Ayinba Erelu Mojisola Adam is the pretty wife of Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams (Aare Onakankafo of Yorubaland) and the president of Oasis Women Organization. She is a philanthropist who has always loved to lend a helping hand to needy. It’s that urge to show kindness to people especially women that gave birth to the organization. She founded this organization over a decade ago and they have impacted over 1000 women across the state. The organization has shouldered the responsibility of supporting widows in the society financially, mentally, physically and psychologically. The mission of the Oasis Women Organization (OWOG) is to create a community of empowered women who are economically and socially dependent to build in them the confidence to overcome financial and social conflicts.
Over the years, OWOG has been able to organize workshops and seminars that have contributed immensely to the changing of wrong ideas among women about political and economic participation in the communities. The organization has also been able to educate widows on their health and common issues that can easily depress them and how to deal with them.
Last week, Ayinba Erelu Mojisola Adams had a chat with City Peoples Society Reporter, TITILOPE OGUNLEYE at the 10th Annual Widow Empowerment Luncheon of Oasis Women Organization which took place at Regency hall, Alausa Ikeja Lagos, and there she spoke on the reason she started the organization and her greatest fear in life among many other things. Enjoy.
How do you feel today, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Oasis Women Organization?
I feel so grateful to God, the giver of life and everything. I am so delighted to have nursed a baby till age ten. The organization was a dream that became a reality and I am grateful to God that it has grown from strength to strength. It is also a fulfillment of stretching the hand of love and kindness to bring hope and happiness, especially in this festive season.
How have you been sponsoring this laudable project for ten years?
I started solely from my little income and my amazing husband Iba Gani Abiodun Adams has been extremely supportive before my friends joined me and together we have been able to raise the standard for over 10 years. The organization has shouldered the responsibility of raising funds and supporting windows. I naturally have passion for womanhood and I know how it pinches when the woman is now the only one involved in the upkeep and survival of her children, so I understand the pains of the widows in our society. Couples that are even working together are still struggling to make ends meet, how much more when it becomes just one person. It is out of the fears of losing one’s husband and imagining what the widows go through that I started the Oasis Women Organization. My greatest fear in life is losing my husband and I try to imagine what widows go through as they deal with alone.
Do you do this for the same widows every year?
We don’t support the same set of widows every year. At least, in my record we have over 1000 widows. We help different widows at different locations so that we can impact more lives. Today in the hall, we supported 22 widows and last month, we assisted 50 widows.
How do you support the widows?
This year, we used food items and cash gifts. If you check our brochure, you will see some pictures of last year edition. Last year we gave out grinding machines, refrigerators, generators, sewing machines to mention a few. At end of the day, we were informed that some sell these machines and that was why we decided to give food items and cash gifts, so they can use the money to do something tangible of their choice.
Do you write to organizations or even the government to seek help for these widows?
Yes, we write to individuals but you know, some will respond and some will not. It is passion for me and I take it personally and that is why we do it yearly. Most times I seek help from my husband and friends and they have been amazing and so helpful. Maybe next year, we might involve the government.
READ ALSO: 3 BIG WEDDINGS THAT WILL OPEN JANUARY 2020
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz