The worldwide president, Sir Barr. Greg Otsu, has challenged stakeholders to ensure clean and personal hygiene for female students, enabling them to achieve excellent performance in their studies. He made this statement during the recently concluded inaugural edition of ‘Pad for Smiles,’ organized by the Americas Branch of the Club.
‘Pad for Smiles’ is a philanthropic program aligned with the SDGs 3 and 5, held on November 4, 2024, benefiting three schools: St. Angela Girls Grammar School, Uzairue; Fugar Mixed Secondary School, Fugar; and St. Peters Grammar School, Agenebode, all located in Etsako.
The event provided 2,000 Etsako female students with menstrual pads, aimed at maintaining clean and personal hygiene. This initiative underscores the Club’s commitment through its first diaspora branch as a critical player.
While the Worldwide President, through his representative, urged students to excel in their education and consistently maintain clean and personal hygiene, he also appreciated the Americas Branch, especially the Chairman, Andrew Azebeokhai and Prof. Azeez Butalli for their dedication to the Club’s mission of investment and development in Etsako, making them proud.
Having thanked the Home Branch under the leadership of Chief Habib Ekhalefo for their moral support, he further encouraged parents and teachers to remain steadfast in their efforts toward the positive development of children, emphasizing that with teamwork among parents, teachers, and the Club, Etsako will produce outstanding change-makers each year.
In his remarks through the team lead, the Chairman Americas Branch stated that the initiative is aimed to bring smiles to the faces of young girls of secondary school age, helping to alleviate the challenges they face in maintaining cleanliness while pursuing their educational aspirations.
The Club established the Americas Branch in November 2023 to extend its outreach, where sons and daughters of Etsako and their spouses residing in the United States and Canada are members.
The event was attended by the representative of the Worldwide President: Dr. Lois Adams, Secretary of the Branches Establishment and Development Committee; Dr. Ngozi Izah, Vice Chairman of the Home Branch; and Lady Agness Umeadi, Secretary of the Home Branch. Other prominent guests included members of the Americas ‘Pad for Smiles’ Project 2024 Organizing Committee, headed by community development partner Amidat Ilegar Austin, as well as parents, students, and friends of the Club.
Etsako Club 81 (EC ’81) is a pan-Etsako, non-profit, non-political, socio-cultural, and non-governmental organization known for its impactful and prestigious outreach efforts to assist those in dire need and address community challenges.
Over the past year, under the leadership of Sir Barr. Greg Otsu, the Club has intensified its focus on critical and meaningful projects, such as the Afenmai Cultural Center—a multi-purpose edifice designed to attract investors and provide educational aid for each clan within the Etsako divide.
The one-day event brought together like-minded individuals for a robust and rewarding engagement at the beneficiary schools, lasting from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
National Media/Publicity Team
