About 500 widows and less privileged persons in Oyo State have benefitted from the philanthropic gesture of the wife of the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Ajibola Lawal, through the Onimole Widows and Less Privileged Forum (OWLPF).
The beneficiaries received cash grants, interest-free loans, staple food items, clothing, and financial support for those battling health challenges.
The distribution was held on Tuesday at the Ibadan North East Local Government Hall during the 4th annual anniversary ceremony of the forum, which drew widows from across 10 zones in Ibadan, government representatives, traditional leaders, and other dignitaries.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Lawal said the Onimole Widows and Less Privileged Forum was established out of compassion to support widows and their children and give them hope for a better life.
She noted that although the initiative started small over 20 years ago, it has grown into a structured platform that has consistently assisted widows across the state.
“The aim of this platform is to enhance the lives of widows, cater for their needs and support their children,” she said.
Mrs Lawal recalled her experience while working in the banking sector, where she witnessed first-hand the trauma widows go through when their husbands die and family members storm banks to claim funds, leaving the women confused and distressed.
According to her, many widows go through emotional, financial and social hardship after losing their husbands and need encouragement, love and support to know that life does not end with bereavement.
She explained that before formally establishing the platform alongside Mrs Ojewale, they had been visiting hospitals and clinics to identify widows and vulnerable patients and support them in any way they could.
“We usually visited hospitals, met with widows and supported them. The platform was created to expand that support and give hope to more widows,” she said.
While describing the forum as a beacon of hope, Mrs Lawal noted that well-meaning individuals have continued to contribute to sustain its activities.
She urged members of the public, corporate bodies and other philanthropists to extend hands of fellowship to widows and the less privileged, stressing that widows are going through a lot and deserve collective care.
She reiterated her commitment to continue supporting widows and vulnerable persons in the state through grants, loans, healthcare assistance and empowerment programmes.
Among the items distributed at the ceremony were rice, beans, cassava flour, garri, liquid soap, clothes, school bags and other essential commodities, in addition to cash grants and health support funds.
Earlier in her remarks, the founder of the Onimole Widows and the Less Privileged Forum, Mrs Ojelade, said the forum is marking its 4th official anniversary, but its roots date back to the year 2000 when it was started informally by the trio of High Chief (Mrs) Ajibike Lawal, Architect Olufunke Olunloyo and herself.
She said their initial concern at the time was to provide healthcare support to patients with special ailments, particularly in grassroots clinics.
“We visited clinics like Alafara, Agbongbon, Molete, Iya Church, Adifase and Sabo Health Centres to give health talks on preventive measures and personal hygiene. We also distributed various foodstuffs and vegetables to patients to accelerate their healing processes,” she recalled.
After some years of visits, she said they discovered that many of the patients were either widows or widowers who were battling not only health issues but also poverty, loneliness and neglect. This, she said, prompted them to expand the scope of their activities to focus on widows, widowers and the less privileged.
She added that within a spate of less than five years since its formal registration, the forum has recorded significant achievements, including organising widows into 10 administrative zones within Ibadan for ease of coordination, with each zone headed by a coordinator.
Other achievements listed include: Provision of interest-free loans to widows to support their small businesses, Provision of educational grants to children and wards of widows and less privileged persons in higher institutions, Vocational training and skills acquisition for widows, Regular distribution of foodstuffs and other relief materials, Distribution of stationery, school uniforms and other learning materials to pupils and students in primary and secondary schools, Assistance and care for orphans and vulnerable children.
The founder paid special tribute to the Life Matron of the forum, High Chief (Mrs) Ajibike Lawal, for her consistent philanthropic gestures, describing her as a pillar of support who has facilitated employment for widows and secured admissions for their children and wards in higher institutions.
“We are quite grateful to Your Excellency. Your sacrifices and generosity have kept this forum going,” she said.
She also commended the zonal coordinators for their dedication and sacrifices, noting that many of them abandon their shops, clinics and offices to attend meetings, run errands and carry out assignments for the forum.
“Mention must be made of the unflinching support of our Board of Trustees members and other donors too numerous to mention. The Lord shall reward your efforts in many folds,” she added.
In her remarks, Mrs Bola Dada, Deputy Director on Education and representative of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Joke Sanni, expressed delight to be associated with the gathering.
She commended the Onimole Widows and Less Privileged Forum for creating a platform for learning, relationship building and empowerment, noting that the theme of the anniversary addresses the challenges confronting widows in the society.
She called for unity and collective action to protect widows from harmful traditional practices, ensure the protection of their children, and promote access to socio-economic opportunities that will help them live well.
Sanni urged stakeholders to support the initiatives of Governor Seyi Makinde aimed at making life easier for widows and vulnerable persons in the state, while also commending Mrs Ajibola Lawal for her sustained support for widows over the years.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Ibadan North Constituency 1 in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr Olufunke Comforter, lauded Mrs Lawal for strengthening the association over the years and standing by widows at a time of hardship and isolation.
“Your voice, your story matters. Over the years, this community has proven that hope multiplies when it is shared,” she said.
She commended the dedicated organisers, sponsors and zonal coordinators for their efforts in supporting widows across Oyo State and urged the widows to continue to support one another.
“We are always stronger together. May the coming years bring you joy, peace and prosperity,” she added.
However, in her goodwill message, the Iyaloja General of Oyo State, Princess Abeo Folashade, who described Mrs Lawal as her mother, lauded her for her motherly support and consistent care for widows.
She also commended the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde for good governance, stating that Oyo State has never had it so good, and noted that her parents, who are retirees, are beneficiaries of the government’s people-oriented policies.
She called on market women, traders and artisans to continue to support the Makinde administration.
The Provost of the Oyo State College of Nursing, Dr. Gbonjunbola Owolabi, in her admonition, urged widows not to lose hope after losing their husbands.
She disclosed that she lost her husband seven years into her marriage with three children, but summoned courage to cater for the family while strengthening herself academically until she bagged a Ph.D.
She said it was tough at the time, but she never lost hope. She would take care of the children, take them to school before going to work, and many times the children were fed with garri and beans under a tree at the University of Ibadan. Today, she noted, the children have become graduates — a Ph.D holder, a barrister and other doing well in her respective field.
Dr. Owolabi urged the widows not to allow their situation to weigh them down or stop them from striving to become better persons and providing for their families, praying that God would strengthen them.
On his part, Baba Ojewale, husband of the founder, commended Mrs Lawal for her support to families and for being a pillar for the widows.
In her vote of thanks, Hon. Dabo Agberemi Dabo, who is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on local government and Chieftaincy matters, described women as natural leaders and Mrs Lawal as a supportive, kind and compassionate mother.
She prayed that God will continue to elevate her and grant her more grace to do more for humanity.
Among those in attendance were Hon. Dr Olufunke Comforter; Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Dotun Olaitan; Iyaloja General, Princess Abeo Folashade; wife of the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Alhaja Adelabu; Mrs Ajoki Mama, Mrs Bello, and other dignitaries, community leaders and coordinators of the forum.
