This initiative aimed to boost school enrollment and reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.
The Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, made this announcement on Monday during a press conference at his palace in Oke-Ago Owu, Abeokuta. The event was held to kick off this year's Odun Omo-Olowu cultural festival.
Additionally, Oba Matemilola revealed that 200 women would receive support through the foundation’s micro-credit scheme, designed to help grow their small businesses.
Oba Matemilola added that an approval had been given by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to kick-start with 1,000 pupils in Abeokuta North Local Government Area Primary School opposite Olowu 's Palace and two others, Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School 1 and 2 in Gbagura community for the whole academic session
The monarch who further stated that the number of pupils would be increased in future to 5,000 pupils, revealed that the free meal and Micro-Credit scheme would take off, after formal launching of the Olowu Hope Initiative during the grand-finale of the 2024 Odun Omo-Olowu cultural festival on Saturday at Oba Adisa Odeleye Park, Ori-Omi , Sokori in Abeokuta, the State capital
For targeted women to benefit from the Micro-Credit scheme, Olowu explained that women must be in a group of 10 or 15 women, saying each of the groups would serve as guarantors for their members to benefit from loan facility that would be domiciled in a financial institution for disbursement
He added that there would also be business seminar to be organized for the beneficiaries to ensure judicious of the soft loan to grow their businesses
Oba Matemilola speaking on the theme of this year's Odun Omo-Olowu, "Growth and Advancement, recalled several projects and health initiatives executed in the past two years of his reign, which he listed to include borehole water projects outside Owu communities to near by Oba and Gbagura who have been benefiting from them and expressing their appreciation to the Owu-Abeokuta kingdom
The monarch further disclosed that an approval had been given in principle by the Ogun State Government to kick-start multi-purpose agricultural project, Awowo Agro-Business Co-operative, another initiative of the palace on 3,000 Hectares of land in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the State
"The whole idea is that we have co-operators , individuals or corporate bodies who will key into the programme , it covers all sectors of agriculture business ranging from poultry, fish farming, animal husbandry , piggery ,crop planting who will be in clusters", he stated
Oba Matemilola added that the proposed Agriculture Estate under the cooperative would provide all the needed support services in terms of farm inputs and others as well as set rules and regulations for members of the co-operators to ensure high quality output
He added that Co-operative would also be the off-takers for the products from the farm estate, so as to make the agro- business attractive for the youths
Similarly, the Chairman, planning committee for the Odun Omo Olowu,Chief Adebayo Atobatele shed more light on the celebration which started on Monday with press conference, will continue with visit to Owu township outside Abeokuta tomorrow, Tuesday 22nd to Lapeleke,Ibogun Olaogun and also a visit to Owu township inside Abeokuta on Wednesday 23rd,2024 to Apomu,Erunmu and Sokori.
Chief Atobatele added that that other activities including township's cultural presentation,Fashion show would come up on Thursday,while conferment of Chieftiancy titles would take place on Friday.
He added that at the grand finale on Saturday,26th October 2024,there would be homage to his Royal majesty, Cultural display by Ogun Cultural troupe and official launching of Olowu hope initiative.
