Applause, Praises Galore For Opening Of Akanke Women Library & Resource Centre In Abeokuta

By Alfred Ifemosu

Applause and praises galore characterised the opening of Akanke Women Library and Resource Centre (AWLARC) in the ancient city of Abeokuta, the, capital of Ogun State on Saturday, 30 September, 2023.

 AWLARC was set up to immortalise the Late Mrs Felicia Akanke Obasa, mother of Honourable Idowu Osuolale Obasa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Winners Golden Group and Bradford Group.

 Akanke Obasa, a philanthropist per excellence, died on 30 September, 2018 and the Foundation was set up by her children to immortalise the ideals of which she cherished and stood for throughout her journey on earth.

The aims and objectives of the foundation, which thus been in operation, empowering less privileged people for five years before the establishment of the AWLARC, is primarily centred on education for all, with special emphasis on the girl child education and women education in general.

It is also meant to empower the aged widows and the less privileged through training and financial assistance

Speakers after speakers at the well attended ceremony on that day, which incidentally coincided with the 5th Anniversary of the death of the Obasa Matriarch, showered praises on the initiators.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AWLARC, Dr Sola Olorunyomi of the University of Ibadan, said the centre is mainly for women in line with the founder’s philosophy. 

 He said the centre is also a meant for women to discuss about their culture,  traditions in the areas of what they put on as attire like the local fabric Adire, the food they eat such as  amala, lafun and others and ways of preserving it for their unborn generation.

 Olorunyomi also said the issues of health of women will also be paramount at the centre. All these, according to him, will improve the lives, economic and social well-being of women.

He also disclosed that the foundation will on regular basis organises educational workshops and trainings among other people-oriented and women-empowerment programmes.

In his speech, the Olu of Alabata, Sanusi Abdullahi , showered praises on the founder, saying mother is an important pillar for children,. The monarch added that Obasa Matriarch will be happy in her grave to see that her children have keep the flag flying even after her death.

Abdullahi said “ it is good to discuss issues of health of our women. We should all endeavour to support the programe.”

The President of Rotary Club of Abeokuta, Honourable Adijat Adeleye, commended the founder for the noble initiatives, saying it aligned with the values which the club also cherished.

“Good formal education, especially for women, is very important for any society. Education of women will eradicate discrimination against women in our society. I am using this opportunity to thank the organizers of this event for keeping the flag flying after the death of mama,”

The Chairperson of Akanke foundation, Bola Falore, said the late Matriarch has left a legacy for her children to follow and the children have keep the flag flying, just as she also added that people have been very supportive on issues concerning the foundation.

She specifically thanked Biomedical Limited, Ilorin, Kwara State, Chief Kayode Taiwo, Nike Obasa, Victor Okikiola, The Golden Palace, Odusola Babatunde, Kayode Obasa, Sherpherd Heavens among others for supporting the foundation.

Veteran film producer and director, Tunde Kelani also vowed to assist the centre, just as he also canvassed that the foundation should be set up in other states of the federation for the benefit of mankind. He said AWLARC is a good idea and everybody, especially women, must embrace it for their own good.

 “I praise and I appreciate the efforts of the initiators of the project and hope too that women will appreciate it. AWLARC is meant for women and I call on all women to make good use of this centre for their own good and for the good of mankind.  AWLAC is place where ideas flourish. Women should see this project as their own, ” Kelani said.

The Women Research and Documentation Centre Library (WORDOC), of the Institute African Studies, University of Ibadan also assured AWLARC of its support.

Speaking of behalf of WORDOC, Mrs Victoria Otolorin said AWLARC is a good project which aims at emancipation of women shackles of poverty and lack of knowledge.

“AWLARC is a great project where ideas of women can flourish break down barriers, and where struggles of women and their contribution to their immediate society and to the entire world are well documented.”

“The centre will play a major role in impacting valuable knowledge to women which will help them to the change the society for good. The project promises better future for Nigerian women and we will continue to support the project which has come at the right time for Nigerian women.   

“I call on women to make use of this centre judiciously for their own good. The project has come at an appropriate time and they should grab the opportunity.”

However, the event also witnessed other speakers highlighting on the importance of having good health, especially by eating good food and doing regular exercise.

A dietician, Dr Folasade Akinwande spoke on the importance of eating good food, not food that are carbohydrate in nature.

Akinwande, who said breakfast is very important for an individual, said it one should take his or her breakfast, one hour after waking up in the morning.

She advised that one should take a lot of vegetables, fruits, carrot, cucumber, garden egg, and walnut, among others.

“Eating fruits regularly is good for our body. We should avoid salt. We should also make sure we take a lot of water. Take a class of water when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed at night.

“Drinking water regularly will help help your vital organs to work efficiently, just as it flushes out any impediment in the body system. With this, we will be free from having kidney, liver and heart diseases.”  Akinwande said.

Dr Jeleel Gbajumo spoke on the importance on doing regular exercise. According to him, research has shown that regular exercise, for at least 30 minutes daily, helps in prolonging life.

“It is very important to take exercise regularly. According to research, doing exercise on daily basis, extends life, it makes your body, especially the vital organs to function efficiently .It is good for us health wise,” Gbajumo said.

He also emphasized on the need to do regularly check up at least three times in a year, saying that most us don’t see this as important. We also think everything is okay for us health wise. But that may not be as it may reveals otherwise.

Most people die as a result of not doing their check up regularly. What they could have tackled on time before it aggravated, could not be done. We should take it so seriously. Some deaths are avoidable, if we take necessary steps on time. And one of the necessary steps is regular medical checkup,” Gbajuma said.

The doctor also added that “we should imbibe the culture knowing our blood pressure level at least three orb two times in a month, especially for those who are 40 years and above”

He charged nursing mothers to breastfeed their children for at least six months, saying that doing this will safe guard their children from diseases, just as he also called on them to introduce food to their babies after six months.

Gbajumo also appealed to women not to cultivate the habit of feeding their babies with noodles, saying” it is not good for them as there are other foods such as beans, rice and others that are beneficial health wise.

The doctor, who said nursing mother should avoid serving their babies hot food, said they should make sure they imbibe the culture of cleanliness and also make sure that their children are vaccinated against killer diseases.