L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor and Initiator, Ekiti Development Foundation, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; with one of the beneficiaries of the commercial calls centre empowerment scheme of the EDF, Mrs. Fayokemi Obiwale, during the distribution of the materials to the beneficiaries, in Ado-Ekiti
Wife of Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has distributed materials for the establishment of commercial public call centres to
200 widows and youths across the state.
This was in fulfilment of her promise to empower this category of people through her initiative, the Ekiti Development Foundation, during her recent tour of the sixteen local government areas of the state.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the wife of the governor, Mr. Akin Oyedele, said the scheme was a collaborative effort of the EDF, founded by the governor’s wife; Ekiti Enterprise Development Agency and Glo mobile. About N12m was sunk into the project.
The distribution had started on Wednesday, in Ado-Ekiti, with the beneficiaries selected from Ekiti Central senatorial district, and
ended on Friday, in Ikere-Ekiti with those chosen from Ekiti South senatorial district.
Beneficiaries from Ekiti North senatorial district had also converged on the Ikole local government secretariat, Ikole-Ekiti, on Thursday, to receive the items.
In the package were branded umbrella, table, chairs, branded T Shirts and caps, power pack containing two subscriber identification module (SIM) cards and recharge cards to get off to a good start in the business.
Training sessions were held for the 200 beneficiaries in the three locations before the items were distributed to them.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Erelu Fayemi stressed that she was inspired by the need to support members of the communities on a
sustainable and ongoing basis.
She advised the beneficiaries to pay attention to the training and make judicious use of the materials, adding that the profit from the
venture could make turn their lives around if applied wisely.
The governor’s wife said, “I will like to appreciate the support of the Ekiti Enterprise Development Agency as well as Globacom for collaborating with the Ekiti Development Foundation to make this possible.
“It is easy for people like me to distribute items like rice, oil and all kinds of things and hand them over to the people, but what happens
when the items are consumed.
“What I have always wished is how we can support communities on a sustainable basis, on an ongoing basis and that is why when this
project was brought to my attention I was very interested in it.”
Earlier, the Regional Manager (Public Sector) of Glo, Mr Eyitayo Olutekunbi, appreciated the First Lady for collaborating with the
company in her drive to bring succour to women and youths in the state.
He described the venture as a small beginning but assured the beneficiaries that it would soon grow big if they imbibed the training
they received and bring it to bear on their businesses.
The Director-General of Ekiti Enterprise Development Agency, Mr Oscar Ayeleso, also advised the beneficiaries to use the materials
judiciously to lift their status and those of their dependants.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Moji Abajingin, who is a widow, thanked the governor’s wife for sparing a thought for the less-privileged in the society.
Last modified: April 16, 2012
