By Idowu Sowunmi

It was an impressive day at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta on January 25 as over 2,000 aged people from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State took turns to offer prayers to the first family in the state as part of the activities to commemorate the 56th birthday of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
One by one, the senior citizens had the floor to express themselves. It was an opportunity for them to interact with the first family, pray for the leaders and continued reign of peace in Ogun State.

Elder Tayo Obadina, 82, from Isara-Remo in Remo North local government area of the state, prayed for God’s continuous guidance and protection upon the Amosuns. He asked God to shower the governor and his wife with more wisdom to govern the state, adding that long life and prosperity shall be their portion.  He  appreciated the governor and his wife for prioritising the welfare of the aged expressing satisfaction over the monumental achievements of the governor.

Another elderly woman, Mrs. Wosilat Malogun, 95, from Abeokuta, prayed for God’s blessings for the governor and his family, explaining that aged people have not had it so good since the creation of the state or received any gift or care of such magnitude from any government.
Alhaji A. Akilapo, 82, from Odeda local government area, expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor for recognising the aged people and for keeping her promise to sustain the “UPLIFTing the Aged” programme, saying the initiative has brought relief and strength to them as well as improved their standard of living.

Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Obasan, 82, from Yewa prayed for long life and prosperity for the governor and his wife.
A 90-year-old man, Pa G.O Ogundipe, added his voice to pray for Amosun and his wife, saying the grace of God would never depart from the house of the first family.

The wife of the governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, has uplifted and cared for over 5,000 needy aged people from the state’s 20 local government areas in the last three years with the aim of reducing poverty and hunger among the vulnerable citizens through  her initiative, UPLIFTing the Aged.

UPLIFTing the Aged programme was flagged off on January 25, 2012  to commemorate the 54th birthday of  Governor Amosun with more than 1,000 elderly people in attendance. The aged people were given health tips, free medical screening, bags of essential commodities and cash gifts. Last year,  January 25,  another round of 2,000 senior citizens benefitted from the UPLIFTing the Aged programme; they received free medical checks, food items and cash gifts.

The third edition of the UPLIFTing the Aged programme was the one held penultimate Saturday with over 2,000 elderly people in attendance to felicitate with the governor on his 56th birthday. This brings the total number of the senior citizens who have benefitted from Mrs. Amosun’s UPLIFTing the Aged programme so far to over 5,000. More than 500 of these aged people have since been put on monthly plan by the governor’s wife, receiving stipends through their UPLIFTing the Aged ATM cards.

Mrs. Amosun believed the ATM cards would reduce the rigour and other challenges often encountered in the course of distributing food and commodities to the aged scattered across Ogun State.
She explained that the cards, donated by Ecobank Plc, was a continuation of her UPLIFTing the Aged welfare package, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends through the cards without having to come down to Abeokuta.

Speaking at the occasion, the wife of the governor said she has compassion and love for the cause of vulnerable senior citizens, noting that they had contributed their quota to the development of our society and they should be supported and care for by the younger ones to enable them age with dignity.