…To Feed 2,000 Pupils in Three Schools
…200 Women to Receive Microcredit Support
Deborah Hundenu & Phebe Falodun
The Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, has unfolded an ambitious community upliftment programme, tagged “the Olowu Hope Initiative”, aimed at reducing poverty and improving access to education and healthcare.
The programme was rolled out during the ongoing 2024 Odun Omo Olowu cultural festival, targeting 2,000 pupils and 200 women in Abeokuta, Ogun State in the first phase.
The Olowu revealed plans to develop a vast agricultural estate through the Awowo Agro-business Cooperative, which will involve up to 3,000 acres of land for diverse farming activities.
“This project is not only about farming but creating a self-sustaining agricultural ecosystem. We are providing the necessary infrastructure, such as tractors, irrigation, and power, to ensure that our farmers thrive,” he said.
“Our programmes are open to all, regardless of their origin. What matters is that we uplift humanity, as God’s creation, in every way we can,” the monarch concluded.
The monarch said as part of the initiative, 1,000 pupils from three public primary schools in Abeokuta North Local Government Area will receive daily free meals for the entire academic year.
He added that the schools benefiting from the programme include Abeokuta North Local Government Primary School and Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary Schools 1 and 2 in the Gbagura community.
Oba Matemilola announced that the initiative, designed to increase school enrollment and reduce the rate of out-of-school children, will expand to cover 5,000 pupils in the coming years.
Speaking at a press conference marking the commencement of the Odun Omo Olowu festival, the Olowu emphasized the broader goals of the initiative.
He said “We aim to ensure that no child in our community is deprived of education due to hunger or financial hardship,” he stated, adding that the programme will help create a brighter future for young generation in the communities.
… 200 Women To Benefit From Microcredit Scheme
In addition to the school feeding initiative, the .monarch said the Hope Initiative will provide microcredit loans to 200 women to support small-scale businesses.
Olowu disclosed that this number is expected to grow to over 1,000 women within the next three years.
According to the monarch, the women will be organized into groups of 10-15, with the community band or main band overseeing the loan disbursement process.
Oba Matemilola explained that the microcredit programme is structured to promote accountability among beneficiaries.
“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 monarch said.
… Health And Agricultural Empowerment Programmes
Oba Matemilola, said the Olowu Hope Initiative also encompasses a healthcare programme, targeting 1,000 indigent residents for free health insurance by the end of the year, with the aim of reaching 5,000 beneficiaries within three years.
According to the monarch, Health screenings will be conducted for pupils, parents, and teachers in schools around the community, while the Olomore Health Center and another primary facility have been adopted to deliver primary healthcare services.
… Odun Omo Olowu Cultural Festival
The Odun Omo Olowu festival, which began on Monday, features several activities, including visits to Owu townships and cultural showcases.
Chief Adebayo Atobatele, Chairman of the Planning Committee, disclosed that the festival would continue with a cultural presentation, fashion show, and the conferment of chieftaincy titles, culminating in a grand finale on Saturday, October 26, with cultural displays by the Ogun Cultural Troupe.
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