..as OSOPADEC boss inspects camp, advocates turning programme to Academy

The Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Commission, OSOPADEC, Elder Sam Oluwadamilohun Erejuwa, has advocated transforming the BeMore Empowered Foundation to an Academy.

He said this on Thursday when he led the board and the management members of the commission to Mabest Academy, Oke-Ijebu Akure, the venue of the ongoing two weeks Bemore Summer bootcamp 4girlsnaija.

He described the Bemore programme as an avenue to build confidence and transformed girls’ lives, an impactful opportunity he said couldn’t be bought.

Appreciating the founder of the initiative for birthing such a life-transforming project, the OSOPADEC boss affirmed that the objective of the Bemore Empowered Foundation was what people in the developed countries really cherished.

He said: “I thought initially that it’s for secondary school girls, but a university student who is graduating this year begged to be part of it that she had seen girls who have been to Bemore programme and whose lives have been transformed.

” I spent some of my lifetime outside this country, and this is what people do. They go out to empower people, build their confidence, create a university of life like Bemore, and teach them entrepreneurial skills. Proverbs 22:6 is the foundation of Bemore because they’ll become what they were taught.”

Reaffirming the commitment of the commission under his leadership to continually support the initiative, Erejuwa asserted that the impacts of Bemore programme on the lives of girls from OSOPADEC mandate areas cannot be overemphasised, describing it as a lifetime opportunity.

“For OSOPADEC, we are not supporting Bemore just because our children will be given laptops and solar, we are here because of the life transformation that money can not buy. From the OSOPADEC Manadate area, we say a big thank you to Mummy because some of these children are leaving their parents for the first time and learning computer for the first time, “he opined.

He lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s support for the commission and for also encouraging the First Lady in her vision for girls.

While admonishing the girls to be good ambassadors of the programme, the OSOPADEC Boss charged them to go back and multiply the knowledge they acquired and make the Founder proud.

Earlier while welcoming the OSOPADEC Team to the camp, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender Research and Documentation, Mrs Temitope Daniyan, who doubles as the Bemore Welfare Coordinator, appreciated the commission for keying in to the vision of Bemore since inception.

Also speaking, the Bemore Chief Matron, Mrs Lizzy Akpan, asserted that Bemore is a legacy and seed that had germinated, which is evident in this year’s edition which Her Excellency couldn’t participate physically for the first time, and it was successfully held.

Today’s camping activities included leadership and Public speaking training where girls were made to list the names of leaders they wished to be like.

The leadership class, which was facilitated by Barrister Mrs. Pamela Gabriel-El featured presentation of speech to build confidence in them, and they were made to know that leadership starts within them.

Other activities for the eleventh day in the camp were revision of ICT Lesson including 3D modelling lesson, and continuation of skills acquisition training which they’ve started three days ago.

Story Credit: Mary Agidi
Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Office of the First Lady)
August 24, 2023

📸 Saidu Abdulrahman & Gbenga Fasakin