By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has urged local government chairmen to complement the state government’s efforts by initiating programmes and infrastructure that benefit rural communities.

She made this appeal while inaugurating the Adire Ekiti Hub/Lab and an empowerment programme in Isaya, within the Ekiti South East Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Commending the chairperson of Ekiti South East LCDA, Antonia Alaba Omonusi, for establishing the Adire production hub, Dr. Oyebanji encouraged other council leaders to replicate such initiatives to ensure equitable development across the state.

“I am impressed to see students I trained at the Adire Ekiti Hub in Ado Ekiti now creating unique Adire prints and designs here in Ekiti South East LCDA.

This has been made possible by Chairperson Antonia Omonusi, who genuinely cares for her people,” she said.

She emphasised that prioritising social amenities and empowerment initiatives would promote self-reliance and significantly impact rural communities, aligning with the state government’s human capital development agenda.

Dr. Oyebanji lauded Omonusi’s administration for delivering capital projects across nine communities, including a basic health centre in Araromi Oke Ekiti and an ultra-modern administrative block at the LCDA Secretariat complex.

She also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers for their support in distributing empowerment materials such as motorcycles, refrigerators, grinding machines, hair dryers, sewing machines, generators, and cash gifts to drivers’ unions and market women.

Hon. Antonia Omonusi, in her remarks, dedicated the empowerment programme to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second-term bid, acknowledging his steadfast commitment to developmental initiatives.

She reassured residents of continued progress under the governor’s leadership and praised the First Lady’s Adire Ekiti initiative for positioning Ekiti State on the global stage.

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Asaya of Isaya, Oba Matthew Ajayi, urged stakeholders to safeguard government properties.

He also appealed to the state government to expedite the opening of a newly constructed comprehensive high school in the community to enhance access to secondary education for local pupils.