… I’m Emulating template set by Gov Oyebanji- Engr Toyin Ojo
By Editor
Barely 24 hours after launching the Social Investment Scheme for the elderly (Owo Arugbo), the Executive Chairman of Ado Central LCDA, Engr Toyin Ojo, yesterday, flagged off yet another laudable welfarist initiative capturing the People Living with Disabilities in the four wards of Ado Central LCDA.
This is, as encomiums have continued to pour in for the council boss who made history as the first Local Government Chairman in Ekiti State to float the twin people oriented programs in the history of the State.
Simply tagged; “Social Investment Scheme for Persons With Disabilities” the program encompasses carefully selected PWDs from across the four wards of the LCDA where beneficiaries will henceforth, benefit from the chairman’s cash gifts lasting with the tenure of the council boss in 2026.
Overwhelmed by the rare gesture of identifying with their peculiar challenges, beneficiaries took their turns to shower praises and prayers for Engr Ojo for blazing the trail as the first council Chairman to recognize and treat them as humans.
In a soul lifting admonition, spokesperson for the PWDs in the State, Mr Peter Ojo expressed gratitude and appreciation on behalf of the special people to the Engr Toyin Ojo-led administration for his caring heart and act of benevolence praying for higher pedestal for him in his future polical journey.
He however gave a word of admonition to his fellow physically challenged to shun the habit of begging for alms before they could feed themselves stressing the popular saying that there is ability in disability.
A Sports Coach, Mr Ojo then urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously to elevate their career or businesses.
Unable to betray his emotion, Engr Ojo, in his brief address to the gathering, expressed his compassionate nature to the plight of the beneficiaries noting that God created everyone equal with different capacities.
He however hinted that the different social Investment Schemes he initiated was to compliment similar programs of Governor Biodun Oyebanji who he described as a role model and exemplary leader.
He lamented various challenges confronting PWDs among which are social stigma, discrimination, financial strains, employment disparities,violence and poverty while expressing his administration’s readiness to pay the monthly stipend to the beneficiaries till the end of his administration in the year 2026.
The council boss said his resolve to commence the payment of monthly stipend to the PWDs was borne out of his genuine concern about the poor conditions of living of most of them .
The LG Chair noted that he had no inkling about if a past Chairman has performed similar feat before in the state but he was driven by passion to replicate Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s shared prosperity agenda at the grassroots.
Engr.Ojo cautioned the beneficiaries against spending the money on frivolities but on what could enhance their living conditions.
He enjoined them to give necessary support to Governor Oyebanji administration while assuring them of government’s support at all times.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Special Education & Social Inclusion,Princes Adetohun Agboola lauded the council Chairman for the initiative aiming at ameliorating the plights of the persons with disabilities advising other Councils chairmen in the state to emulate Engr Ojo’s initiative.
Engr.Toyin Ojo had earlier flagged off Social Security Scheme( Owo Arugbo ) on Thursday where no fewer than ninety senior citizens drawn from four wards making up the Council would be receiving monthly stipend commencing from the month of June 2024 till the end of his administration in the year 2026.
The ceremony was attended by the Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Special Education & Social Inclusion , Ekiti State Director of Disabilities Affairs, Mr.Toye Akinlabi, PWD project Coordinator in the State ,Com.Tosin Adeleke ,Vice Chairman to the Council, Alhaji Onipede Babatunde , Secretary to the Council,princess Adenike Adeleye,Leader of the Ado Local Government Legislative Council Hon.Babatunde Arogundade, Councilors, HLA, Com. Olaitan Alatise, Party leaders, Directors among others .
