Sickle cell awareness and youth development initiatives are set to receive a boost in Ona-Ara Constituency of Oyo State.
And this would be happening courtesy of Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, in next year’s general election.
This follows a request by the Oyo State Youth Parliament representative for Ona-Ara Constituency, Hon. Atanda Fatimat Ebunlomo, to the politician on Sunday.
Ajadi pledged to back the programmes and mobilise additional assistance from the Ona-Ara Local Government.
Ebunlomo, a graduate of Physiology from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and a sickle cell warrior, had appealed to Ajadi to partner with the Youth Parliament in implementing projects aimed at promoting youth inclusion and improving public health.
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“I am Honorable Atanda Fatimat Ebunlomo and I am the Oyo State Youth Parliament representative representing Onara constituency. So as the parliamentarian representing Onara constituency, we are seeking for the support of honorable Ajadi to help assist in our project so that the youth of Onara will also feel included and will not feel excluded out of the youth development in Oyo State.
“We want to make a statement that through Hon. Ajadi Onara youth are becoming a force to reckon with,” she said.
She explained that one of the projects scheduled for July would focus on sickle cell awareness, genotype compatibility education and the donation of drugs to indigent patients.
“So we have a project that we want to undertake in July. We also have another one that is coming up in August and different other ones. But in July, As someone who is also a sickle cell warrior and also I am a physiology graduate from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
“ I am passionate about sickle cell awareness. I want people to know the dangers of marrying someone whose genotype is more compatible to yours. And also we would like to donate drugs to people who do not have the financial capability to support themselves when it comes to sickle cell awareness. So we want to run a campaign on that,” she said.
Ebunlomo added that the Youth Parliament also planned to organise volleyball and football competitions in August to encourage youth participation in sports and community development.
“Also in August, we want to run a Volleyball, football competition amongst youths in Ona-Ara constituency. Those are two among others of our projects that will be running in this administration. And I am seeking for the support of our honorable leader, Honorable Ajadi. Thank you very much,” she added.
According to Ambassador Ajadi, he pledged to support the initiatives and said he would also engage the Ona-Ara Local Government Chairman, Dr. Temitope Kolapo Glorious to assist in ensuring the projects were successfully implemented.
“I will engage the chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government to subscribe to your ideology initiative and I will also do my best to support you to achieve your project successfully,” Ajadi said.
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