By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
It was the Boxing Day 2025. The Podium, an event and reception – like hall within the Pelican Valley Estate Laderin, bustled with life and excitement as hundreds of women.gathered there rejoicing. The women were all widows – both young and old. There was also a sprinkling of widowers among them who also showed up like the women to receive once again support,,scholarship, medical supports and encouragement from Oko Opo Widows Foundation.
They were particularly happy. They sang and danced in appreciation to God for using the foundation to wipe tears off their eyes. They shared testimonies of help, cash gift and food items once again extended to them for the yuletide by the Foundation, even as they poured out their hearts in prayers for God’s blessings and protection upon the Founder and his family.
Earlier same Boxing Day, these women had received free medical screening and counseling for non – communicable ailments such hypertension (BP) and blood sugar level with necessary drugs provided for them courtesy of the Foundation’s medical outreach as was the case in 2024.
Among the women that shared their soul lifting stories yesterday about how Amb. Adeyemo brought succour to each of them through the Foundation was Mrs Titilope Adewunmi, widow of late Ekiti State indigene, Com. Wale Adewunmi, who practiced journalism all his life in Ogun State before his demise mid last year.
Mrs Adewunmi told The Daily Crucible that the help was timely, happening just as she was about heading to a burial ground in Abeokuta with tearful eyes for the interment of her late husband when the call that changed her life and that of her first daughter came from the Oko Opo Foundation, informing her that she had been placed on a stipend for six months with free medical service in any hospital in the town at the expense of the Foundation.
To cap it all, she said she was also informed that one of her children would be supported to further his/her education up to the university level.
She was all tears of joy as she narrated how Adeyemo kept his word of pledge concerning them, wondering what would have been their fate if he had not stepped forward to fill in the gap.
She revealed that her daughter was offered an admission to read Peace and Conflict Study at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) this year, saying Adeyemi picked up the bills.
“When my husband died on July 1st, 2024 and they buried him on July 8 and that morning of the burial day, we were preparing to go to the burial ground when a call came through Oko Opo Widows Foundation that they have placed me on a stipend for six months and a medical support for a year and a pledge that one of my children will be trained up to the university level.
“And the Founder kept to his promise. He paid me stipend for six months. He and his people came to my house physically, they brought food stuff and my first born, a dauggter, got admission to Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State this year. He paid all the bills, including hostel bills, everything.
“So, I appreciate God and him. If not for Oko Opo Widows Foundation and the founder, I really don’t know where we would be by now,” Mrs Adewunmi said
Oko Opo Widows Foundation, a not – for – profit organisation which caters for the widows, orphans and the less privileged members of society, has been lending helping hands to the widows in the last three years, filling the void left by the departure of their husbands and wives as in the case of the widowers.
In carrying this selfless service, the Foundation has established partnerships with well-meaning individuals and organisations, secured donations and grants and provided support to numerous beneficiaries as it focuses its programmes on education, healthcare and economic empowerment.
The Founder, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, a distinguished broadcast journalist, is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, a major player in the Nigeria real estate business. The firm is behind the Pelican Valley Estate Laderin, Pelican Brief Estate, Pelican Ecostay Apartments and Pelican Valley Greenish Acre Farm Estate with all located at the Laderin – Abeokuta – Kobape corridor of Ogun State.
Like Etienne de Grellet, the French citizen who immigrated to the United State, settling in New York City and afterwards engaged in trade where he used his profits to finance extraordinary missionary tours, became deeply devoted to improving education, prison and hospital conditions as well as providing for the poor and the downtrodden, Adeyemo moved beyond real estate to found Oko Opo Widows Foundation.
He believes that support or help should not be postponed or deferred for those who are in dire need it. This he advocated yesterday through the song, “eni keni ti iwo ba ni pa lati se Iran lowo fun n Oun na le ni keji re toju e e….” which interpreted loosely means ‘If there is anybody that you have capacity and opportunity to help, render that help to the person now for that is your neighbour.’
Addressing them, he described the gathering as a significant milestone in the journey to empower the widows, orphans and the less privileged in society.
He said it was a time to celebrate not only the foundation’s achievements but also the resilience and determination of its beneficiaries, pledging to remain unrelenting in making a positive impact in the lives of people.
“We celebrate the widows who have found hope again, the orphans who have discovered a sense of belonging, and the less privileged who have been given succour,” he said.
He revealed that his act of philanthropy is one borne out of passion for lifting the widows and the less privileged, adding that it is devoid of any political undertone.
He pledged to build houses for the widows, fund free legal service for any widow facing persecution, injustice or being denied of her rights in her matrimonial home due to loss of husband.
Adeyemo said, “Over the past year, Oko Opo Foundation, a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation established to rekindle hope of widows, has worked tirelessly to provide support and resources to those who need it most.
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“As I reflect on our journey so far, I am reminded of the passion and commitment that drove me to establish this Foundation.
“As a journalist and entrepreneur, I have seen first- hand the impact of poverty and inequality on our society.
“I have witnessed the struggles of widows and orphans, and I have felt the weight of responsibility to make a difference.
“Oko Opo Foundation was born out of this sense of responsibility. Our mission is to rekindle hope in the lives of widows, orphans and the less privileged.
“We aim to provide them with the support and resources they need to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.
“Let me assure you that Oko Opo Foundation will not relent in its noble efforts to rekindle hope and advocate for improved welfare of the widows, orphans and the less privileged in our society.
I, personally, will continue to work tirelessly, using every resource at my disposal, to empower the needy. We also want to seize this medium to appreciate the contributions of donors, partners and volunteers who have made our work possible.
“As we look to the future, I am excited about the prospects ahead. We will continue to innovate and expand our programmes, seeking new and better ways to serve our beneficiaries.”
