By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- Wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, at the weekend vowed to make women and youth in the state live comfortably with various empowerment projects and programmes.

•Ondo First Lady, Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu

This was stated by Anyanwu-Akeredolu when she led members of the Forum for Wives of State Officials, FOWOSO, to Ese Odo Local Government of the state. She was welcomed by top traditionalists in the area including traditional rulers, Iyalojas, government officials, and others.

She maintained that the Akeredolu-led administration would not leave any segment of the society behind in development and empowerment, and the local government areas remain a priority to FOWOSO.

She visited the Kalasuwe of Apoi land Alayeluwa, Oba Sunday Adejimola, Amuseghan, Lawe II, where the monarch commended the support she has given to her husband who has been outstanding for his developmental projects and programmes across the state barely one and half years in office.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, Alabama Development Foundation, ADF, donated school uniforms, sandals and socks to some pupils.

She said: “We are happy to be in this your adorable palace and appreciate your support with other traditional rulers for the Governor and his cabinet to take Ondo State to higher level.

“We appreciate your effort together with the traditional council of chiefs in maintaining peace in this area, but we will encourage you to do more and not relent. We appeal to you to ensure the relative peace here is permanently sustained.

“All your demands and messages will be delivered to His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State. We in FOWOSO will not relent in adding value to the lives of women and youth. The wellbeing of women and youth,  shall continually be our watchword as this will bring more development to the Sunshine State.”

Earlier, the monarch in his welcome remark made some requests to improve the living standard of his subjects as he appealed to the Governor, which include construction of Irele-Sabomi -Igbotu Road, restoration of electricity supply to Apoi town, renovations of schools, health centres and the general hospitals, and also empowerment programmes for the youth and traditional rulers, and enabling environment for the development and growth of agribusiness.

FOWOSO led by the wife of the Governor also visited the Odogun-elect, Oba Simeon Bamidele Dabo who appreciated her for choosing Ese -Odo LGA for the programme, and expressed optimism that it would enable the people in the area have a sense of belonging.

Dabo added that the empowerment materials proposed to be distributed to the women and the youth would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people.

In her response, she congratulated the monarch for the new position and promised to always place priority on the welfare of women. “It is when women are happy that the society will be at peace,” she stated.

Meanwhile, women from the 11 wards of the LGA warmly welcomed her with fanfare at Community Comprehensive High School, Igbekebo, where she (Akeredolu) tasked them on being conscious of their health, particularly care for their breast, and encouraged them to report early development of breast cancer for prompt treatment.

Earlier, the Wife of the Caretaker Chairman of the LGA, Edamisan Olowu, expressed appreciation for the visit, and promised to mobilize women in the area to key into her projects and that of the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari. High point of the visit was distribution of some items to the women and youth including laptops, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers, and a wheelchair.