In commemoration of the festive season, the wife of Oyo deputy governor, Chief Ajibola Lawal has doled out food items and other essential materials to over 150 widows to stabilize them and their families during the Xmas and new year celebration.
Mrs Lawal, who hosted the Onimole Widows and the Less Privilege Forum of Oyo State at her Bashorun home on Wednesday, appreciated them for holding their End of the Year Get-Together at her residence in recognition of her support for widows over the years.
While acknowledging the widow’s support during the 2023 governorship election, she noted that the Seyi-Bayo oint ticket was a huge success as Governor Seyi Makinde won overwhelmingly across the 33 local government.
The deputy governor’s wife said she has been involved in the widows project for some time as she has widows in Ijebu that she also looks after.
She further explained that she became interested in helping widows and the less privilege about 20 years ago when she worked in the banking system and a widow needed assistance.
She mentioned that ever since then, she has been helping widows in her own little ways, emphasising that not only financial or material support they could need but in other areas especially when their children is seeking admission.
She however urged the association not to let their circumstances depress or confuse them, whilst also encouraging them to keep assisting themselves and live a loving life.
Mrs Lawal asserted that the current government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde was dedicated to restoring widows’ dignity and eradicating the stigma frequently connected with widowhood.
She added that she would continue to support them, advising the association members who had gained one vocational skill to build on it and allow the challenges they faced to motivate them to do better.
Earlier in her remarks, the association’s president, Mrs Adebunmi Adewale, who spoke on behalf of the widows, however appreciated the Deputy Governor, Barrister Adebayo Lawal and His wife, Yeye Ajibola Ajibike Lawal for their unrelenting efforts, selfless services and loves always shower on them whenever they reach out to them for help.
She equally appreciated other donors who have been supporting the forum, praying God to continue to provide for their needs.
“May I once again affirm my appreciation to the duo of His Excellency, Barrister Adebayo Lawal and Her Excellency, Yeye Ajibode Lawal for hosting us today. It is not an overstatement that you have spent a lot on us and our programmes. However, we are not surprise, this is how typical Kishi man would do; they are accommodating, helpful, diligent, open-minded and Godly. May Almighty God continue to shower His abundant blessing upon you.
The highlight of the event was donation and distributions of staple foods and other essential house materials including soap, rice, sugar by the wife of the deputy governor as well as a whooping donation of 100, 000 from Mrs Yeye Nike Olarinde to the widows for the celebration of Yuletide.
Those who attended the event include Mrs Adebunmi Adewale, Oyo State widows’ ambassador, Alhaja Binta, Mrs Funke Olunloyo; Yeye Olanike Olarinde; Barrister Akorede as well as Mrs Olunfunke Comforter, representing Ibadan North Constituency 1.
