Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has empowered more than 300 fashion designers in Ile-Ife and some communities around the ancient city as part of his 11-point agenda set up for the throne to assist the less privileged.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony Programme of Ojaja Fashion Training Institute, on Tuesday, at his ancient Ile-Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, Ooni Ogunwusi expressed his heartfelt joy the success of the initiative over the past five years.
He lauded Olori Temitope Ogunwusi for being the facilitator via her nongovernmental organization; Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) long before her emergence as an Olori in the Palace.
“I have known Olori Temitope for a long time and one thing no one can take away from her is her philanthropic gesture, she gives wholeheartedly without looking back. This is the basis upon which she established Hopes Alive Initiative, a nongovernmental organization that organizes this event.” Ooni Ogunwusi said.
While addressing the beneficiaries who got trained in the art and trade of cloth making and also given start up equipment for free, Ooni Ogunwusi stressed that young individuals must be empowered with adequate skills and others necessary for them to have a better future.
He however applauded parents of the young minds for the love and support which has brought them thus far.
The Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) equally acknowledged the Coordinator of Ojaja Fashion Training Initiative and Ojaja Vocational Training School, Mr Samuel Adeyanju for modeling these lives for self-reliance.
Addressing newsmen, the Deputy Convener/CEO of Hope Alive Initiative (HAI), Olori Temitope Ogunwusi, applauded Ooni for being a responsible Royal Father who wants everybody to make it in life.
Queen Ogunwusi said that her husband does not believe that something is impossible, so this motives promoted him to always helping the downtrodden both in academics and non-academics.
“If anybody wants to attributes anything to Ooni, is humanitarian service, for he loves all and sundry with the believes that all fingers are not equal. He fulfills God’s Will of meaningful people to assist the less privilege, that’s why I sees him as my first number one role model.
“My being here is the fulfilment of the Will of God for me, because helping others is my passion, assured that this would assist me to fulfill my dream when seeing Ooni daily having compassion on the poor.” She stated.
Olori Ogunwusi charged other philantorpists to stand up for the help of others by emulating Ooni, know that everyone would give account of him/herself on judgement day.
The CEO admonished the graduands to work on their mind and not to relent on tailoring level, but to aspire more on fashion designing so as to become modernised fashionists.
She appealed to them to see this training as fundamental knowledge of what they should have started to be, they shouldn’t stop there, but should try to make their best, “with God on their side, they would move the mountains.
Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace.