The Wife of the Ekiti Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has distributed educational materials to 500 indigent pupils across the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The intervention, under her Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope (WAOH) initiative, was made during the annual Back-to-School programme held in Ado-Ekiti.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, the First Lady said the initiative was aimed at easing the financial burden on vulnerable families and encouraging children to remain committed to their education.
The materials distributed included school bags, mathematical sets, English and Mathematics textbooks, water bottles and notebooks.
According to her, education remained one of the most powerful instruments for breaking the cycle of poverty and equipping children with the knowledge and skills needed for a productive future.
“The Back-to-School programme is our way of supporting parents and encouraging our children as they return to school.
“We want them to know that their circumstances should not determine the height of their dreams,” she said.
Oyebanji said the intervention was part of a series of educational support programmes implemented under WAOH, recalling that financial assistance had recently been provided to 100 tertiary institution students in the state.
She added that educational support for 50 orphans was also renewed the previous week.
According to her, 19 of the beneficiaries received N90,000 each for boarding-school feeding and N10,000 as pocket money, while the remaining 31 received N25,000 each for upkeep and other essential needs.
“These are just a few of our educational initiatives under WAOH, reflecting our commitment to supporting the education and overall well-being of our children and young people,” she said.
The First Lady appreciated Gov. Biodun Oyebanji for his support for the initiative, saying that his administration’s people-centred approach had continued to prioritise education, youth empowerment and human capital development.
She urged the beneficiaries to remain focused, disciplined and committed to academic excellence, while advising them to use the materials judiciously and strive to make their families and the state proud.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye, said the state government had remained committed to supporting indigent and vulnerable pupils and students across the state.
Aderiye said the WAOH initiative had impacted many lives through its various interventions, describing the Back-to-School programme as another demonstration of commitment to inclusive education.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the WAOH Project, Dr Kemi Dairo, said the programme was designed to bridge the gap for vulnerable families by providing educational materials and reducing some of the financial pressures associated with sending children back to school.
She said the vision of the First Lady through WAOH was to ensure that vulnerability did not become a permanent limitation to any child’s future.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Arowolo Phillip and Oladele Moyinoluwa, appreciated the First Lady for the gesture and pledged to take their studies seriously and strive for academic excellence.