Adebayo Adenrele
No fewer than 50 widows have been empowered in Ekiti State with N3,000,000 by a Business and leadership consultant, Isaac Ajisafe in commemoration of his birthday.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday during the 2026 annual window empowerment initiative, Ajisafe explained that he started extending the olive branch to widows over 15 years ago before formally establishing the foundation about five years ago.
He described the initiative as a fulfillment of his promise to ease economic hardship and restoring hope to vulnerable women, especially as an adult, who has also experienced hardship during his childhood.
Ajisafe further stated that the empowerment programme aims not just to provide temporary relief for vulnerable women but to restore their dignity and renew hope.
Another highlight of the programme was the generous gifting of bags of rice to the beneficiaries, as well as N60,000 each.
His words, “I understood what it meant to go to bed hungry. There are things we experienced that many people today would not believe. There was a type of okra called Iroko. In those days, it was cooked without seasoning cubes, only salt and that would be our dinner. As for vegetables, we had access to them from our farm.
“I saw my mother on the farm, trying to weed and preserve the crops. She would be crying while working, yet because of us, she tried to hide her tears. When we noticed and asked why she was crying, she would hold it back and cry quietly.
“I told God then that I would never forget widows. I have been helping for over 15 years, but about five years ago, we formalized the effort. I partnered with leaders of institutions and religious bodies to support widows. It is not just about giving them food or money; it is about giving them hope.
“Someone shared that she used to cry, but after what she heard today, she would no longer cry. That is the essence of what we do to give hope. It is my passion because I saw it firsthand. My mother once said she wanted to die with my father, but thank God she did not. I thank God for that today.
“Everything we are doing comes from that experience. I saw those difficult days and I told God I would never forget them. Sometimes, remembering a hard past keeps you grounded and reminds you of where you came from. That is the driving force behind all we do”.
Beneficiaries such as Modupe Olabisi and Grace Adedayo thanked the convener for remembering widows in their time of need, adding that the assistance has renewed their strength to continue caring for her family.
On her part, the convener’s mother, Florence Ajisafe urged the widows to prioritise their children’s education and welfare, stressing that such a devoted commitment will not only give them peace in the future but also secure their freedom.
