•Osun governor’s wife, Chief Mrs Titilola Adeleke bags ICON OF HOPE award
•Wounds This Time Won’t Heal – Book Launched
•Imole Foundation unveiled

By Bright Gbotemi

2023 edition of International Day of the African Child in honor of her Excellency, Chief Mrs Titilola Adeleke, wife of the Osun state Governor, tagged “Maintaining Zero Tolerance Against Any Form Of Abuse, Neglect Or Exploitation Of The Osun State Child”, was held on Friday, June 16th, at Ataoja School Of Science, Osogbo, Osun state capital.

Voice Air Media reports that the event was moderated by Mrs Toyin Adeoye, who, as always, brought much life to and set the tone for the conversation.

Speakers at the event were unanimous in their hope for a society that is free of Abuse of African Child and say no to any form of abuse.

In attendance, the wife of Osun state Governor, Chief Mrs Titilola Adeleke, who received an award of Icon of Hope, represented by Chief (Mrs) Adebimpe Motunrayo Omolade, speak on her behalf, says the International Day of African Child” brings back the memories of the young legends who, in Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976, laid down their lives in a bid to make the cry of every African child heard.

According to her, “Osun State, therefore, joins the Organization of African Unity(OAU) to commemorate a special day as this to recognize, honor, appreciate the African Child, and as mothers look into various challenges confronting our children, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for them”

Mrs Adeleke called on parents, guardians and other stakeholders to reawaken sense of responsibility, with all diligence, towards building the young minds who are our hope in no distant future. The onus is on us to give them proper parenting and guidance by inculcating good values in them as this is the only sustainable measure to safeguard them against numerous predicaments facing them, such as child abuse, underage marriage, female gender mutilation, malnutrition, rape, school dropout syndrome, drug abuse, examination malpractice, internet fraud among others. “Osun State government says NO TO ALL THESE VICES!”

She advised the children to imbibe these values for a greater and safer tomorrow.

Amb. Mrs Hembadoon Oluwaferanmi Babatunde, the author of “Wounds This Time Won’t Heal”, a book that was launched by the Wife of the governor and other dignitaries at the event.

Mrs Babatunde tells the Students to voice out if they are sexually abuse.

“Say no to any form of abuse, you are more powerful than the Abuser.. speak out if you are abused”, She said.

Similarly, the chief host who doubled as the Director of Imole Foundation, Mr Adeolu Babatunde, encouraged the students to invest in their time.

Dignitaries present at the event; Barrister Abimbola Olapade, head of legal unit(Osun state teaching hospital, Osogbo); Deputy Registrar Ede Polytechnic, Mrs Janet Adeola Bello; Prof Martina Atere of Adeleke University; Iyaloja General, Chief Mrs Mary Oyebode; SUBEB Chairman, Hon. Ibukun Fadipe; CSP Kemi Aka-Shittu(CP’s Representative); PS Women, children & social affairs, Mr. Jide Falade; Director of American Window, Mr Samuel Ibitoye; the Book reviewer (Wounds This Time Won’t Heal), Pa Olalere Fagboola; Acting Chairman Osun state IRS, Mr Biodun Olaitan; Mrs Adesola Arogundade, Mrs Taiwo Kehinde Bukola from ministry of education; and among others.

Schools who attended the occasion; Ataoja School of science, Redeemer Model School, Kidis park secondary school, Good Tidings secondary school, Christ Believer, and others.

Imole Foundation (PMF) is a non-governmental organisation.

Photos of the event…