We equip our women to begin to earn immediately – Akeredolu

The First Lady of Ondo State, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu led members of the Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO)on the fifteenth FOWOSO empowerment outreach to Ilaje Local Government Area where empowerment kits such as grinding machines, hair dryers, sewing machines and laptops among others were said to have been distributed to women and youths of the area.

Speaking during the First Lady’s visit to his palace, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Ayowole Odidiomo lauded the efforts of the Wife of the Governor at empowering women and youths of the area. He observed that the direct implementation process of the FOWOSO Empowerment programmes would ensure that the target beneficiaries were reached.

“The direct implementation of your FOWOSO programmes shows that your Excellency is very sensible to the pain of women within the State, were this programme to have been effected through politicians, perhaps, only their families would have benefited from it.”

While noting that the many initiatives of Akeredolu have helped to empower women and enhance the girl child education, the Olu pledged his unwavering commitment to FOWOSO and every other project that would help to foster the living standard of people within the area.

Oba Odidiomo who applauded the bold developmental strides of the Akeredolu -led administration also expressed his belief that issues of health-care, flood and paucity of girl-child education currently bedevilling the area would soon be adequately addressed by the government.

In her address,  Akeredolu explained the reason for initiating FOWOSO while stressing the need for Ondo State women to employ the various skills gained at the empowerment exercise to contribute, substantially, towards the socio-economic development of their immediate families and different communities.

Mrs. Akeredolu who restated that FOWOSO, as a group is poised to empowering women to become economically viable, also observed that in addition to learning life-changing skills, beneficiaries of the outreach also receive start-up kits that would enable them begin to earn immediately after the training exercise.

“Those who have already leant skills, we equip them. Those who have already been trained, we provide them with start -up lots so that they can start earning immediately”

Also in their remarks the SA to Ondo State Governor on Education, Hon. Wunmi Ilawole, and the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom appreciated Akeredolu for her immerse contribution to human resource development in Ondo State, especially from the women and youths angle. They further noted that FOWOSO is a practical exhibition of the First Lady’s brilliance. The Olugbo also called on the people to support the government in every way necessary.

The climax of the event was the presentation of laptops to young men and women in the local government, presentation of  certificates and empowerment kits to participants who had earlier been trained on making beads, shoes, bags, soap, beautification among others by the FOWOSO team.

Also present at the event were Hon. Gbenga Edema, Chairman OSOPADEC, and Hon. Aworetan Fayowole, former Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, and wife Mrs. Aworetan Lovette, who served as the host and hostess of the event, respectively.