By Damilola Akinlotan
Recognition and honour has come the way of the Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, for the support, assistance and succour she is giving to the less privileged in the state.
Dr. Oyebanji was on Thursday inducted as a Honorary Rotarian by executive members of the Rotary Club of Ado Ekiti (2023-2024) for championing the cause of the vulnerable people in the state and also using her office to render humanitarian services.
The induction was performed in her office during a courtesy visit by the Rotarians who hailed the Ekiti First Lady for facilitating payment of hospital bills of indigent patients, running a Food Bank for the elderly, giving succour to widows and orphans, among other humanitarian gestures to the needy in the state since her assumption of office.
Dr. Oyebanji, who was delighted to receive the honorary badge and the plaque, hailed Rotary Club for what it is doing for humanity expressing her readiness to always partner with the Club in the fulfillment of its mission to always reach out to the vulnerable segment of the populace.
The First Lady who said her office and Rotary share similar ideals and philosophy said she is fully subscribed to the programmes outlined by the 2023-2024 executive of the Club targeted at groups like the elderly, pupils of primary schools, students of secondary school and tertiary institutions during the tenure.
She said: “I appreciate what you are doing for humanity. The Rotary Club is well noted for fantastic, amazing humanitarian services in the society and everybody is familiar with what you are doing. My office is to complement whatever my husband is doing at my own level, particularly for children, women, and the vulnerable .
“It is the right thing for me to be opened to some of these programmes and to also look for an area of collaboration so that we can always give back to the society.
“We have the same focus which is basically to bend backward to the less privileged in the society. Whatever you are doing, you are complementing what Mr. Governor is doing. It’s about our people and I want to wish you an outstanding success on this journey.”
Earlier in his remarks, the President, Rotary Club of Ado Ekiti (2023-2024), Mr. Akinwale Olasusi, explained that humanitarian services being rendered by the Club are geared towards ensuring that the wellbeing of the less privileged is catered for.
Rotarian Olasusi said the Club recognized Ekiti First Lady’s pivotal position in championing the cause of the less privileged informed the move to seek her partnership and support for some of the projects and programmes already lined up by his executive for execution.
According to him, the Ado Ekiti Rotary Club under his leadership will soon launch its Sight Intervention Programme to conduct eye screening for 500 adults from 60 years and above while eyeglasses will be provided for 100 of the number and 50 of them are to be booked for surgery.
The Sight Intervention Programme, he said, was conceived because of the prevalence of eye problems among the elderly noting that it was aimed at giving the senior citizens succour and help in retaining their sight.
Rotarian Olasusi also unveiled the Club’s intent to organize and bankroll an Essay Competition for secondary students in the state on Drug Abuse with winners to go for a further oral interview before champions emerge.
He further disclosed that the Club will equally organize a Drug Summit mainly students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the state to be done in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curb the menace of drug abuse among students and youths.
The Rotary chief also canvassed the support of the First Lady for the Club’s Library Outreach programme to be done in collaboration with Ekiti State Library Services to stimulate reading culture to sustain Ekiti’s reputation as the intellectual powerhouse of the nation.
He urged the First Lady to support the Club morally and financially to ensure the success of the programmes in the state.
