……preparing to give out free medical eye surgery every year
BENIN CITY- The Oloi Evbagharu Erediawa Foundation (OLEEF) has empowered the first set of ten indigent students with N100,000 each as scholarship, saying that plans are on the way to establish a skills acquisition centre for women.
OLEEF is a non-profit organisation established in memory of Oloi Evbagdaru Janet Erediawa, late wife of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa, made to provide financial aid, primary healthcare support and educational opportunities for Nigerian children and youths , especially those that may not have the adequate social or economic status to fulfil their academic and vocational dreams.
Speaking at the formal launch of the foundation in Benin City, capital of Edo State, a member the Board of Trustees, and husband to the first daughter of the late Oloi (Ebhodaghe Sylvester) said each of the awardees are to get N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only), while there is plan to expand the scheme.
In her welcome address, Chairman of Board Trustees of OLEEF, Joyce Ojemudia, said the late Oloi Janet Erediawa, in her life time did so much for God and humanity that her legacies must not be allowed to die.
She said that was why the family wants to keep her legacies alive, using education and health care for the community.
“All of us know as parents, that education is so vital in the life of any child. So, we are here to sponsor and partner with the foundation. We have a lot of projects to be done, as no child should be denied education.The foundation will do everything to make sure that we give education to every child in our space of contact.
“And it will take your cooperation to achieve this and that is why I said that sponsorship is not enough. I believe that many people here will partner with us to take this laudable venture to a greater hight,” She said.
Speaking, the Chairman of the occasion and former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro said, the departed Oloi had lived a life of service to God and humanity and that is the bases through which the foundation is built.
According to him, “We all know that you cannot overemphasize the need for education in the lives of our children, and that is why we are doing it in remembrance of our mother today. I want to encourage us to give this our very best by supporting the foundation, knowing that we are touching lives the way our mother did ”
Delivering his Keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Prof. Sam Gubadia, said, it has become obvious that government cannot cover all space in governance and that’s what necessitated the need for NGO’s like OLEEF.
“It has become clear that government can no longer cover all space in governance. It is important to recognise the humanitarian interventions from the non profit organizations. There is need to propagate and sustain the virtue that Nee Agho lived for. She lived an inspirational life for God and humanity. She lived a life of sacrifice to ophanges to ensure that poverty does not stop children who are talented from attaining their goals in life”, Guobadia declared.
In a brief remark at the occasion,the daughter of Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa ,Princess Ozeikeke Ebhodaghe and her husband Mr Ebhodaghe Sylvester said OLEEF foundation is about empowering minds ,hands and the communities .
They the objectives of the foundation amongst others is to provide financial support/aids to Nigerian children and youths with outstanding educational abilities, empower Nigerian youths in extreme poverty by providing educational opportunities through scholarships, to create opportunities for less privileged primary and post primary school students and also promote opportunities to address computer illiteracy and enable dissemination of ICT knowledge and computer skills acquisition
While appreciating the guest and members of the Royal Family for their support and encouragement, the Ebhodaghes urged all to help in creating a future where every Nigerian child and youths has access to quality education and opportunity to reach their full potential which was the vision of their mother , Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa.
Among dignitaries who graced the occasion were former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, Representatives of Oba Ewuare II, former member, representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Mr. Omoregie Ogbeide- Ihama among others
.