By Maria Famakinwa

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The wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has reiterated her commitment to build an army of female technology leaders who will lead and inspire generations of girl children.
She made this known during the opening ceremony of this year’s Bemore Summer Boot Camp held at the Public Service Training Institute (PSTI), Ilara-Mokin where over 350 young girls will undergo two-week intensive training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which covers computer appreciation, digital literacy, software development and other life enhancing skills including Taekwondo.
The First Lady who revealed that despite the financial challenges in organizing this year’s Bemore Summer Boot Camp, due to the devastating effects of COVID-19, said that the hunger in her to change the cultural milieu about the girl-child in the society challenged her and the organisers to come up with the idea of raising funds locally through an initiative tagged “throw pillow challenge.”
While assuring that Bemore Empowered Initiative would be sustained through innovations, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu, affirmed that Bemore programme has come to stay and charge the participants to make good use of the rare opportunity.
Her words: “You should know that everyone of you is special and was born to do exploit. Although, the society might not give you all you want or need, this Summer Boot Camp is giving you the opportunity to be part of a few young girls who will lead and inspire generations of girl children.”
The First Lady while appreciating the sponsors of this year’s Bemore programme appealed to well meaning citizens of the State to sustain Bemore programme after the tenure of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in Ondo State.
In his address, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, thanked Mrs Akeredolu for initiating Bemore to bridge the gender gap. He urged everyone to support the First Lady in the life transforming initiative to enable more girls participate. He also charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the life changing opportunity so that they can Bemore.
The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, lauded Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu for committed to raising future leaders and called on other States to follow suit. He said,”This is a wonderful programme that should be replicated in other States so that more girls can Bemore. I see future in BEMORE and BRECAN.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Bemore Welfare Coordinator, Mrs Temitope Daniyan, explained that Bemore is a two weeks programme where girls get trained in ICT, solar energy and other life enhancing skills and advised the participants to be serious in order to achieve their aims of being in camp.
Also, a former Commissioner of Women Affairs in Ondo State, Mrs Omowumi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole, thanked Mrs Akeredolu for her resolute to change the narrative about the girl-child and urged the participants to be serious to be changed agents.