No fewer than 500 widows benefitted from the Empowerment organised by Tokunbo Jakande-Ajila (TAJ) Foundation in Ekiti .
The programme was in collaboration with the office of the First Lady of Ekiti State, Professor Olayemi Oyebanji.
The beneficiaries who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were drawn from the 13 wards in Ado Ekiti Local Government area.
Vulnerable widows , widowers as well as aged women were given food items and cash supports .Aside the food and cash support for all the beneficiaries, young widows among the beneficiaries were given between N50,000 and N100,000 each .
Speaking at the event ,the governor’s wife , who was the Special Guest at the occasion said the initiatjve was in line with her WAOH Initiative for women and children.
The First Lady commended the sponsor of the empowerment program for sustaining the initiative for over eight years.
Professor Oyebanji who prayed God to continue to bless and strengthen Dr Jakande-Ajila urged her to keep up the laudable people oriented job and hope for the best in her career and endeavors.
In her remarks, Dr Tokunbo Jakande-Ajila who is the Chairman Sports Development Trust Fund (ESDTF) said the food and cash support for widows, widowers and aged was aimed at supporting the people oriented initiatives of governor Biodun Oyebanji and his wife which have impacted positively on the masses.
She said the governor and his wife have been role models through their numerous policies and programs for the downtrodden.
Jakande-Ajila who clamored for people’s unwavering support for the BAO till 2030 Agenda considering the wave of development that the governor has attracted to Ekiti State since his assumption of office.
She thanked leaders of the All Progressives Congress -APC who attended the program for their love and support for the governor and his wife with a promise to continue to key into the BAO and APC policies and programs.
In attendance were several political bigwigs including the State Chairman of the APC, Hon Sola Elesin and admirers of Dr Tokunbo Jakande-Ajila.
Beneficiaries who were selected from all the wards in Ado Ekiti Local Government and the Sports sector went home with raw food items , flasks and cash that were all beautifully packaged.
The governor’s wife who gave surprise cash gifts ranging from half a million to one million to some widows with pathetic stories also promised that the State government will offer special support to alleviate the suffering of the family of a bed ridden former weightlifting champion, Gbenga Olupona.
Beneficiaries thanked the governor’s wife, Professor Olayemi Oyebanji and Dr Tokunbo Jakande-Ajila for the support with optimism that governor Biodun Oyebanji will remain in office till year 2030 considering his remarkable strides across the State.