No fewer than 600 widows of Ibadan South East and Ibadan North East Federal Constituency received cash gifts during the annual symposium of the DAKA Foundation held at Mapo hall, Ibadan.
Handing over the envelopes to the beneficiaries, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, DAKA Foundation, Dr Adesina Abidikugu, explained that the gesture is in complementing the state government’s efforts at alleviating poverty.
He noted that widows, vulnerable, youths in the society constantly needed support to live out desired lives, hence his decision to give attention to the plight of the widows.
Abidikugu, who hopes to represent Ibadan South East and Ibadan North East federal constituency at the House of Representatives, avowed commitment to pushing a legislation that better protects the youth, vulnerable and elderly in the society,
Professor Olumide Olajide of the University of Ibadan, who delivered the guest lecture at the symposium, requested that government institute a policy specifically to take care of the aged in the society.
Decrying that there is no particular policy taking care of the aged, Olajide prayed that there should be a legislation specifically focused on the welfare of the elderly, aged.
Chairman, Ibadan South East, Mr Emmanuel Alawode, who also spoke at the event, said Abidikugu’s gesture was in line with the state government’s commitment to putting smiles on the faces of the downtrodden in the society.
Stressing that government alone cannot do it all, Alawode enjoined more well-meaning individuals to commit themselves to touching the lives of citizens.
Some of the benefiting widows to include Mrs Helen Oluwaseun, Mrs Bisi Oladeji, Mrs Olulade Afusat noted that the cash gift will help provide succour to several widows, which they noted, are suffering and need help.
Pointing to earlier health missions, free eye surgeries, cash donations to vulnerable persons, the widows expressed gratitude to DAKA Foundation and its Founder, Abidikugu, for its constant commitment to helping the vulnerable and less privileged persons in the society.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Steno Memorial Foundation, Dr Olufemi Sanni stressed the need for both government and individuals to give attention to the plight of the elderly and vulnerable persons in the society.
Aside from giving cash gifts to widows, the occasion also saw various personalities call on youths to get more involved in politics.
The various speakers urged youths to utilize their huge population to engage in the political system and demand good governance.
