Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has said she would partner Tokunbo Ajila-Jakande Foundation on its Waste-to-Wealth Initiative and other efforts to ensure a cleaner and safer environment.
Dr. Oyebanji gave the commitment when she received the Founder of the Foundation, Mrs. Tokunbo Ajila-Jakande, who led members of her team to the Office of the First Lady in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The First Lady also took delivery of a giant waste collector donated to her office by the Foundation.
She was also presented with some products like schoolbags, laptop bags and other materials that were produced from sachet water nylons during the visit which she described as laudable.
Dr. Oyebanji who particularly picked interest in turning waste products like sachet water nylons and plastic bottles into useful products like schoolbags, laptop bags and other materials noted that it is a means of generating employment for teeming youths.
The First Lady noted that the Foundation is adding value to the lives of people and should be encouraged and partnered with to make youths and other interested members of the public learn such skills to become self-reliant.
She said: “I will definitely partner with you because you are adding value to lives of the people. We will collaborate with you to train our children. I will liaise with the Commissioner for Women Affairs on how our youths can be trained so that we can reduce unemployment.
“This will create jobs, reduce unemployment and provide a conducive ecosystem. By the grace of God, this Foundation will have my support.”
While unveiling the giant waste collector, Dr. Oyebanji acknowledged it as a commendable effort by the Foundation through its Corporate Social Responsibility to ensure a cleaner environment so that waste materials can be recycled to create wealth.
Speaking earlier, Mrs. Ajila-Jakande said the need to turn waste to wealth has become more expedient because of issues that border on ecosystem and climate change.
According to her, she recognized the Office of the First Lady as a credible and influential platform to get the message across to the populace and to open the eyes of the people to the wealth and is hidden inside the waste products that are disposed of indiscriminately.
Mrs. Ajila-Jakande revealed that it would take about 50 years for any sachet water thrown to the ground to decay hence the need to ensure a proper collection to turn it into a money-spinning venture.
She stated that apart from creating jobs, turning waste to wealth would make the environment a safer place to live in for the benefit of mankind.
The Foundation boss urged cleaners in the Office of the First Lady to ensure that the waste materials are properly disposed of and the facilities handled well.
She commended the First Lady for receiving her and the team, her motherly support and efforts towards ensuring that the state moves forward.
