The NISSI Foundation, a non governmental organisation known for supporting widows and the elderly in Ekiti State, has once again brought relief to about 100 beneficiaries through its 2025 December outreach.
The program which was held at the main hall of the Old Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti, attracted widows, elderly persons, health professionals, educators, and community leaders, forming part of the foundation’s biannual intervention aimed at easing hardship and restoring hope among vulnerable groups in Ekiti state.
Speaking at the programme, the President of the foundation, Dr Oyeyemi Kayode Ojo, whose passion for widows and the aged was rooted in her personal life experience, having been raised by a widow, explained that the outreach was her own way of giving back to society while also obeying the scriptural instruction to care for the needy within one’s community.
Dr Kayode- Ojo who lauded the Project Manager, Mr Tope Ogundare and other members of the Foundation’s team for the successes recorded in the past years noted that the programme was designed not only to provide material support but also to encourage beneficiaries to pay attention to their health, emotional wellbeing, and spiritual strength. She urged them to trust God for support while taking practical steps to improve their quality of life.
Speaking on the theme of the outreach, Repositioning for Impact, she encouraged widows not to lose hope or abandon their responsibilities because of their loss. According to her, widowhood should not become a reason to neglect children or withdraw from society. She charged them to take care of their health, remain productive within their capacities, and continue to impact others positively.
She also advised elderly participants to be intentional about managing their bodies by following medical advice on nutrition, exercise, and medication, assuring them that God’s blessings are not limited by age, stressing that as long as they remain hopeful and faithful, greater things are still possible in their lives.
The NISSI Foundation president further encouraged beneficiaries to be a blessing to others by reaching out to people whose situations may be more challenging than theirs. She said such acts of kindness would multiply impact across communities. She also commended members of her team and friends of the foundation for their selfless service and support toward the success of the programme.
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mrs Olushola Gbenga Igotun, delivered an emotional and inspiring talk centered on resilience, openness, and faith in God. She described resilience as a daily choice to rise above hardship and keep moving forward despite painful experiences.
Mrs Igotun urged beneficiaries to remain open to new opportunities, noting that openness creates room for empowerment, fresh ideas, and new beginnings. She explained that while hardship often limits options, an open mind allows individuals to discover solutions that restore dignity and independence.
She also emphasized the role of faith in God as a strong source of courage and hope during times of loss and uncertainty. According to her, faith may not remove pain, but it provides the strength to endure and the confidence to believe that better days lie ahead. She added that the outreach was about more than survival, describing it as a platform for healing, encouragement, and rebuilding community strength.
The programme also featured a detailed health session delivered by a medical practitioner, Paul Hope, who spoke on the topic Aging with Vitality, Positioning for a Healthy Lifestyle. She described ageing as a natural process and a gift from God that can be enjoyed with good health when properly managed.
She identified common health challenges among older persons, including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, heart and kidney diseases, vision problems such as cataracts and glaucoma, as well as depression and anxiety. She stressed the importance of early detection through regular medical checkups, recommending routine screenings such as blood pressure and blood sugar tests, cholesterol checks, bone density tests, eye and hearing examinations, kidney function tests, and appropriate cancer screenings.
On nutrition, she explained that healthy ageing depends largely on good eating habits. She encouraged adequate intake of protein for muscle strength, calcium and vitamin D for strong bones, fibre for digestion, and regular hydration. She also advised the elderly to eat more fruits, rely on home cooked meals, manage portion sizes, reduce salt and sugar intake, avoid soft drinks, and stay away from self medication, herbal mixtures, and unverified concoctions.
She further highlighted the importance of moderate daily exercise to improve circulation, joint flexibility, and heart health, while cautioning against overexertion. She encouraged adequate sleep, proper rest, and avoiding heavy meals late at night. On emotional wellbeing, she advised beneficiaries to stay connected with family, church, and community, engage in activities they enjoy, maintain gratitude, and speak with trusted people whenever they feel overwhelmed.
In another session, the Chief Executive Officer of GIGMOF School, Mr Gbenga Emiloju, delivered a lecture titled From Survival to Significance, Turning Pain into Purpose and Impact. He described courage as the quiet strength of people who continue to rise daily despite loss, financial difficulty, and emotional pain.
Drawing from personal experiences and cultural wisdom, he reminded participants that their present situation does not define their future. He encouraged them to reject negative labels often placed on widows and instead redefine themselves through responsibility, action, and perseverance.
Mr Emiloju acknowledged the reality of grief but stressed that pain should not be denied. Rather, he said it should be transformed into purpose. He shared the story of a widow who turned her pain into a small business that later grew into a source of livelihood for others, explaining that the turning point began with a shift in mindset.
He encouraged participants to embrace small beginnings and not wait for large assistance before taking action. He identified practical skills such as teaching, tailoring, catering, gardening, and small trading as ways to regain independence and confidence.
Emphasizing dignity over dependency, he urged widows to pursue income generating activities, no matter how modest, explaining that contribution builds self respect and confidence. He also stressed the importance of community support, encouraging widows to share information, support one another, and work together.
On faith, he stressed that faith does not deny reality but gives strength to confront it. He reminded participants that recovery takes time but is certain, urging them not to give up hope. He challenged them to see their survival as a message of strength to their children and society.
He concluded by encouraging participants to believe again, learn again, try again, and rise again. He led a short affirmation session and prayed for renewed strength and courage, assuring them that their stories were not yet finished.
The outreach ended with an interactive question and answer session, cultural music, and moments of celebration. Many beneficiaries danced with joy, expressed gratitude to God, and appreciated the NISSI Foundation for its consistent support. The immediate past Executive Secretary of Ekiti Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Mrs Adebimpe Ayodele led the participants in personal prayers and to also pray for strength, wisdom, and grace for the president and founder of the foundation as she continues her humanitarian work across Ekiti State.
Thanking the participants for their commitment to building a vital community in love and Unity, the Project Manager, Mr Ogundare noted that the foundation would always provide the emotional and moral support needed by individual members of the group.
Mr Tope Ogundare charged beneficiaries not to deviate from the love of God but should shun any act that is detrimental to their welfare and environment.