As a Government House Correspondent during the administration of the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, I had the privilege of covering the activities of the then First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs. Olufunke Agagu. Among the many assignments that took me across the state, none left a more lasting impression than the activities of her pet project, the Handicapped Education Foundation, popularly known as HANDEF.
My relationship with the story of HANDEF began long before the foundation became the household name it is today. As a reporter, I regularly covered the progress of work on the HANDEF office complex located on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Akure, while it was still under construction. At the time, it was a bold vision gradually taking shape, brick by brick. Few could have imagined that the facility would evolve into the thriving centre of empowerment and humanitarian service that it is today.
One of my most memorable moments came during the inauguration of the office complex. As journalists, we were accustomed to covering events from a distance, documenting the activities of public officials and institutions. But on that day, Mrs. Agagu did something unexpected. In her remarks, she singled me out for appreciation, acknowledging my consistent coverage of the project from its construction stage to completion.
It was a gesture I neither anticipated nor expected and one that has remained with me over the years. It reflected her attention to detail, humility, and appreciation for those who contributed, in whatever way, to the realization of her vision. That recognition was particularly meaningful because the journey of reporting HANDEF’s growth was one I undertook with the support of dedicated newsroom leaders who believed in telling stories that mattered. I remain grateful to my then General Manager at the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), Mr. Soji Alakuro, whose leadership provided an enabling environment for professional journalism. I also acknowledge the late Head of News, Mr. Ayo Ogedengbe, and the former Head of Reportorial, Mr. Williams Olufunmi, whose guidance, editorial direction and confidence in my work enabled me to follow the HANDEF story closely from its formative years. Their support made it possible for me to document the foundation’s evolution and ensure that its message of hope, empowerment, and inclusion reached audiences across Ondo State and beyond.
Beyond its activities and programmes, HANDEF also provided me with the opportunity to interact closely with some of the most influential and accomplished women in Ondo State at the time. Through my coverage of the foundation and the Office of the First Lady, I came into contact with women who were true movers and shakers of society. They included Chief Lady Margaret Oluyemisi Rufus Giwa, Chief Mrs. Tope Sunmonu, Mrs. Taye Omolafe, “Mama Expensive,” the late Mrs. Funmi Adejuyigbe, Mrs. Bike Akinduro, Mrs. Osakuade, Mrs. Oladende, Mrs. Tinu Olowofela – an accomplished media personality, and several other distinguished women whose contributions enriched the humanitarian and social development landscape of the state.
Working around these accomplished women was both enlightening and inspiring. They brought passion, influence, experience, and commitment to the various causes they championed. As a young reporter at the time, I learned valuable lessons from observing their dedication to service, philanthropy, and community development. I enjoyed working with them all and remain grateful for the opportunity to have shared that remarkable period with such exceptional personalities.
At a time when many pet projects established by public office holders were often viewed as ceremonial platforms that would disappear once their sponsors left office, Mrs. Agagu held a different view. I vividly remember her expressing, on several occasions, her conviction that HANDEF was not designed to exist only within the walls of Government House. She believed it would outlive her tenure as First Lady and continue to serve humanity long after she had left office.
Seventeen years after the Agagu administration ended in 2009, that vision has become a reality.
As a reporter, I witnessed firsthand the passion and commitment she brought to the cause of persons living with disabilities. HANDEF was not merely a public relations project; it was a mission driven by genuine compassion and a determination to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity to some of the most vulnerable members of society.
The foundation became a lifeline for hundreds of physically challenged individuals through the provision of wheelchairs, crutches, calipers, and other mobility aids. I covered several of its outreach programmes and watched beneficiaries who had been confined by physical limitations regain mobility, confidence and independence. For many families, HANDEF’s interventions represented a turning point in their lives.
The achievements were remarkable. Over the years, the foundation distributed hundreds of wheelchairs and assistive devices to beneficiaries across Ondo State and other parts of the South-West.
Beyond mobility support, HANDEF established programmes aimed at empowering persons with disabilities economically through vocational training, ICT education, and skills acquisition initiatives. Beneficiaries were trained and equipped to become self-reliant rather than dependent on charity.
What distinguished HANDEF from many similar initiatives is its emphasis on empowerment rather than sympathy. Mrs. Agagu consistently promoted the idea that disability should not define a person’s future. Through educational support programmes, advocacy campaigns, and vocational training initiatives, the foundation sought to unlock the potential of individuals who were often overlooked by society.
Years after leaving Government House, Mrs. Agagu remained committed to the foundation’s objectives. Even after the painful loss of her husband, the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, HANDEF continued its work, demonstrating a level of resilience and institutional strength rarely seen among projects established by political office holders.
Looking back today, one cannot help but admire the foresight behind her declaration that HANDEF would outlive her tenure.
Many pet projects disappeared with the administrations that birthed them. HANDEF survived. More importantly, it continued to make a meaningful impact.
Whenever I pass the HANDEF office complex on Olusegun Obasanjo Way in Akure, Ondo State capital, I am reminded of those early days when it existed only as a construction project that I reported on. Today, that same facility stands as a beehive of activity, touching lives daily and serving as a symbol of hope for persons living with disabilities. Its continued relevance is perhaps the strongest testimony to the sincerity of the vision behind it.
As someone who reported on its activities from the very beginning and witnessed its evolution firsthand, I take particular pride in seeing the foundation remain active and impactful years later. It stands as one of the enduring legacies of Mrs. Olufunke Agagu’s years as First Lady and a powerful example of how public service can transcend political office.
The true measure of any humanitarian initiative is not the publicity it generates but the lives it transforms. By that standard, HANDEF has succeeded beyond expectations.
Today, HANDEF is more than a pet project. It is a lasting institution of hope, empowerment and inclusion. It is proof that when vision is driven by genuine compassion, its impact can endure long after power has changed hands.
For those of us who witnessed its birth, chronicled its growth, and continue to see its impact, HANDEF remains one of the finest examples of a promise made, and a promise faithfully kept.
Prince Kunle Ariyo is a Journalist based in Akure
