Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
In a bid to combat the rising number of out-of-school children in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, has launched the “Olowu Hope Initiative,” a school feeding program aimed at feeding 1,000 pupils across three public primary schools in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area.
This initiative seeks to alleviate the financial burden on families and encourage school attendance.
The monarch also unveiled a microcredit loan scheme to support 200 women running Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the area, helping them navigate the challenges brought about by the current economic hardship.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday to mark the Odun Omo Olowu Cultural Festival, Oba Matemilola announced that students from Abeokuta North Local Government Primary School and Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary Schools 1 and 2 in Gbagura would receive free meals throughout the academic year.
He emphasized that the initiative is designed to boost school enrollment and reduce the number of out-of-school children, particularly in the Owu community.
“No child in our community should miss out on education due to hunger or hardship, especially with the challenges posed by the removal of fuel subsidies,” the monarch stated.
Oba Matemilola urged parents and guardians not to give up on their children’s education despite the current economic challenges.
He revealed plans to expand the feeding program, with a target of reaching 5,000 pupils in the coming years.
“We aim to ensure that no child in our community is deprived of education due to hunger or financial hardship. This program will help create a brighter future for the younger generation,” he added.
In addition to the school feeding program, the Olowu announced that 200 women from the Owu community would receive microcredit loans to support their small businesses. He aims to expand this number to 1,000 beneficiaries over the next three years.
To ensure accountability, the women will be organized into groups of 10 to 15, with members acting as guarantors for each other.
This system, managed by the community bank responsible for disbursing the loans, is intended to foster responsibility and integrity among the women.
“The group members will serve as guarantors for each other, ensuring that loans are repaid. We believe this will create a sense of responsibility and foster the values of integrity in our community,” the Olowu emphasized.
The Olowu’s initiatives reflect his commitment to tackling educational and economic challenges within his community, offering hope and support during these difficult times.