The Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc., Mr. Wale Tinubu has joined millions of others across the globe to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child today, October 11, 2023.

According the statement made available the oil and gas merchant wrote:

‘’On International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate the boundless potential of girls worldwide. I implore everyone to go beyond observing the day and pledge to empower the next generation of girls by providing them with the opportunities to thrive and foster a brighter, more inclusive future.   

Amongst the many ways I support the girl child, I am most proud of Oando Foundation and our impact over the past 12 years.  We have tailored interventions to ensure the rights of the girl child are protected by advocating for equality in access to quality education; in the process, positively impacting the lives of many young women.  

Today, through the Adopt-A-School Initiative, Oando Foundation has mobilized and enrolled 21,687 out-of-school girls back to school, with a 72% transition rate into secondary education. Notably, girls account for 58% of the 1,153 Oando scholarship awardees. 

I will continue to advocate for the girl child as investing in the girl child is investing in our common future’’

Many would will be aware that, Tinubu, is no doubt one of the champions of gender equality in Nigeria. While the African continent comes third after the United States and Europe, and first amongst other emerging regions in terms of women’s representation on boardrooms of top listed companies, some sectors are doing better than others. It was gathered that the billionaire businessman in the past had spoken in defense of women as well as the grudging refusal to empower women with leadership responsibilities and he is definitely walking the talking and leading the pack.

In what many observers have described as a paradigm shift, Tinubu’s leadership at Oando is currently seeing a surge in the number of women at its top echelon. As of today, 43 percent of the company’s workforce is female, compared to 22 percent across the industry. Of this, 33% of executive-level employees are female with the hope that its female representation on its board continues to grow.

“Personally, I have always seen humanitarian work as part of everyone’s responsibility, I believe that we all can offer something to help another. To change the world is to first change our thought towards giving, and it has to be a collective movement’’

 This has been the driving force behind Zaynab Otiti-Obanor.

The stylish woman is living up to her first name; Zaynab which means munificence. The equally gorgeous woman believes that regardless of where you are in life, there is something that you can offer, and that you mustn’t wait to be rich to be able to save the world.

For her, the act of generosity must first start from our willingness to develop a kind spirit.

This is where she derived the inspiration to start her foundation, Queen Zaynab Foundation.

As gathered, the Foundation has recorded tremendous success in the last few years since it was launched. She has tried in her own little way to set women in rural communities up in small businesses. The foundation has also given scholarships to kids from elementary levels to the university, giving aid to urgent needs of families, and rendered free medical care to few communities in need. 

But wait for it, she has also done what many other NGOs haven’t done, by building solar powered systems to generate clean and safe water for many rural communities in Nigeria.

The dazzling damsel is also a global personality with keen interest for rural development and social entrepreneurship, which has inspired most of her investments and work in her recent contributions to urban development of rural areas.

In August 2017, during the UNGA week, she was awarded a ‘Humanitarian of the year’ by ‘Kechies Project,’ an organisation that concentrates on the girl child education that she has fiercely contributed towards.

The city of New Jersey, US, alongside the senate committee also presented her with an award, acknowledging her contributions to the betterment of Africa as well as bringing awareness to problems that plague women and children such as poverty, economic strife and illiteracy.

Her quest for development and peace birthed the ‘Arab African Economic Development Initiative’ (AAEDI). It was formed to promote and improve cultural and international relations between Arab countries in the Middle East and Africa. So far, 34 countries across both continents have become partners of the organisation, pledging their support along with their relevant ministries in their various governments.

The former governor of Ogun State and Senator-Elect of the Ogun East Senatorial District, under the All Progressive Congress, His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel _fnse_, has has doled out various sums of money in support of victims of the recent flood tragedy in Sagamu.

This followed the condolence visit by a delegation representing the newly elected Senator to the family of the deceased young student; Goodluck Abiola and other victims of the flood who are currently recuperating in the hospital.

Leader of the delegation, Evang. Kolade Segun-Okeowo KSO, who is The Gateway Movement Coordinator in Sagamu Local Government, delivered a moving message from His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel to the mother, guardian and family of the late young lad.

KSO expressed the rude shock and bitterness with which His Excellency, OGD received the news of the tragedy and his deep sense of sympathy and condolences to the family he left behind.

The delegation thereafter offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the young boy.

In his response, the head of the family and foster father of the late boy, Surv. Lawal Ibrahim Olalekan, thanked the delegation and His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel for considering it worthy to visit the family and commiserate with them.

He declared that the action of His Excellency, OGD is not surprising to him as he has always known him to be a large- hearted man and very magnanimous almost to a fault.

The delegation thereafter presented a cheque of #200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only) to the family on behalf of His Excellency, OGD.

The OGD delegation thereafter moved to the hospital _(name witheld)_ where the two rescued victims were recuperating. The two patients who although were in great pains at the time of the visit were stable and received the delegation properly.

They recounted the horrible experience of what happened on the fateful day. According to the two friends, they were returning on an an okada from the burial service of another friend when the tragedy struck.

A hit and run driver was said to have pushed them into the huge Isale Ojumele  canal and left them to battle for their lives in the massive floods, until rescue operations sought them out.

Once again, KSO delivered the get-well message from His Excellency, OGD to the two rescued victims and assured them of his continued prayers/best wishes to them.

Cheques of #100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only)  each were again presented to the victims to support them in getting good treatment.

Responding on behalf of the two victims, Mr.  Waheed Kehinde said he has heard so much about the good intentions and large heartedness of His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel and expressed thanks to him and God that he and his friend have benefited from his goodwill. He prayed that God will continue to bless OGD in all his endeavours.

The OGD delegation led by Evang. Kolade Segun-Okeowo, KSO also included Hon. Temitope Ogunnubi  and Hon. Dada Ogunyombo (the Honourable Councilors representing wards 11 & 13 respectively. Others include Hon. Kalejaiye Okueso and Hon. Sunday Sodiya (Gateway Movement Coordinators for Wards 11 & 13) Also on the entourage was the Gateway Movement Youth Mobiliser for Sagamu Constituency 2, Comrade Shamsideen Abdul.