By Maria Famakinwa
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Hundreds of jobless women in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State were given a new lease of life as the wife of the State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu led other members of Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO), to the 17th edition of the empowerment programme.

The event which took place at Ajuwa Grammar School, Okeagbe Akoko witnessed the distribution of grinding machines, sewing machines and hair dryers to women who were jobless.

Students were also given laptops to aid their learnings. The physically challenged also went home with wheelchairs.

In his welcome address, the Owage of Oge, Okeagbe Akoko, HRM Oba Alexander Sanuolu Jimoh, while welcoming Mrs Akeredolu to the palace described the day as a double grace for the people of the local government because it coincided with Okeagbe day 2018 as he appreciated the First Lady for her various empowerment programmes at improving the lives of women across the State.

According to the monarch, four different towns make up Okeagbe Akoko with four different kings. But I was chosen to represent other kings who could not be present due to the celebration of the town’s annual festival.

The First Lady who described FOWOSO as a train moving from one local government to another in the State to empower women so that they can be economically productive and contribute to the development of the State said that she believed in doing it to advance the cause of women.

“We want our women to be productive so that they can assist their husbands and homes and contribute to the economy of the state. For those who have learnt some trades without equipments to start, we will give them starting kits, while the jobless among the women will be given grinding machines to enhance their status.”

In her goodwill message, the former Chairperson, Akoko North West Local Government, Mrs Tope Ajayi, who described the empowerment programme as an opportunity to improve the lives of women in the state, thanked the First Lady for her efforts at repositioning the women of the State  on the right path for them to be self dependents and meet their families’ needs.

Ajayi who revealed that FOWOSO programme have tremendously improved women’s lives across the State also thanked the Governor of the State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for prompt payment of workers’ salaries, advancing the frontiers of governance by opening wider doors for women in the country to participate fully in their respective administration among others.