Hundreds of widows and a few widowers were filled with joy on Boxing Day 2025 as Oko Opo Widows Foundation once again extended cash gifts, food items, medical support and scholarships to vulnerable families in Ogun State, rekindling hope and easing their burdens.
The event, held at The Podium, an events and reception hall within Pelican Valley Estate, Laderin, was marked by singing, dancing and emotional testimonies as beneficiaries expressed gratitude to God and the Foundation for standing by them during difficult times.
Earlier in the day, the Foundation organised a free medical outreach for the widows, providing screening, counselling and drugs for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The medical intervention, similar to what was offered in 2024, was aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the beneficiaries.
Many of the widows shared moving testimonies of how the Foundation, through its Founder, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, had positively transformed their lives. One of them, Mrs. Titilope Adewunmi, widow of the late Comrade Wale Adewunmi, an Ekiti State indigene and journalist who practised in Ogun State until his death last year, described the support as life-changing.
Mrs. Adewunmi recalled that on the morning of her husband’s burial in July 2024, she received a call from Oko Opo Widows Foundation informing her that she had been placed on a six-month stipend, granted free medical care for one year and assured that one of her children would be supported through university education.
According to her, the Foundation fully honoured its pledge. She said her first daughter gained admission to study Peace and Conflict Studies at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) in 2025, with the Foundation paying all associated costs, including accommodation.
“If not for Oko Opo Widows Foundation and the Founder, I honestly don’t know where we would be today,” she said tearfully, thanking God for using the Foundation to restore her hope and dignity.
Oko Opo Widows Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting widows, orphans and the less privileged, has been active for the past three years, providing relief, empowerment and long-term support to those affected by loss and hardship. Its programmes focus on education, healthcare and economic empowerment, supported through partnerships with individuals and organisations.
Speaking at the event, the Founder, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo—also the Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited—described the gathering as a significant milestone in the Foundation’s mission to uplift vulnerable members of society.
“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, pledging that the Foundation would remain steadfast in its humanitarian work.
Adeyemo stressed that his philanthropy was driven purely by compassion and social responsibility, not politics. He further pledged to build houses for widows and to fund free legal services for those facing injustice, persecution or denial of their rights following the loss of their husbands.
Reflecting on the journey of the Foundation, he said its establishment was inspired by his personal encounters with poverty, inequality and the struggles of widows and orphans.
“Oko Opo Foundation was born out of a deep sense of responsibility to rekindle hope in the lives of widows, orphans and the less privileged,” he said. “We will not relent in our efforts to empower the needy and advocate for improved welfare for the most vulnerable in our society.”
He also appreciated the support of donors, partners and volunteers, assuring beneficiaries that the Foundation would continue to expand its programmes and explore innovative ways to reach more people in need.