Mrs. Oyetola Rehabilitates Pregnant Mentally Challenged Girl, Reunites Her With Family
By Yusuf Oketola
WIFE of the Governor of the State of Osun, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola has sponsored the rehabilitation of a 19-year-old girl, Labake Najeem who had mental challenges.
Najeem was six months old pregnant when Mrs. Oyetola took her up for rehabilitation at Apomu in Isokan Local Government Area of the state about three months ago.
The mentally challenged lady was said to have been impregnated by one Abideen Sadipe, who is also known to be mentally unstable.
However, the Wife of the Governor has demonstrated commitment for rehabilitating Abideen as well, as the arrangements for his movement to a care centre is reported to have commenced.
She was rehabilitated at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, where she was also delivered of a baby girl last week Thursday.
The naming ceremony of the baby was held on Monday at the palace of Alapomu.
Handing Najeem to the Alapomu of Apomu, Oba Kayode Afolabi, on Monday, Mrs. Oyetola said she took up responsibility for rehabilitating Najeem because it is part of her philanthropic gestures.
According to her, Najeem is not the first mentally challenged person she would rehabilitate, saying that she had 16 years ago taken care of a woman with her baby.
She said: “Labake is not the first (mentally challenged person) that I have taken care of. The first was 16 years ago. After she was stable, I sent her child to primary and secondary schools. Now she has written JAMB and I have spoken to the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University on her admission.
“I thank God that I took only Labake away for medical care and now I am returning her with her child. I also want to thank the medical personnel at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo. They tried a lot and took very good care of her. Now Labake is fine.”
Mrs. Oyetola attributed mental challenge suffered by most women to marital issues, hence the need to care for them.
The wife of the governor urged the people of Apomu, especially Najeem’s neighbours to support her, just as she warned them against discrimination.
“I urge us in this town to support Labake and not discriminate against her, so that she can fulfil her destiny. I have good plans for her and I pray to God to support me in making it a reality”, she said.
Mrs. Oyetola thanked Oba Afolabi for releasing Najeem to her for medical treatment.
In his remarks, Oba Afolabi, who welcomed Mrs. Oyetola to his palace amidst pomp, appreciated the wife of the Governor for her gesture and prayed for the successful tenure of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The traditional ruler said: “She (Mrs. Oyetola) was here for a different programme but because of her kindness, when she saw Labake troubling me, she inquired about her. I told her that Labake had mental challenge and I asked her to come to the palace every week to collect N2, 000.
“The First Lady promised to rehabilitate her. Labake initially gave the Wife of the Governor and medical team a lot of problem. They carried out series of tests on her until she was delivered of her baby. Labake is now a different person.”
