Abuja-based humanitarian group, Soun Ladies’ Association, empowers over 70 widows, women in Ogbomoso
pannigeriannews
4 min read
An Abuja-based Ogbomoso humanitarian organisation, Soun Ladies’ Association, has organised an outreach where it empowered over seventy widows and less privileged women in Ogbomoso in Oyo State of Nigeria.
As a group women of impeccable character and good virtues, Soun Ladies’ Association, Abuja is a socio-cultural, non-partisan association of daughters and wives of Ogbomosoland established with a mission to show love, respect and commitment to humanity and to Ogbomoso, their ancestral home.
The association, in order to reach out to widows and less privileged women, on Friday, assembled over seventy beneficiaries at Pa Benjamin Oke Hall of Anglican Grammar School, Ogbomoso where they were presented them with cash and material gifts.
In her welcome address, the chairperson of the organisation, Mrs Oluwayemisi Opaola-Akala, delivered by Mrs Titilayo Akanji, explained that this year’s outreach was meant to relieve the people’s suffering, especially as the grioup’s social responsibility.
Mrs Opaola-Akala said, “The group came into being in the late ’80s through the inspiration of Late Mama Nightingale Adegbosin, Mrs Oyewo, Chief (Mrs) Grace Aboderin, Mrs Wosilat Salawu, Mrs Adeshina and a host of others.
“It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of Soun Ladies Association’s Ogbomoso Outreach 2022 Outreach.
“As part of our social responsibilities, we have been engaged in philanthropic activities both in Abuja and Ogbomoso. However, today’s event is the very first “open outreach” by Soun Ladies’ Association and as the saying goes that, “Charity begins at home”, we though it best to have it in Ogbomoso, our place of birth.
“Over the past few weeks, we had been in contact with men and women of integrity resident in Ogbomoso. Having intimated them with the criteria for qualifying to benefit, they were the ones who helped to source for over seventy names that we have as beneficiaries today drawn from the two major religious groups.
“‘Soun Ladies’, as an association of mothers, recognizes the various sacrifices women make for their families and for this reason we seek to put smiles on their faces during this Yuletide Season. What we have to give might not be much, but we want you to accept it as a token and we encourage every beneficiary to put it to good use.
“I thank you all for heeding our call to be part of this programme. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous Year 2023 in advance. May God continue to blesd and keep us.”
Addressing news men at the end of the outreach in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Mr Akanji pointed out that, on several occasions, the association had lived up to the expections, saying that many projects had been embarked on by the humanitarian group.
She narrated that the group had, among others, in the past, extended gestures to Ker-Sey Children Home, Ogbomoso; students of elementary, middle, high and higher institutions of learning.
“We are very confident that the little we have just given to the beneficiaries today will go a long way in helping our people. We are still coming back to do more but it may be a different set of people.
The gestures are of two types: some got cloths and some money and, on the other hand, we gave some of them funds for petty trading within our power by God’s grace. And we have got their phone contacts with a view to monitoring their progress,” Mrs Akanji stated.
Also speaking at the programme, a member of the association, Mrs Tomilola Femi-Isola, urged other well meaning individuals and philanthropists to always to live for others to live by impacting their societies positively.
She noted that, even, the season of Christmas symbolises cheerful giving, love for the poor, among others.
She added that the association is not unmindful of the level at which widows and other less privileged women are suffering, with their families bearing the greatest brunt of the hardship.
Speaking at the outreach, a beneficiary, Deaconess Ruth Isola, lauded the organisers for the gestures.
According to Deaconess Isola, “They have other people at their hearts and this is why they have organised this programme to assist us. Out of what they have, they have released unto to as a token of their love for us, especially during this Christmas celebration. It is my prayer that God will prosper them, their families and their agenda of living for others to live.
It is my advice that other individuals and group should emulate the strides of the Soun Ladies.”
Also speaking, another beneficiary, Mrs Deborah Ojo, said she was introduced to the organisers of the programme and she registered for it.
She noted that the gesture was laudable because it was purely non-political.
Also in attendance were Revd Dr Bisi Olapinsin from Mercyland Baptist Church, Ogbomoso; the coordinator o Widows of Ogbomoso Baptist Conference, Revd Moses Olaleye, TPL Femi Isola, among others.
