A Non Governmental Organisation, the Isaac Ajisafe Foundation, has disbursed about three million naira alongside food items to 50 widows in Ekiti State as part of its annual financial empowerment initiative designed to support vulnerable women and improve their standard of living.
The outreach formed a central highlight of activities marking the birthday anniversary of the Foundation’s President, Mr Isaac Ajisafe, and drew beneficiaries and community members from different parts of the state.
The empowerment programme, which has become a yearly intervention, provided each beneficiary with financial support to start or stabilise small scale businesses, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to moving widows from dependency to economic participation.
Organisers of the event explained that the gesture was not merely charitable but structured to give the women a sustainable means of livelihood that would enable them cater for their families with dignity.
Addressing participants at the event, Mr Ajisafe said the initiative was inspired by personal experience, recalling the hardship his mother Mrs Florence Ajisafe endured after losing her husband and being left to raise five children alone.
He noted that witnessing those struggles shaped his resolve to support widows who often face economic exclusion and social vulnerability, stressing that the Foundation’s intervention was aimed at easing their burden and restoring hope.
He added that beyond the financial grants, the Foundation remains focused on long term support for widows and orphans through mentorship and periodic welfare packages, explaining that the birthday outreach was conceived as a way of giving back to society rather than hosting elaborate celebrations. According to him, true fulfilment lies in touching lives and creating opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked.
In her remarks, Mrs Florence Ajisafe, mother of the founder, shared her personal story of raising her children alone for over three decades after the loss of her husband, a testimony that resonated deeply with the beneficiaries.
She encouraged the widows to remain steadfast despite their challenges and to prioritise the welfare and upbringing of their children, reminding them that resilience and faith had carried her through difficult seasons.
She urged the women to invest wisely in their children’s education, noting that even where formal schooling becomes difficult, acquiring a trade or vocational skill could secure their future. She blended practical counsel with spiritual encouragement, as she appealed to the beneficiaries to maintain hope and trust in God while working diligently to rebuild their lives.
Resource persons at the event including Mrs Ibitoye counselled the women on prudent financial management and the importance of small business discipline, emphasising that the grants should be treated as seed capital rather than consumed on immediate pressures. They stressed that with focus and accountability, modest ventures could grow into stable income sources capable of sustaining entire households.
Beneficiaries who got sixty thousand Naira each expressed gratitude to the Foundation, describing the support as timely and impactful noting that the funds would enable them expand petty trading activities, while others said it would help them begin ventures they had long considered but lacked capital to pursue. They added that the initiative restored confidence and renewed their determination to succeed.
Community leaders and religious leaders present at the occasion commended the Foundation for sustaining the initiative over the years, observing that consistent grassroots interventions often make a deeper impact than sporadic large scale donations. They urged other well-meaning individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture in order to strengthen social safety nets within local communities.
Established over a decade ago in Ekiti State, the Isaac Ajisafe Foundation has focused its programmes on supporting widows and orphans through financial empowerment, educational assistance and welfare outreach. Over the years, the organisation has gradually expanded its footprint, positioning itself as a community based platform committed to inclusive social development.
Observers at the event noted that such initiatives play a complementary role to government poverty reduction efforts, particularly in rural and semi urban areas where vulnerable groups frequently fall outside formal economic structures. They argued that targeted support for widows not only improves household welfare but also contributes to broader social stability.
The gathering offered prayers for the success of the convener and renewed calls for sustained collaboration between citizens, faith based groups and civil society organisations to uplift the disadvantaged.
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