Dr. (Mrs.) Damilola Oshin Receives Honour Amidst Encomium at Ondo National Volunteer Conference
Mummy’s Place Proprietress Celebrated for Contributions to Education as Ondo Hosts National Volunteer Conference
The Proprietress of Mummy’s Place Nursery and Primary School and Emplace College, Akure, Dr. Mrs. Damilola Oshin, has received a special recognition award amidst encomium at the 2026 National Volunteer Conference held at the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko Event Centre, Akure, Ondo State.
Dr. Oshin was among distinguished personalities honoured at the national gathering, which brought together government officials, representatives of United Nations agencies, educational institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to promote volunteerism as a strategic instrument for community development and national transformation.
The award presentation formed part of the conference activities, which highlighted the importance of individual contributions, institutional partnerships and community participation in building a sustainable society. Her recognition placed a spotlight on the role of educationists and private educational institutions in shaping the future of young Nigerians and contributing to human capital development.
The conference, held on Friday, featured prominent discussions on the need to strengthen volunteerism through coordinated partnerships, government support, youth empowerment and investment in skills development. Participants emphasised that sustainable development requires the collective efforts of government, the private sector, civil society organisations, educational institutions and individual citizens.
Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Sunday Olajide, disclosed that more than 2,000 volunteers had been mobilised across the state to support initiatives in health, education, skills acquisition and other areas of community development.
The governor called for stronger institutional support and deliberate policies to ensure that volunteerism delivers measurable benefits to communities. He stressed that the responsibility for societal development should not be left to government alone, urging citizens and organisations to contribute their time, talents, knowledge and resources to the collective good.
Also speaking, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, represented by the Director-General on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obiaku, described volunteerism as an important instrument for promoting national development, peace and social cohesion.
Similarly, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, represented by the Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Dr. Aondoaseer Leonard-Angelo Viashima, called for stronger partnerships among governments, international development agencies, the private sector and civil society organisations to expand opportunities for young people.
The governors stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for volunteerism to thrive, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, employment generation, vocational training and community service.
The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who delivered the keynote lecture, advocated a coordinated national framework for volunteerism to enable Nigerians to contribute effectively towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
He maintained that effective volunteerism requires proper training, supervision, institutional support and measurable outcomes. He also called for adequate protection of volunteers against exploitation, while encouraging inclusive participation by women, persons with disabilities, young people and other groups.
Representatives of the United Nations Volunteers Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organisation and the National Directorate of Employment also called for greater investment in volunteerism, youth development and community-based initiatives.
They emphasised that volunteers play vital roles in healthcare delivery, education, humanitarian services, environmental protection, peacebuilding and the empowerment of vulnerable populations.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Volunteer Services, Charles Adeolu Iwakun, in his welcome address, highlighted the achievements of the Ondo State Volunteer Service, including the mobilisation of more than 2,000 volunteers and the implementation of initiatives designed to support communities in different sectors.
The conference also featured the presentation of a special recognition award to Governor Aiyedatiwa in acknowledgement of his support for volunteerism and community development in Ondo State.
Among the other distinguished award recipients was Dr. Mrs. Damilola Oshin, whose recognition as the Proprietress of Mummy’s Place Nursery and Primary School and Emplace College, Akure, brought attention to the contribution of private educational institutions and education leaders to the development of society.
The event underscored the need for greater collaboration between government, educational institutions, development partners and community organisations to promote sustainable development, strengthen human capacity and create opportunities for the younger generation.
Dr. Oshin’s recognition at the conference added to the celebration of individuals and institutions whose contributions were acknowledged as part of the broader national conversation on volunteerism, service and community development.