announced.
Also on the entourage of the first lady were former Commissioner for Cukture and Tourism, Chief (Mrs.) Ronke Okunsanya; Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi; and Special Advisers Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle and Chief Mrs. Kemi Olaleye, among others.