The Wife of the Fomer Governor of Ogun State organized a befitting homecoming ceremony/official decoration for Miss Nigeria 2011,Oluwafeyijimi Modupeola Sodipo and decorated her as Ogun State Youth Ambassador. The event took place at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office in Abeokuta. She used the occasion to challenged Youths,describing them as change agents for greater tomorrow. She said global change for our future is made active only through community service and civic engagement,assuring of the state government’s readiness to offer leadership role to the youth in order to deepen their understanding of what it means to engage compassion in a purposeful manner. According to her, “The world is looking unto the youths of today and when it comes to the defining challenges of our times – creating jobs in our state and country Nigeria, promoting democracy, confronting extremism, poverty and various diseases, and as such the Youth Ambassador, Miss Nigeria is important to our great Ogun State to assist in defining these challenges.” “I know that often times, when we think about that word – leadership -so many people think of presidents and governors. We also think of people who pass laws or command armies, people who run big businesses, people with titles or fat salaries. But our Youth Ambassador Miss Nigeria is now a leader.” Mrs. Amosun described Oluwafeyijimi as a true representative of the new Nigeria and positive attributes of a young Nigerian woman who possesses elegance, talent, intelligence as well as beauty. “Miss Nigeria, as our official Ogun State Youth Ambassador, will champion issues that challenge today’s youth. Her leadership will strive to connect to communities by influencing issues and others with the power of compassion,” she said.
Author: miji
Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home
Mrs.Folorunsho Amosun paid an assement tour to the Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home for an appraisal of the children and home in company of her daughter,Anjola Amosun and her friends. It was not just a visit as donations in cash and gift items were given for the upkeep of the less privilege.
Maiden edition of Spelling Bee Competition
On 20th of July, 2012, the maiden edition of Spelling Bee Competition for public secondary schools in Ogun State produced its first winner in person of Master Dansu Emmanuel of Community Senior High School,Tube in lpokia Local Government of the state. The grand finale of the maiden edition, which took place at Valley View Auditorium, lsale-lgbein, Abeokuta, brought together 60 students from 60 public secondary schools across the 20 local government areas of the state, and it was witnessed by the facilitator of the competition and Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun. The keenly contested outing also produced Master Remmy Emmanuel of Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School, Osiele in Odeda Local second runner-up. Government area of the state as the first runner-up and Covenant Harrison of St. Peter’s Comprehensive College, Olomore, Abeokuta in Abeokuta North Local Government area of the state as the second runner-up. The winner of the competition was recognized as the Most Outstanding Speller in Ogun State, and he was presented with a cheque of N250,000, a trophy, a laptop and a scholarship award for his university education. The second and third positions were given Nl50,000 and Nl00,000 respectively. Speaking at the occasion, the Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State urged the students to focus on their studies and promised to do everything within her reach to encourage them for a better performance in academic endeavors. Education has been variously described as the bedrock of growth and development in any given society. A child who can spell correctly stands a better chance of writing, reading and speaking effectively and by implication such child will surely excel in his/her academic undertakings. The Spelling Bee Competition is designed to motivate our children for them to improve on their education standards,”she said. In his remarks the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olusegun Odubela said the competition was geared towards developing practical skills in vocabulary development and to groom students for leadership position, while promoting unity and national integration. The commissioner commended Mrs. Amosun for her contribution to the success of the competition and her laudable initiatives in complementing the efforts of her husband in bringing succour to the lives of the less privileged in the society through her various Uplifting the needy programmes particularly the Uplifting SS3 Students.
Education In Ogun State
Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs.Olufunso Amosun has expressed her desire to support projects that would motivate students to pay better attention to their studies as part of the effort of the present administration’s mission to rebuild education standards in the State. Speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the foundation/flag-off ceremony of the maiden edition of the Spelling Bee Competition for Secondary School students in Ogun State, Mrs. Amosun said the competition was designed to improve education standards in the state public schools and facilitate intellectual, mental and physical motivation. Describing the competition as a “successful educational strategy” and catalyst to improve spelling standards among students,” she said:”research has shown that there is direct correlation between spelling ability and reading ability, as such, spelling accuracy impacts positively on reading accuracy which go hand in hand with writing skills and by extension will improve the academic performance of our students.” Mrs. Amosun, however, noted that the spelling skills of our students have suffered a great setback in this era of advanced technology and high tech gadgets like computers and mobile phones which finish off words for us as we type. According to her, “This technology has made it possible to write words accurately without actually knowing how to spell the word at all! Words have been deformed and castrated through the constant use of slangs and slogans which have evolved into frequently used words which have almost confused us into accepting them as English words. Students have gotten into the habit of reinventing words through short forms in the name of SMS messages that sometimes require the service of a soothsayer to unravel the intended meaning of these reinvented words!” She noted that the Spelling Bee Com petition was designed “to improve English Language learning in schools, paying particular attention to spellings,” adding that “the competition is aimed at encouraging academic excellence in our schools generally. We are convinced that this competition will raise the bar of educational standards in our schools.” Mrs. Amosun added that the competition would go a long way in boosting the self-confidence and the study habits of students, because “to compete and emerge as the winner of this kind of competition the student must truly have studied hard.” The competition, which is open to all secondary school students across the 20 local government areas in Ogun State, was expected to assist students in building their vocabulary, strengthen their proficiency in English Language and encourage students to constantly strive for academic excellence. The governor’s wife noted that the Senator lbikunle Amosun administration has identified education as one of the government’s five important cardinal points and as such, primary and secondary education is completely free, whilst tertiary education is handsomely subsidized in Ogun State. Building on this laudable gesture, she explained that the New Era Foundation, which has successfully organised the competition over the years in Lagos State, was partnering with her in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to stage the competition in Ogun State and make it an annual event. Also speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olusegun Odubela said the competition would promote and improve study habits among pupils and students and it would prove as a valuable tool for achieving the state’s educational goals. He charged the students to take advantage of the Spelling Bee Competition to improve on their reading habits and general academic performance, saying this would help them in all their future endeavors.
Cultural Values
Mrs. Amosun,Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State has challenged parents and guardians to exposetheir children to the history, cultural values and traditions of their origin, saying it would serve as a source of identification and national consciousness. She said this during the Grand Finale of the 6th National Culture Quiz Competition held in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital. Mrs. Amosun urged students to be proud of their culture and identify with their cultural heritage in order to showcase their tradition so as not to lose “our identity and self- esteem.” She commended the organizers for their initiative, noting that this kind of programme could further create a national sense of unity and development in our children as Nigerians and ambassadors of their individuals states. Speaking earlier, the Executive Dotun Osunsanya charged Director/CEO, National Council for government at all levels, stakeholders Arts and Culture, and parents to ensure a proactive pursuant of activities geared towards forestalling the erosion of our cultural values and ethos. He said the Culture Quiz Competition was aimed at inculcating in children an appreciation of the national bonds of trust, friendship and kindness in a multi-ethnic environment like Nigeria.
Forum for Local Government Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria
Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State has also urged members of Forum for Local Government Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria(FOLGONM) to pay more attention to the health needs of people at the grassroots level by rendering quick and required health care service supports. Speaking at the grand finale of the Forum’s 28th National Scientific Workshop and her investiture ceremony as the Forum’s Grand Patron held at the Valley View Auditorium, lsale-lgbein, Abeokuta, Mrs. Amosun said the importance of nurses and midwives in the society cannot be over-emphasised considering the huge responsibilities of ensuring that doctor’s orders are executed and implemented in order to ensure that patient’s health and dignities are restored. According to her, “Your role as health personnel has placed on your shoulders the onerous task of joining hands with government at all levels in providing quality health care delivery to Nigerians. This Forum has a significant role to play in taking good health care to the people at the grassroots level.” She added that majority of nurses and midwives are females and “your attitude, concern and care for the sick are a good foundation for how women can contribute immensely to the development of humanity and the nation at large. Commending members of the Forum on the successful completion of the workshop, the governor’s wife pointed out that without their followup and supportive roles in hospitals, it would be practically impossible for doctors to articulate and administer health care procedures effectively as doctors are few on each duty shift. The Chairperson of FOLGONM, Ogun State chapter, Hajia Olusola Saheed said the event was aimed at uplifting the nursing profession in order to measure up with their counterparts around the world.
Cancer Awareness Campaign
Mrs. Olufunso Amosun flagged off the Cancer Awareness Campaign in Ogun State. The programme was designed to enlighten the people of the state on the need to always pay attention to their physical body and report any strange development to medical experts. Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Amosun joined the rest of the world on 14th of June this year to mark the 2012 World Blood Donor Day with the theme: “Every blood donor is a hero” at the State General Hospital, lberekodo in Abeokuta. She used the occasion to urge Nigerian youths to make a commitment to voluntarily donate blood and save lives in order to provide help to the needy in the society. She described the Day as significant one meant to raise awareness on the need for safe blood, blood products and to appreciate voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood, adding that youths are at low risk of transmitting infection through their blood. According to her, “The World Blood Donor Day is a call to service, a day a new generation of blood donors are expected to be raised to provide the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to safe lives. We should note that blood transfusion may arise at any time either in urban or rural areas. She added that the celebration was also a day to show appreciation to voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gift by choosing to donate blood without getting paid, saying those individuals had committed a heroic act – a rare gesture of human solidarity with the aim of saving lives. Mrs. Amosun commended the courage and determination of students in various schools who had come together under the canopy of Club 25 to build a healthy and better society by donating regularly and voluntarily, challenging more people all over the world to donate blood to prevent the unavailability of blood that had led to several deaths and aggravated illnesses. Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka said the infected blood units collected through unsafe practices and from donors with high risk behavior usually results in numerous preventable deaths amongst women and children and people living with HIV/AIDS,that it could be avoided if two percent of adult population committed themselves to regular voluntary non-remunerated blood donation. He called on Nigerians to be their brother’s keepers and become the service ‘heroes’ by pledging to donate blood today and regularly, appealing to communities to take ownership of voluntary blood donations through the community Blood Donor Mobilization Initiatives. Dr. Chukwu added that the Federal Government had committed itself to establishing two Blood Component Production Centers in the country by the end of 2013, pointing out that the centers would serve as pilot sites while efforts are on-going to scale up.
Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health
One of her first major outings as the Wife of the Former Governor was the flagging-off ceremony of the 2011 Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Week in Abeokuta in June 2011, where she charged mothers to always ensure that their wards/children are well fed with nourished foods in order to reduce infant mortality. She explained that if children were adequately fed with well-nourished foods, they would have the needed immunity against diseases responsible for child mortality. “It is sad that Nigeria is ranked 15th as one of the countries in the world with the highest rate of child mortality particularly for children within 0-5 years,” she said. Mrs. Amosun added that the causes of the high child mortality among children under the age of five years are malaria, Diarrhea, Acute Respiratory ((ART) infection and preventable diseases. She said all these diseases are preventable if only adequate proactive steps are taken at the right time. The Wife of the Former Governor also flagged-off the School-based Deworming Exercise, which was organised in collaboration with Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited on November 9, 2011. The exercise was conducted for primary and secondary school students across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State to reduce worm infection among children. According to her, “Worm infection could make children sick and retard their growth which is the reason we are taking this exercise to the nooks and crannies of Ogun State to save our future generation from preventable disease that could affect their education and future.” Her message to the parents is clear: to cooperate with health workers and ensure regular de-worming of their children. She reiterated the Amosun led administration’s commitment to tackling the infection which is germane to the implementation of the policy health programme of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targeted at increasing the rate of children’s survival. A free dose of Zolat worm expeller was administered on the children.
Unemployed Graduates
On the 10th of April 2012, Valley View Auditorium was filled to the brim with unemployed graduates, who came for an orientation and registration exercise for the Skill Acquisition Programme that the Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun had organised for the unemployed graduates in the State. Out of more 2,500 graduates that applied, 1,200 of them were registered for the programme which held from 11th April to 25th April, 2012 and was finished off with a Business Start-up Seminar on the 26th and 27th of April 2012, to ensure that the trainees harnessed and maximized the skills that they had newly acquired. The skills they were trained include: Barbing, Wire works, Millinery, Fabric Beading, Small Chops/Pastry, Event Decorations, Manicure/Pedicure, Shoe Making, Make up/Gele. It was a fun-filled two-week hands-on training session. All participants were monitored closely and each participant was provided with training materials to learn and participate through out the programme. The Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State made it a point of visiting the venue at every opportunity to ensure things were running smoothly. An emergency creche was set up to assist graduate mothers in attendance with young children so that they could get the chance to take full advantage of the exercise. At the end of the training, each class had to demonstrate what they had learnt and this was the highlight of the programme, as one saw under one’s very eyes the transformation of people who couldn’t even identify tools of trades to people that could actually carry out the learnt skill of their choice to perfection. As if this was not enough, on the 2nd of May, 2012, the birthday of Mrs. Olufunso, the Former State Governor, Senator lbikunle Amosun, saw this as a laudable project and crowned the efforts of his wife by empowering graduates. The Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputu at the ceremony,attended this empowerment Government programme and assured the graduates with Certificates of Participation,Cheques to be cashed immediately where they would like to export offsets of their trade, the bank of industry would assist them.
The Widows
As part of the activities marking her birthday anniversary,the Wife of the Former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun organized an empowerment programme tagged: “UPLITing the Windows”for the widows in her State. At the programme, 200 widows from various walks of life,some painfully young and some old,were given business start up items on the spot to set up small scale businesses free of charge. Items ranged from Salon Starter Kits(Standing Dryers, Roller Trolleys + Washing Stands), Table Top Gas Cookers,Sewing Machines, Cartons of Pasta, Boxes of Noodles, Cartons of Juice,Water or Soft drinks with Coolers,Bag of Rice and so on.Beach Umbrellas to serve as sale staffs were also given to the widows. May and Baker were on ground with their team to register any interested widow bonafide May & Baker Distributors,wavering all usual cumbersome requirements or monetary deposits. Members of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria were also on ground to give all the widows general health checks. 10 Widows each were selected from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Nasrul-lahi Faith Society (NAFSAT), Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA),Immigration Officers Wives Association (IMMOWA), Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Girl Guides, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASSUT), Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Home Economics Teachers Association of Nigeria (HETAN). Ogun State Cooperative Federation (OGSCOFED), NACCIMA Business Women Group NAWORG, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mission to Rebuild Ogun State (MITROS) among others. Some were nominated based on circumstance, whilst others were brought in by each Chairperson of each of the 20 LGAs in the states.