***Education, Health Key to Community Development – Dr Jide Animasaun

The World Care International Ministry has awarded scholarships to 10 students of Isolo Kingdom, Ondo State, as part of activities marking this year’s Owayoko Festival, also known as the Ita-Osolo Festival.

The scholarship presentation took place at the Palace of the Osolo of Isolo in Isolo, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, where traditional leaders, community members, beneficiaries and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate the annual cultural festival.

Speaking through the World Matron of the organisation, Dr Abiodun Ajayi, the President of World Care International Ministry, Dr Olajide Animasaun, said the scholarship was part of the organisation’s commitment to supporting education and empowering young people in the community.

Animasaun said the organisation deliberately linked the educational intervention to the Owayoko Festival because of the significance of the celebration to the people of Isolo.

He said, “We are delighted to identify with the people of Isolo Kingdom at this important cultural celebration. Owayoko is not just about the celebration of the new yam; it is also about unity, renewal, thanksgiving and the collective development of our people.”

According to him, the scholarship is an investment in the future of the beneficiaries and the wider community.

He said, “When you invest in the education of a child, you are investing in the future of a family and, ultimately, the future of the community. These 10 students represent hope, potential and the future of Isolo Kingdom.”

The President urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and make the best use of the opportunity provided by the organisation.

“We want the beneficiaries to understand that this is not merely a scholarship; it is a vote of confidence in their ability to succeed. We encourage them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to excellence,” he said.

Animasaun also called on individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to complement government efforts in supporting education and youth development.

He said, “Government cannot do everything alone. There is a responsibility on all of us – organisations, individuals, traditional institutions and community leaders – to contribute to the development of our young people.”

The programme also featured a health screening exercise, which provided members of the community with access to basic health checks.

The screening covered blood pressure, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood glucose, with participants encouraged to pay greater attention to their health and seek appropriate medical attention where necessary.

Speaking on the health component of the programme, Animasaun said the organisation considered healthcare an essential part of community development.

He said, “Education is important, but we cannot build a productive society if the health of the people is neglected. A healthy population is essential to the development of any community.”

He explained that the health screening was intended to encourage people to know their basic health indicators and become more conscious of preventive healthcare.

“We have brought this health screening to the community because prevention is better than cure. Sometimes, people live with conditions without knowing that something is wrong. By checking your blood pressure, weight, BMI and blood glucose, you are taking a simple but important step towards understanding and protecting your health,” he said.

The President urged participants who recorded abnormal results during the screening to seek proper medical advice and not ignore warning signs.

He added, “Our intention is not simply to screen people and move on. We want to create awareness about the importance of regular health checks and encourage our people to take responsibility for their wellbeing.”

Animasaun said the combination of the scholarship programme and health screening reflected the organisation’s broader commitment to human development.

“For us, community development is holistic. We want to support the mind through education and support the body through health awareness. These are areas that directly affect the quality of life of our people,” he said.

The Osolo of Isolo, Oba Edward Kolawole Adejoyegbe Adewole (Osalade II), who spoke at the event, commended World Care International Ministry for supporting the educational and health needs of members of the community.

The monarch described the scholarship as a valuable intervention that would assist the beneficiaries in pursuing their academic ambitions.

He urged the scholarship recipients to remain committed to their education and become worthy ambassadors of Isolo Kingdom.

One of the beneficiaries, Ajewole Emmanuella expressed appreciation to World Care International Ministry and the traditional institution for the gesture, saying the scholarship would provide meaningful support for the student’s education.

The Owayoko Festival, also known as the Ita-Osolo Festival, is the annual traditional new yam festival of Isolo Kingdom.

The festival celebrates a bountiful harvest and the ceremonial cutting of the new yam, while also serving as a period of communal unity, thanksgiving and renewal.

The celebration has historical links to an ancestral deity associated with fertility and sustenance.

The inclusion of scholarships and health screening in this year’s celebration added a strong humanitarian and developmental dimension to the festival, reinforcing its role as not only a celebration of cultural heritage but also an avenue for community empowerment.