His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has unveiled a television show for the less privileged in the society especially school children to broaden their horizon in learning.
Addressing journalists at the press conference to announce the TV show, Deputy Chief Convener of Hopes Alive Initiatives, one of the Ooni’s Initiatives aimed at bridging the gap of poverty in the society, Miss Temitope Adesegun said the show is an advocacy programme called HAI TV show that is first of its kind and solely dedicated to the underprivileged in the society.
“It is going to be a TV show where any Non Governmental Organization can bring any problem or solution, their activities, challenges or whatever they are doing in their NGO which can now be showcased on a laudable platform where everyone can see and embrace”, she said.
Adesegun explained further that the programme will be all encompassing adding that the Ooni has a dream for an average child who is just locked up in the four corner wall of a classroom, to take such to different parts of the country to know what is going on there.
”It is all encompassing, we are not segregating or dividing maybe the adult, widow, children, it’s all in one as long as you are tagged an under privileged. Either educationally you are not able to go to school, or financially you are not able to do your daily activities responsibility or you are not able to achieve your desire on a daily basis due to lack of fund then we are here for you”, she said.
The Hopes Alive Initiatives convener explained that Nigerians have come to the realization that the non governmental bodies are fast becoming the pillars on which the marginalized in the society rely on but regrettably most of them are still facing difficulties in achieving the aim and fulfilling the ,mission on which they primarily embarked on.
She said in few months the organization has done a lot having visited the IDP camp in Abuja with a population of 5,470 and provided books, school bags, stationeries, drugs for their hospitals as well as erecting a bore hole to provide pipe borne water for the community.
Responding, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi pointed out that it is the wish of every dreamer to have his/her wish become a reality adding that he marvels at the immeasurable success by his pet project, Hopes Alive Initiatives within a short period of time adding that he has innate passion to give hope to the hopeless and turn the story of the underprivileged positively.
The Ooni who was represented by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare said he is overwhelmed to see his heartfelt wishes being tremendously actualized particularly through the strides of Hopes Alive Initiatives saying he is encouraged therefore to remain totally committed to making its dreams a gargantuan reality.
“Hopes Alive Initiatives is part of the 11 point youth oriented agenda of His Imperial Majesty which can only be driven by programmes and initiatives . Hopes Alive has gathered all NGOs that have the same vision to work together as partners in progress to share information about themselves with a view to working better to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society .
Government should create enabling environment for NGOs because they are complimenting efforts of government by going directly to people where
government cannot reach. Government should find a way of encouraging them and not to impose laws on them”, he said..
Olafare also urged the Federal Government to be NGO friendly because they are out to assist the government therefore government should not make their operations difficult adding that if all registered NGOs can come under one umbrella it will instill more discipline on the members rather than government imposing laws on them.
One of the participants, Mrs Vicky Jehudu, President, South-South Women Organization, said she was very happy reading the profile of Hopes Alive Initiative especially coming from his imperial majesty saying it’s surprising to her that such a person of high caliber will bring himself to the plight of humanity and give succor, “I am very happy that we have an Oba who is so high up there and yet bringing himself so low to listen to the plight of the
underprivileged.
The TV show being introduced will go a long way to impact on the disadvantaged in the society”, she said. On her part, the President, Hadassah Healing Foundation, Mrs Adenike Lamai said the Show is a welcome development as the Foundation is ready to partner HAI to ensure that the womenfolk are economically stable.