By Toyeeb Omotayo
A Non-Governmental Organization, Voice of the People (VOP) Kwara State on Wednesday supported school children with school fees, physically challeged and widows with cash gifts.
Speaking during the presentation at Ipata LGEA School A (Ilorin East LGA); Community Secondary school Ogele (Asa LGA) and Government High School (Junior Section) Adeta ( Ilorin East LGA), the Chairman Voice of the People Kwara State Alhaji Oniye Sofiu said the gesture, supported by the organisation’s Life Patron, Alh. Yinka AbdulAzeez Oniyangi was part of the organisation’s move to help the needy.
Alhaji Oniye stated that the move is also to assist thr physically challenged and widows in about seven Local Government areas in Kwara state in a bid to sustain their source of livelihood.
“Aside the payment of school fees, we are also distributing writing materials and exercise books to further encourage their studies” he said.
The Vice Chairman of the group, Mr AbdulFatai Ibrahim who expressed concern on the rate of poverty among Nigerian women advised government at all levels to redouble their efforts on programmes that would improve the wellbeing of women and children in the country.
The General- Secretary of the association Engr Taofeeq Lawal noted that the NGO has no political affiliation however will be glad to receive support from the Kwara State Government and other well meaning philanthropists, so the kind gesture can continue and be extended to other local government areas.
Also speaking, Hajia Mutiat AbdulRazaq, who is the Welfare Coordinator of the group emphasised that when a woman is empowered, the society is automatically empowered and that’s why the group deemed it fit to extend the support to widows.
In their separate remarks, the Headmaster of Ipata LGEA School, Dr Hassan Mohammed Kanike, the Principal of Community Secondary School, Prince Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Alh. Salemaan Iyabode Ajoke, the Principal of Government High School commended the group for the gesture which they noted would go a long way to assist the recipients in their education.
Also expressing gratitude on behalf of the widows and physically challenged, Mrs Esther Kolawole from Oyun LGA and Mr Richard Emmanuel from Ifelodun LGA appreciated the kind gesture of the group and appealed to them to sustain it.
Some of the beneficiaries who thanked the group for the financial support and donation to stationeries praying God Almighty to continue to uplift the group to greater heights.
