Amid coronavirus lockdown, foundation empowers widows in Osun

- A foundation has empowered about 100 widows in Osun state

- The gesture is to cushion the effects of coronavirus lockdown on the people, especially the elderly

- Osun state government had imposed a total lockdown on the people of the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19

As part of efforts to ensure life is bearable for the underprivileged people in Osun communities, about 100 widows have been empowered to enable them to survive the stay-at-home period while the nation fights the spread of coronavirus.

Legit.ng's regional reporter in Osun, Adebayo Fajinmi, reports that the gesture was made by a non-governmental organisation, The Prof Ademola Adesina Memorial Foundation, which was established in memory of the late Prof Adesina to continue his legacy of good deeds to mankind.

It was gathered that the foundation which was established in 2017 to cater for the widows, children and the underprivileged people, has been providing opportunities to the less privileged in terms of scholarships, cash donations and sponsorships.

The foundation recently gathered widows around Igbajo town in Boluwaduro local government area of Osun state to provide succour for them.

The project was originally meant to be a medical outreach and empowerment programme for the people of Igbajo and environs and was designed to be part of activities lined up for the commemoration of the 33rd Igbajo day celebration, a week-long programme with diverse activities.

According to the information gathered, the foundation was expected to hold its health fair on Tuesday, April 7, on the lineup of activities but due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the programme could not hold, as a result, the foundation deemed it fit not to relent in its effort or go back on its promise to empower about 100 people on diverse issues.

And to ensure that it still touched lives, 50 widows were selected from the five Ogbons across Igbajo; Ogbon Atiba, Ogbon Iloro, Ogbon Isao, Ogbon Oguru and Ogbon Oke Oja as primary beneficiaries while there were stragglers that also showed up and were attended to.

The selection of beneficiaries was spearheaded by the Iyalode of Igbajo, Chief (Mrs) Adebimpe Adebowale along with the Ogbon heads without bias.

The palliatives were distributed with the permission and help of the deputy governor of Osun state, Gboyega Alabi and the commissioner for commerce, industry and empowerment, Bode Olanipekun.

The brain behind the foundation, Hon Dapo Ademola-Adesina, who is the only son of late Prof Ademola Adesina, said the vision of the group is to touch lives and make an everlasting impact on humanity while ensuring that the legacy and passion of Prof Ademola Adesina to reach out to the less privileged continues on earth without making it a jamboree.

According to him, the widowhood empowerment programme is one of the first public major activities of the foundation, saying that other activities have been quiet and behind the scenes.

He explained that over time, the foundation has donated food during festivals to Christians and Muslims throughout Ademola-Adesina’s federal constituency (Boluwaduro, Ila and Ifedayo).

“We have sponsored tuition for students and paid for examinations. We have reached out to so many people especially at home and in the Diaspora and this is not just for people that we know but for anyone that needs the help of the foundation because the vision is to reach people irrespective of religion, tribe, political affiliation or social status. Beneficiaries are selected based on their genuine need basis without bias.

“We cannot quantify how much we have spent, it’s very difficult to quantify because I just try to give and put a smile on people’s faces. What is spent involves much more than what we give people; we also have to think of transportation, planning and logistics. We are however happy that we have gotten very touching feedback from people even on social media and from the widows who never expected such good deeds from us.

“We also got calls from the Owa of Igbajo and the Owa -in -Council of Igbajo land and numerous other sons and daughters of Osun state. The joy is that we can make people happy," he said.

Late Prof Shim Oluwole Ademola Adesina was born in Ibadan on October 23 1943. He was a senior lecturer and later became a reader at the Department of Architecture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, after which he became a Professor of Architecture and Dean of Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the then Bendel State University now Ambrose Alli University in 1987.

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He was the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and was later appointed minister of state for agriculture and natural resources.

During this period, he fought for the creation of Boluwaduro local government which was created and announced on October 1, 1996. He died at the peak of his career at the age of 54 on June 14, 1997.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Olorunfemi Oluwaseyi Emmanuel, donated preventive materials to Ekiti state government.

It was reported that Emanuel, who is serving in Ekiti, donated the material to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the state.

The items he donated included wash hand basin, rubber tap buckets, hand sanitisers, liquid soap and treated masks.

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Source: Legit.ng