By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
ABEOKUTA: As the one month of Ramadan fast and prayer draws to a close, Okó Opó Foundation in partnership with Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has again rekindled the hope of widows in seven communities in Ogun State with rice and cash palliatives to break the fast and celebrate this year’s Sallah.
The palliatives were shared to 150 beneficiaries who are widows and indigenes/residents of Isa – Laderin, Masa, Ekiti, Abule – Egbeda, Sokenu, Okotuntun and Agbese communities spread across two local governments in the state.
Representatives of the NCS who came to The Podium within Pelican Valley Estate Laderin, one of the venues of the distribution, supported the cause with a donation of N500,000 to the coffers of Okó Opó Foundation in addition to the 30 bags of rice earlier donated towards the success of the project.
The excited beneficiaries were appreciative of the Foundation and its promoter, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo for putting smiles once again on their faces, even as they prayed for God’s protection and blessings upon him, his family and real estate business.
One of the beneficiaries, 50 – year – old Sherifatu Akinwunmi, an indigene of Masa community, who spoke to our reporter in Yoruba language, said the Okó Opó Foundation has become their pillar of support during celebration time and prayed the Almighty Allah to bless the promoter, Babatunde Adeyemo.
“May Allah continue to bless Alhaji Babatunde Adeyemo for supporting us with food item and money at this trying time. His family and business will continue to witness progress. This is not the first time he has been wiping away our tears.” she said.
Also, the 67 – year – old traditional ruler of Masa community, Baale Masa, Chief Sabiu Sotunde, who coordinated the distribution of the palliatives in his domain, commended Adeyemo for his kind gestures through the Foundation, praying that God will continue to keep him, the family and bless his business as well.
Speaking earlier, Adeyemo who is also the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited; the Nigerian top – notch real estate firm behind Pelican Valley Estate Laderin, Pelican Brief Estate, Pelican Ecostay Apartments and Pelican Greenish Acre Farm Estate at Kobape corridor of Ogun State, described the experience as another wonderful opportunity for the widows to be lifted once more.
While thanking donors, especially men of the NCS for supporting the cause of rekindling the hope of the beneficiaries, said he was looking forward to empowering over 150 widows and less privileged members of the society in subsequent outreach.
He said, “It is another wonderful opportunity for the widows. A day to empower them. We got some bags of rice from the Nigeria Customs Service. I feel it would be good to also share it with cash palliative to rekindle the hope of the widows so that they can use it to break the fast and celebrate Sallah.
“And to the Glory of God we have been able to distribute rice and cash palliatives to about 150 widows today( Friday) who were drawn from six communities in two local governments of Ogun State. Representatives of the Nigeria Customs were around. We are looking forward to doing more. We want to use this medium to encourage all and sundry to join this project of rekindling the hope of widows and the less privileged members of the society.
“We are fulfilled and very Happy today. And the Nigerian Customs donated an additional N500,000 to the coffer of the Foundation and we really appreciate this collaboration from men of the Nigeria Customs. We are looking forward to a more robust and mutually beneficial relationship. We are in for this and we believe with God and support of our benefactors, donors and the beneficiaries we will get there. We thank others who have donated graciously to this cause.We want to assure them that we shall not disappoint them.”
