By our correspondent
Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Yahaya Bello, CON, expressed his deep appreciation on Monday to the Hayat Foundation, with special recognition for his amiable first wife, Barrister Amina Oyiza Bello, the initiator and founder. He was speaking at Eika-Ohizenyi at the commissioning of a primary/secondary and clinic fully reconstructed and donated to the community by the Foundation. He lauded her charity dedication in leading the effort to provide the critical social services for the rural community in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Bello officially inaugurated the projects, noting that they were funded by his wife’s philanthropy through the Hayat Foundation. During the ceremony, he issued a challenge to fellow privileged citizens, urging them to contribute their resources, regardless of the amount, to advance their communities’ development.
These remarkable projects were unveiled to commemorate the 16th birthday of the Governor’s son, Hayatula Bello, in whose name the Hayat Foundation was established as a charitable organisation committed to the welfare of children, especially those living with special needs and the elderly who find themselves abandoned, poor and vulnerable.
During the inaugural ceremony for the Eika-Ohizenyi community clinic and the Al-Dabiya Primary and Secondary School, both located within the community, Governor Bello specifically praised the visionaries behind the school’s inception. Originally conceived as an Islamic institution, it later broadened its curriculum to encompass both Islamic and Western education.
In acknowledgment of his wife’s efforts to improve the living conditions of her people through these initiatives, the Governor revealed that the school would benefit from the State Government’s free education policy, which covers primary and secondary school students. Furthermore, he promised that the administration would assign teachers to address staffing needs and oversee the construction of an access road. Additionally, a school bus would be provided to facilitate academic activities.
Barrister Amina Bello, the Governor’s wife and founder of the Hayat Foundation, described these projects as a heartfelt homecoming. She emphasized that the clinic would offer three days of free medical care to community residents commencing today.
Barrister Bello encouraged members of the Eika-Ohizenyi community to take advantage of the free Medical Outreach scheduled from Tuesday, September 26, to Thursday, September 28. She assured the community that there were an ample number of medical professionals, pharmacists, nurses, medications, and consumables available for the three-day medical outreach, which aims to address the immediate health needs of the people.
In her impassioned speech about her mission, Barrister Bello stressed the significance of her mantra, centered around making a positive impact on society. She praised the selflessness of her late mother-in-law and underscored the importance of individuals, regardless of their wealth or political affiliation, contributing positively to humanity, society, and their communities.
Barrister Amina Bello also extended recognition to Mallam Shittu, the founder of Al-Dabiya Primary and Secondary School, who arrived in the community in 1985. He established the school with a strong emphasis on religion and morals to positively influence the local youth. She further acknowledged Mallam Salihu Bello for introducing a western curriculum into the school’s teaching methods to prevent extremism. After the loss of the school’s original building, the Hayat Foundation was honored to provide support for the construction of a new facility, according to Barrister Bello.
Barrister Amina Bello, however, appealed to well-meaning individuals to give back to their communities. She emphasized that this contribution could manifest in various ways, including mentorship and other forms of community service, with the aim of collectively making society a better place for everyone.
