In a bid to support the Ekiti State First Lady’s initiative in advancing education, the wife of the Moba Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Labake Fadugba, has been commended for her initiative to distribute educational materials to selected primary and secondary school students across the local government area.
The event, held in emulation of the “Back-to-School” initiative championed by the Governor’s wife, took place at the Moba Local Government Secretariat, Otun Ekiti, with the programme featuring the distribution of items such as school bags, notebooks, exercise books, biros, and mathematical sets.
Representing the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, at the event, the Coordinator of the Widows and Orphans Hope Project (WAOH), Mrs Kemi Dairo, who commended Mrs Fadugba for her efforts and expressed satisfaction for her dedication to empowering children and bringing hope to the community.
Dr. Oyebanji highlighted her commitment to improving the lives of women, children, and vulnerable groups through initiatives such as the Adire Ekiti, which has trained over 400 women for economic empowerment.
She also recalled her recent “Back-to-School” programme, which provided school materials to 500 orphans to ensure that no child is left behind in the pursuit of education while praising Mrs Fadugba for emulating these humanitarian efforts.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of Moba Local Government, Hon. Bamidele Fadugba, noted that the programme was designed to support parents during these economically challenging times by providing their children with essential school supplies.
He emphasized the council’s commitment to ensuring functional education for students across the area, adding that five students were selected from each school in the local government with a call on the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and make the most of the materials provided.
The facilitator of the programme and wife of the chairman, Mrs Labake Fadugba, explained the importance of helping the less privileged and credited her inspiration to the Ekiti State First Lady’s efforts in the education sector.
She promised that the programme would be continuous, encouraging students to focus on their studies to achieve success in life.
Mrs Fadugba also expressed gratitude to her husband, Hon. Bamidele Fadugba, for his financial and logistical support in making the event a success.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Peju Babafemi, represented by the Deputy Director of the Child Department at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Adalumo Taiwo, highlighted the importance of education for human and capital development.
She advised the students to remain focused on their studies and avoid negative influences, while also encouraging parents to nurture their children responsibly.
On their part, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Folorunso Olabode and his Youth Development counterpart, Hon. Gold Adedayo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting education and assured students that the administration would continue to invest heavily in the sector.
The commissioners who described education as a key tool in the fight against poverty and a driver of societal change, explained the state’s focus on the education sector, thanking Governor Oyebanji for empowering the young ones and urged students to take full advantage of the state’s free education policies.
Contributing, a lawmaker representing Moba Constituency One in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Abimbola Solanke, praised Mrs Fadugba for following the First Lady’s directive to replicate the educational intervention across the state.
She encouraged students to repay their parents and the government’s efforts by dedicating themselves to their studies and wished them success in their endeavours.
The Oore of Otun Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, offered prayers for the student’s academic success and pledged financial support to the local government chairman.
Some of the benefiting students, including Oladipupo Fiyinfoluwa from Asalam Nursery and Primary School Otun Ekiti, Ruth Adeola from Comprehensive High School Otun Ekiti, and Eniola Olaiya appreciated Hon. Mr and Mrs Fadugba for the educational supporting material, promising to make judicious use of them.
Prominent attendees at the event included the Elepe of Epe Ekiti, Oba M.O. Atolagbe, the Olosan of Osan Ekiti, Oba Tajudeen Bamidele, APC Chairman in Moba LG, Hon. Femi Adeyeye, and local APC leaders among others.