Ogbomoso First Community Initiatives, O’First, a socio-cultural organization in Ogbomoso has distributed 50 Million naira worth of economic empowerment tools to indigent residents, widows and artisans in Ogbomoso.
Items distributed included Industrial sewing machines, grinding Machines, motorcycles, power generating sets and others.
President of the Association, Sir Olusegun Adekunle while speaking at the presentation of the items said the decision was born out of the fact that the society needed to revitalize it’s welfare, security and economy.
According to him, what motivated the free distribution of valuable equipment to the beneficiaries is borne out of the group’s numerous aims and objectives which includes poverty alleviation, discouraging youths to eschew drug abuse, to remake the undesirable elements back into the community with a view to allow them be useful to themselves through various empowerment programmes and vocational trainings
He explained that the socio-cultural had earlier commissioned a Behavioural Action Care centre for those who were addicted to drugs , saying such gesture was part of the association’s effort to give back to the society.
“We have a lot of people who are widows, helpless, vulnerable and we have to systematically uplift them in such a manner that it can lower the temperature of Insecurity and poverty.we can’t leave everything to government, the society, the Community must play its role, we must all come together.”
Today we are giving motorcycle to police office in Ogbomoso South police station and police command to enhance their activities in securing the lives and property, we are giving industrial 20 sewing machines to people who have skills in sewing, we are giving 45 grinding machines to those who have express desired, who are genuinely indigents, we are giving a package of saloon kits hairdryer, clipper and a small size generator, we are also giving out other forms of empowerment equipment, we believe if we lift people from poverty we will be rest assured that economy is improving and security is also enhanced, that is all what we are doing and its estimated at about N50m” He said
Òtunba Báyò Babatunde, the Pioneer President of the group also implored all the beneficiaries to make the best use of the items cheerfully given to them and equally enjoined them to emulate the spirit of diligency and hardwork being displayed by one woman who was empowered by O-First about three years ago with a motorcycle but who has now enhanced her business by purchasing additional three of such motorbikes, due to her perseverance and dedication to duty, saying that, what the group just did is to resurrect lives of the needy in the spirit of the resurrection of Jesus Christ..
Professor Sola Adepoju, DG Forestry Research Institute, Bishop Morohunfolu Moradeyo, Engineer Muftau Open Salawu, Aresa of Iresaapa and others who spoke at the event commended the group for their ingenuity in lifting people out of poverty and urged the beneficiary to make best use of the working tools.
One of the beneficiaries, Adeyemi Folasade, a widow said the grinding machine would be an additional source of income to cater for her and her children,
” i am a hairdresser and this grinding machine will also help me to generate more income and i will be able to feed my family easily.
Other beneficiaries who thanked O’First for the gesture implored all other well meaning Nigerians to emulate them in the drive to give back to the society and alleviate poverty
