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Ogun: 50,000 Women Empowered Through Oko’wo Dapo Scheme—Gov. Abiodun
No fewer than 50,000 women in Ogun State have benefitted from the financial empowerment scheme tagged ‘Oko’wo Dapo’, introduced by the incumbent administration to lift women out of poverty.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who made this known at the validation exercise of ward facilitators of the scheme, held at the Oba’s Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, equally disclosed that over N500m has been saved via contributions by the beneficiaries in three local government areas of the state.
Abiodun charged the ward facilitators to advertise the benefits of the scheme to their fellow women, saying he expected that the number of participants should have increased to over two hundred thousand across the state.
“In three local governments, we have over fifty thousand women participating in this scheme; they have saved over five hundred million naira. The three local government areas are Odeda, Ijebu North East and Yewa North. We just started the one for Ikenne.
“Our ward facilitators should go all out to advertise this programme, and educate more women about the benefit of this programme, I am confident that in the next three to four months, we would have had over two hundred thousand women in this programme across the state,” he said.
The governor, while noting that the scheme isn’t different from a cooperative scheme, said that his administration would give a loan to each participant fourfold of whatever she might have contributed in four weeks.
“This is not different from your various contributions, it is a cooperative scheme. Our ward facilitators will go all out and bring together those women who will be part of the scheme, about twenty or twenty-five women in each group and start contributing.
“You will now start to contribute for four weeks, and you will attend weekly meetings, after contributing for four weeks, the government will now give you the loan that will amount to four-fold of what you contributed.
“So, if you contribute two thousand weekly and you now have eight thousand Naira in the fourth week, our government will give you thirty-two thousand naira loan. If it is five thousand naira you contribute weekly and you now have twenty thousand at the end of the four weeks, our government will now borrow you eighty thousand Naira,” he said.
Abiodun, who also disclosed that all ward facilitators would be paid every month, urged them to put in extra effort to ensure the success of the programme, adding that he would personally compensate any of the facilitators who do their duty diligently.
“We will pay our ward women leaders who are our ward facilitators every month. Our government is not a use-and-dump government, our government holds out women in high esteem.
“Our women, I want you to put extra effort into this programme because if this programme is successful, you will benefit more. And any women leader who now does her own task very well, I as your governor will now do something to appreciate that women leader,” he stated.
The Governor, however, told the ward facilitators not to make the programme a party affair, but to extend it to others.
The Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, while acknowledging the governor for supporting the cause of women in the society, said that the programme would continue to help women across the state to be more economically viable.
The wife of the Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, noted that the success of women is of utmost importance to the governor, urging them to be more patient as the plan the governor has for them is huge.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape, while noting that the present administration in the state is passionate about women, advised women across the state to take the opportunity with both hands and get connected so as to be a beneficiary.
Mrs. Arigbabuwo Kubura from Ijebu North East Local Government and Sola Adedeji from Sagamu Local Government, who both thanked the present administration for presenting women in the state with an opportunity to contribute and have access to loans, said that the programme has given them more insight into how to do business, prepare their budget and also be accountable.
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urged for necessary measures to protect journalists and other media workers during this weekend’s off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.
The group sent the request to the federal and state governments, as well as law enforcement and security agencies, stressing that the role of journalists in disseminating information about the electoral process is critical to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.
In a statement issued ahead of the elections in Lagos and signed by the Communications Officer, Media Rights Agenda, Idowu Adewale, MRA also urged journalists to be cautious and to use its existing hotline (08138755660) to report any threat or attack they may encounter during the process, as well as any obstacle.
Adewale said in the statement: “Given the pattern of heightened attacks on journalists and the media during previous elections, including the recent 2023 general elections, as well as the tense political climate in the three states in the lead-up to the elections, measures must be taken to ensure general security during the elections and provide adequate protection for journalists covering the elections.”
“Access to information allows citizens and other members of the public to have the information they need about political and electoral processes, facilitating effective public participation in elections,” he says.
“Journalists and the media play an important role in ensuring residents and other members of the public have access to information and may participate in the process.
“As part of efforts to preserve the integrity of the polls, it is also critical that the safety and well-being of these interlocutors be assured and safeguarded.”
Lamenting the increased number of attacks on journalists in the run-up to the off-cycle elections, as well as earlier this year in the run-up to the general elections, he emphasised that “a free and vibrant media is fundamental to a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to carry out their duties without fear, coercion, or violence.” During this vital phase, MRA stands ready to assist them and assure their safety.”
Men from the Edo State Police Command are said to have detained Mrs. Toluige Olokoobi’s husband after he allegedly murdered her.
Olokoobi was the mother of Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, the tiny boy whose video went viral in 2020 after he pleaded with his mother, “Mummy be calming down.”
Oreofeoluwa rose to prominence on social media after a video of him crying in an attempt to confidently appeal to his mother, who chastised him, went viral.
The film inspired Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who used it to deliver an Eid-el-Kabir appeal to Muslims and Lagos people in general to remain calm during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Following that, the youngster and his family met with the governor, who praised his bravery and poise.
While little has been heard about the family in three years, heartbreaking news broke on social media on Tuesday that the boy’s mother had committed suicide.
According to an X user, Olokoobi committed suicide in Benin, the capital of Edo State, for unknown reasons.
The X user, who stated that he was present at the site on Monday afternoon, went on to say that she had refused to disclose her difficulties with anyone before committing herself.
“The woman in the viral Mummy Calm Down video has just committed suicide here in Benin,” he stated in an email.
“She refused to discuss her problems with anyone.” She abandoned three children for her husband, including the well-known Mummy Calm Down boy.”
Meanwhile, confirming Olokoobi’s death in a chat with BBC Pidgin, the spokesperson of the Edo State police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said her husband has been arrested and detained for questioning.
Nwabuzor said the husband reported the matter to the police.
The police spokesperson quoted the husband to have said that “he came home from the market when he saw his wife hanging with rope on her neck”.
Nwabuzor said she was rushed to the hospital and then to the mortuary after she was confirmed dead. (Adapted from a Vanguard report).
The Anambra State Police Command Headquarters Conference Hall was a hive of activity Thursday as CP Aderemi Adeoye took turns decorating around 18 promoted officers of the command with their new titles.
The delight of some of the officers whose wives assisted the CP in decorating their husbands with their new ranks knew no bounds, as their husbands duly saluted their wives and the CP for their new positions and responsibilities.
Obi Innocent, one of the officers elevated to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), whose wife joined CP Aderemi Adeoye in adorning him with his new rank, said it was wonderful that the Inspector General of Police thought him worthy.
CSP Obi Innocent, the officer in charge of the Legal Department at Zone 13, Police Zonal Headquarters Ukpo, stated that his new rank was a call to service and that he would do his best to uphold the charge given to them by CP Aderemi Adeoye to respect and protect the citizenry’s fundamental rights in the discharge of their new assignments.
Charity Akharame, who was honoured with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and was the only female officer among the 18 promoted officers decorated with new ranks, said it was not an easy feat but she was grateful to be among those who were decorated with their new ranks.
DSP Charity Akharame, the officer in charge of stores in the Anambra State Police Command, recalled how she began as a Police Constable and worked her way up to her current position as Deputy Superintendent of Police.
She stated that as a very disciplined police officer, she would follow the Police Commissioner’s directions regarding respect for all and sundry in the fulfillment of her constitutional obligations.
Jane-Frances Obi, one of the spouses of the officers elevated to the level of CSP, stated that being the wife of a police officer was not an easy assignment. As a result, she recommended any lady who is married to a police officer to be patient and understanding because the job is quite demanding.
Jane-Frances Obi, whose husband is Innocent Obi, the officer in charge of the Legal Department at Zone 13 Ukpo, believes the promotion is a reward for years of being patient, understanding, and standing in for them when they are not present.
Meanwhile, Emenike Chinenyenwa, who was decorated with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and presented a vote of appreciation, expressed deep gratitude to the IGP and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission for considering them worthy of being adorned in their new ranks.
ACP Emenike, the officer in charge of Medicals, stated that the elevation comes with increased responsibility and that they will work harder in their new tasks.
CP Aderemi Adeoye praised the current promotion winners in his remarks, noting that two aspects make the police career very interesting and eventful. He stated that one is for promotion and the other is for positions.
CP Adeoye, on the other hand, urged the newly honored officers to develop more empathy, compassion, care, and dedication in the performance of their jobs.
The police chief insisted that newly promoted officers must first recognise that they share the same humanity as others, and as a result, they must treat all people with dignity and protect their fundamental human rights at all times.
CP Aderemi Adeoye stressed that without the enormous roles of spouses, they wouldn’t have been successful in their careers. He therefore congratulated all the promoted and prayed that God gives them good health to enjoy the new ranks and the energy to discharge the responsibilities of their new offices.
- Source: Independent
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