Oyebanji urges wealthy Ekiti indigenes to invest in people

Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji on Saturday at Ikere Ekiti urged wealthy Ekiti indigenes at home and abroad to invest in the people especially the less endowed.

The governor spoke at the 26th edition of the annual Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme and 3rd Empowerment Programme funded by the legal luminary in his home town.

The event was attended by the deputy governor, Chief Monisade Afuye and other top natives of Ikere which include the paramount ruler of Ikere Kingdom, Oba Adejimi Adu, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, Professor Dele Olowokudejo, former Director at United Bank for Africa, Feyi Ogoji, Pastor Tope Orolu, a retired Principal, Mr. S.S Omoyeni among others.

Over 100 secondary school students got cash award for their exceptional academic record while law students that gained admission into the Law School also got funding for their Bar programme. Over 100 young people got N100,000 each to start small businesses.

Speaking at the event, Governor Oyebanji said his presence at the event afforded him the opportunity to see the extent of work Chief Olanipekun has done in his community over the years promising to start similar initiative in his own home town in Ikogosi.

“My presence at the 26th edition of the annual Chief Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme and 3rd Olanipekun Empowerment Programme, gave me the opportunity to see at close contact the great philanthropic work our respected leader and renowned legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) is doing.

“I will like to encourage all wealthy sons and daughters of Ekiti at home and in the Diaspora to take a cue from Chief Olanipekun’s generosity of spirit and assist the less privileged in their areas.

“I congratulate the beneficiaries and urge them to take advantage of the gesture, continue to excel in their areas of endeavours so that they too can hold their heads high in the society and also be in a position to help others as Chief Olanipekun has done,” he said.

In his address at the event, Chief Olanipekun urged the governor and his deputy to work in unity for the development of the state and charged the governor to ensure Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort is brought back to a global standard as a destination for local and international tourists.

“Governor, tell anyone that says you are developing Ikogosi because it is your home town not to develop their own place when they become governor. You must bring back Ikogosi as a tourist destination for economic development of the state,” Olanipekun said.