Olori Janet Afolabi’s love for the vulnerable
Whether as a journalist or in her new exalted role as queen of an ancient kingdom in Osun State, Olori Janet Afolabi cannot just close her eyes to the suffering of others. Her heart is full of compassion. She’s a sympathetic listener who shows extreme concern for the plight of the downtrodden. Olori Afolabi has had cause on numerous occasions to extend hands of love and fellowship to many in diverse forms of needs. So, in her characteristic manner she has chosen to make her impact felt among the vulnerable women and the less privileged subjects of the kingdom headed by her husband. On Friday June 2, the Palace of the Alapomu in Apomu, headquarters of Isokan Local Government area of Osun State, was a beehive of activities as a new set of 50 market women were given free interest loans by the award-winning journalist and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, Olori Afolabi.
According to the Olori, these fresh set of market women will pay back the interest free loan over the next five months so others could benefit. She admonished the beneficiaries to use the money for the purpose it was meant for which is to help them expand their petty businesses or start new ones. The 50 women were randomly selected and shortlisted by women leaders in the community led by the highest ranking female chief, Mrs. Christiana Akinlabu who is the Otun Iyalode of Apomu Kingdom.
Olori Afolabi said many of the world’s poorest people are women thus empowering them is essential and crucial for ending hunger and poverty, not just in the rural communities but also in the urban centres to hasten national development. The free interest loan was initiated by Olori Afolabi in 2020 because many women, after the COVID-19 lockdown, were unable to resume their trading businesses. Most of the women had spent their capital and made frantic efforts to borrow money from families and friends but it was very difficult. To help these women start again, Olori Janet then came up with the ‘No collateral, no Interest loan’ as her flagship empowerment project.
-The Sunnewspaper
