Let’s reduce menace of illiteracy in Oyo State -Ajimobi
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday advocated more proactive measures to reduce the menace of illiteracy in and across the nooks and crannies of Oyo state.
The governor made the call while speaking at the presentation of cash gift to no fewer than 500 widows drawn from the 10 Local Government Areas in Oke Ogun area of the state by a Non Governmental Organization, Ogunmola Foundation (OF) held at Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ago Are.
Speaking through the elsewhile Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, Governor Ajimobi tasked parents in the state to henceforth take the training and upbringing of their wards seriously considering the fact that “education is the greatest legacy this generation can bequeath to the generations yet unborn”.
The governor however lauded the efforts of the Ogunmola Foundation for putting smiles on the faces of the people of Oke Ogun area of the state especially towards reducing the menace of illiteracy in the state.
Founder of the foundation and immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of Atisbo Local Government, Dr. Jacob Funmi Ogunmola while speaking urged sons and daughters of Oke Ogun zone to find ways of contributing positively to the development of the zone. Most especially in the areas of functional education and uplifting the living conditions of people particularly the widows who have over the years been neglected, subjugated and stigmatized due to various cultural cum social practices that are militating against their survival .
“What this foundation is all about is a better life for our people. For the students, what we are giving them is to better their education, they should face their studies and they are going to enjoy it. The widows, whatever we are giving them in terms of empowerment, they should use it to do business so that they will not be moving and going around begging for money,” he said.
“We empowered over 1,000 rural men and women by supporting their various businesses in 2006, sport wears were provided to all teams in our locality in 2007, 2000 pairs of sandals were provided to school children and the populace in 2008. We distributed exercise books to all Primary and Secondary schools in our locality in 2009. Under our scholarship awards, best three (3) students in each of the secondary school in our locality, (total of 39 students benefited from the scholarship) in 2010. Ogunmola Foundation also made donations to various religious organizations.
“We gave scholarship award to the best three (3) students in each of the secondary school in ATISBO Local Government Area, and relief package for all widows in Atisbo Local Government (2011), Scholarship Award to 30 best students in ATISBO Local Government and relief packages for widows in Atisbo and Saki East Local Governments 2012, in 2013, scholarship awards to 30 best students in Atisbo Local Government and relief packages for widows in Atisbo and Saki East Local Governments, Scholarship award to 30 best students in Atisbo local government and empowerment of 500 widows in 10 local government of Oke Ogun area of Oyo State and motorized Borehole at Central Mosque Ago Are 2013, Scholarship award to 114 best students in Atisbo , Saki East and Saki West Local Governments and Empowerment of 550 widows in Ten Local Government of Oke Ogun area in 2014” she stressed while tasking the beneficiaries to make use of the gesture judiciously.
