- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has apealed to the Christians and all the good people of Ekiti to continue to assist the administration of her husband, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, to make greater impact on the lives of the people.
Dr. Oyebanji gave the appeal at her investiture as an Ambassador of Good Leadership in Public Place by the Ekiti Baptist Conference of the Nigerian Baptist Convention held at Union Baptist Church, Oke Bola, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The award ceremony which also saw the President of the Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde, receiving the award of Ambassador of Faith and Justice, was part of activities marking the 25th Annual Session of the Ekiti Baptist Conference.
The award was presented to Dr. Oyebanji and Justice Abodunde by the President of Ekiti Baptist Conference and the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Adeyinka Aribasoye.
Justice Abodunde, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Registrar in the Ekiti State Judiciary, Mr. Alexander Olorunsola, is presently out of the country on vacation.
The Ekiti First Lady appreciated the roles played by the Baptist Church in her upbringing noting that she was brought up by her parents who were Baptists, attended Baptist schools for her primary and secondary education and also got married to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who himself is a Baptist.
While expressing gratitude for the recognition, Dr. Oyebanji promised to always be the face of the Baptist Church and represent it well anywhere she finds herself promising never to take the honour bestowed on her for granted.
Recalling her growing up years with nostalgia which she said were full of activities in the church, Dr. Oyebanji charged Baptist youths to listen to spiritual tutelage from their church leaders noting that the mentorship received in the church had prepared her for her present role.
She said: “I want to thank God that I am where I am by the grace of God. I thank God that I am being honoured where I grew up. I appreciate this honour and I will never take it for granted. I am here to honour God and to identify with my church and to thank this church for building us and contributing to what we have become today.
“This government is impacted by prayer, it is going to be sustained by prayer, we will continue to pray until we receive what God has promised us. We really need your prayers, this government needs your prayers to make greater impact on the lives of the entire people of Ekiti State.”
Speaking earlier, the President of Ekiti Baptist Conference, Reverend Aribasoye said Dr. Oyebanji was chosen for the award in recognition of her humility, godliness, sincerity and faithfulness adding that “she has consistently assisted the downtrodden and she is a model for Christlikeness.”
The Ekiti Baptist Conference boss explained that the first family in the state has always made the Baptist Church proud especially in providing exemplary leadership in the Land of Honour which has made the people of the state to be happy with the choice they have made in Governor Oyebanji.
He said: “Your people want to identify with you; this is an award that is coming from the Baptist Convention in Nigeria. The President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention is aware of this award we are giving you today.
“We are aware of your antecedents and the good work you are doing just within a year. Myself and Mr. Governor grew up in this (Union Baptist) Church while the First Lady grew up in First Baptist Church, Ado Ekiti. We are proud of you, your people are proud of you and that is why we are honouring you.”
The event featured prayers for the government and people of Ekiti State, thanksgiving and special parade in honour of the First Lady by members of the Royal Ambassadors and Lydia Auxiliaries Band.
