…ARA The Female Talking Drummers Eko Inspire Me Project
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo -Olu met with the beneficiaries “Eko Inspire Me” project on Tuesday, 22nd November, 2022 in Lagos.
The event took place at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
The project, which is supported by the Lagos State government, is an initiative of Nigeria’s foremost female talking drummer, Aralola Olamuyiwa, popularly known by her stage name, Ara, to check the rising cases of street urchins, drug addicts, and illiterates, on the streets of Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the celebrity drummer, said the initiative was borne out of her experience with some hoodlums over 10 years ago.While narrating the experience that changed her mentality about the street urchins, Ara, who was emotional, said she and her crew are set to make life better for over 2,000 area boys and girls in the next 10 years.
According to her, “Eko Inspire Me” was conceived in my heart about 10 years ago due to a personal experience I had with some area boys in Oshodi.
“During my conversation with them, I realised that these street kings and queens want something out of life.
I asked them series of questions, including if the police arrests them.
“They replied that the police will get tired because, they pick them up several times and bring them back, but by the time they return, they are worse than when they took them.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is also in support of this project. He has given scholarships and jobs to some of them. One of them told me that he wants to be like Professor Wole Soyinka”.
Ara disclosed that Sanwo-Olu was the first governor to offer her a listening ear and support the project, describing the governor as “a man who cares for vulnerable young people”.
I understand what they are going through because I was once homeless. I could not pay my rent, I was staying in a hotel with my son, so, I know what it means to be homeless. I sold my 4 cars to be able to pay my son’s school fees, everything went down for me. My mum encouraged and supported me, may God bless her soul. But as soon as I picked up this project “Eko Inspire Me”, things turned around for good for me, I have made up my mind, I will not give up.”
The governor, in his remark, said his administration would continue to support and help the less-privileged and homeless people in the society in its bid to make life better, easy and more meaningful for them.
He said governance is all about supporting people, urging the beneficiaries of the project not to give up on their aspirations to be the best in life.
Sanwo-Olu announced an empowerment scheme for the beneficiaries of the project “we are empowering and encouraging them to discover their skills in sports, entertainment and other areas through this project. It takes a caring father to understand and help these children grow out of their mistakes. If truly we desire change in this country,we must see these victims as those who deserve a chance to live”, The governor also promised to continue to monitor their progress.
He commended the humanitarian gesture of Ara, the initiator of the project,and urged others to emulate her in order to help the less-privileged and make society better.
– Titilope Oshunlalu
