Obasanjo Foundation celebrates women and the girl-child in science

In a noble and patriotic gesture, members of the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) came out to mark the International Day for Women and Girl-Child in Science. The Foundation, with the Motto: ‘Living life to the fullest’ has the cardinal objectives to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries in the critical areas of providing access to key health services to people all over Africa, girl-child education, youth empowerment and agriculture.

The event, which began with a Health Walk from Iyana to the Bells University’s Sports Centre, was led by the trio of Dr. Olalekan Makinde (CEO, OOF), Dr. Farmce (Director of Health Services at the university) and Mr. Oyoze Baje (Media Consultant to the university). Also in attendance were some members of staff and students from Bells Secondary, Ota, Iganmode Grammar School,Ota, Adeseye Royal College, Ota and Lead well Academy, Ota. Members of BellsTech Man-O-War group were on hand to direct the traffic.

Waiting at the Sports Centre were Prof. Olubukola Kuforiji, the Deputy VC who ably represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran and Mr. Ademola Agiri who coordinated the presentation of the awards for the essay competition and the science exhibition.Dr. Makinde while welcoming all those who graced the occasion explained the vision of OOF as meant to uplift the quality of life of Nigerians, nay Africans. The event, he noted, was only the first step forward towards making it a national and global Foundation.

In her remarks, the DVC commended the vision of the OOF while charging female students all over Nigeria to brace up for academic excellence. She stated that with the like of Prof. Alele Williams having become a VC of a Nigerian university and several women distinguishing themselves in virtually all fields of human endeavour nothing stops them from aiming for the sky.

Furthermore, she reminded Nigerians that there was nothing like ‘technology transfer’ anywhere in the world. Nigerians must therefore, look inwards to find technological solutions to her myriad of structural challenges.

She later gave out the awards to the deserving winners of the essay competition to Miss Monica Isibar of Bells Sec. school, who came first and the other two; namely, Miss Zinab Akanbi of Iganmode Grammar school who came second and Miss Precious Adeyinka of Lead well Academy who came third. The awards of laptops will be presented at the birthday ceremony of Chief Obasanjo. The topic of the essay was:’ Promoting equality and parity amongst women and girls in science’.

It was a thrilling finale as students of Bells sec, school demonstrated their innovation of a meter with alarm for detecting the level of water in containers. Their counterpart from Adeseye Royal College exhibited their invention of a security gadget that triggers off an alarm receivable in phones or CCTV as people step on foot mats, to enter houses or any other place for that matter.In all of these, the OOF has laid a solid foundation for the youths to take firm control of the future that is theirs to claim.