Kunle Adelabu
-Provides 300 Oke – Eletu residents with food palliatives, other items
-It’s first of its kind in Oke Eletu – Eletu Ajayi, Ijede LCDA
The founder of the Miracle House of Mercy and Yeye Gbobaniyi of Oke – Eletu, Mrs Yetunde Lawal – Osu, has said that her involvement in supporting widows, retirees, aged and youths, in the last nine years stemmed out of her infertility for 18 years and her pledge to God to engage in such act if her request was answered.
Mrs Lawal – Osi, who, through her foundation, distributed 300 food packs to beneficiaries on Thursday, added that she engages in humanitarian services as ways of thanking God for the wonderful things that she has received from Him.
The distribution of the food palliatives – rice, garri, spaghetti, indomie, salt, sugar, seasoning, palm oil and toiletries, took place at the Golden Centre Event Hall, along Ijede Road, Oke -Eletu, Ikorodu.
About 100 bags and flasks were gifted to women and men as well as women who were outstanding in their dresses and danced well, and other residents that answered questions correctly.
Mrs Lawal – Osu, the Yeye Otunba Gbobaniyi of Oke – Eletu land, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that her foundation, through which she has been reaching out to the people, started nine years ago, after God answered her prayers.
“Miracle House of Mercy Foundation has been in existence for the past nine years. It is a foundation that came into existence as my way of thanking God”, she said.
“Miracle House of Mercy Foundation is an expression of God’s amazing grace, because of the journey that l went through. I went through infertility for 18 years and to the glory of God, my prayers were answered.
“It was in the process of waiting; you know that whenever you seek good things from God, you have to offer as well. So, I told God that if He could give me this blessing that I greatly desired, that I will be able to say thank you.
“This is what today is all about. It’s about all the wonderful things that God has done for me. It is a way of saying, thank you God for the gift of life”, she added.
She revealed that she will be reaching out to youths on Saturday, and pledged to continue with the humanitarian engagement.
“We do big outreaches like this twice a year, reaching out to the widows, pensioners and old ones. On Saturday, we will also be reaching out to 300 youths as well, because God has been wonderful and good”, he said.
“We just pray that God will continue to strengthen us so that we will continue to do this on a yearly basis.
“It can only be God. We just want to give glory to Him. We are doing this out of the little that we have been provided with”, she said.
The Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, commended the founder of the foundation whom she said is impacting positively on the community.
While stating that her initiative is first in Oke – Eletu by an individual, she also commended the Eletu of Oke – Eletu for the positive developments in his domain since his emergence.
She was represented by the Vice Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Kabir Kareem.
“This is the first of its kind and we pray that come next year, the Miracle House of Mercy will be able to do more”, she said.
“This is a very good initiative which directly impacts the grassroots people and such must be encouraged and commended. I thank the organisers for their impacts.
“The essence of life is not for nothingness, but to lay indelible marks for others to follow.
“That is what Yeye, the initiator, has done and this is just the beginning of your greatness, because you have decided to impact on the people.
“People like this are not common. It is not that you are the most blessed and richest in Ikorodu Division, but you decided to give food to your people and support them, God will never make you lack anything good”, Ijede LCDA Chairman said.
He urged others to emulate the good gesture and take a cue from it, adding that parents that are also benefitting from the food palliative gesture must also instil the spirit of giving in their children so that when they grow up, they too will be giving back.
The council boss also commended the Eletu of Oke – Eletu whom he said that his reign has been ushering good developments in Oke-Eletu, while he also lauded his leadership.
The Vice Chairman did not conclude the speech on behalf of her boss without also highlighting what the council has been doing in terms of supporting the grassroots people in ensuring that they don’t feel the pains of the current economic hardship.
“Our Council, under the administration of Hon. Motunrayo Alogba , is also doing its best in reaching out to the people across the Ijede LCDA. We have been giving out palliatives from time to time to support our people.
“We have also been giving out Traders’ Money to the market men and women to support them and not too long ago, we gave bursary which is our educational support to the students.
“The administration still has many other programmes that will impact the people, and we shall unveil them in due course as we have been doing. Our administration is doing everything to make impacts and to make life more comforting for the people.
Speaking earlier, Eletu of Oke – Eletu, Eletu Adeniyi Ajayi, who was full of praises and used a praise song to reflect his appreciation to God and the founder of the Miracle House of Mercy Foundation, Mrs Yetunde Lawal – Osi and her husband, Otunba Lawal – Osi, for their gesture which he also described as first in Oke – Eletu by an individual or group.
Eletu emphasized that the decision by him and his council of Chiefs to honour her with an honourary title has been manifesting positively.
“I deemed it necessary to honour Yeye Yetunde Lawal – Osi and her husband, Otunba Lawal – Osi, both of whom are based in the United Kingdom, so that they can impact on our community. It is because of this they thought it fit to extend their programmes for the widows, retirees and aged to Oke – Eletu, which her foundation has been embarking on”, Eletu said.
“This is the first of its kind in Oke Eletu. We have never gathered like this for any NGO to reach out to our people in Oke Eletu. Although, the Ijede LCD, under the Chairmanship of Hon. Motunrayo Alogba and the Vice Chairman, Kabir Kareem, have been doing this since their administration was inaugurated, but we have not seen such gesture from a private individual or a group.
“This is a way of supporting the government and the community, and that is why you are seeing the Vice Chairman here to represent the Chairman, Hon. Motunrayo Alogba. It is because they appreciate the support being offered by Miracle House of Mercy.
“This is a support for those that have retired from work and widows. Aside today’s programme, there is another one coming up on Saturday for the youths. The group will host about 300 youths and also impact them.
“This is the reason for my thanksgiving song, because we have never seen such gesture for the widows, retirees, aged people and youths, and in actual fact, for the Oke Eletu community”.
Like Oliver Twist, the Eletu, who offered special prayer for the founder and her foundation, also requested that the number of beneficiaries should be increased in subsequent editions for many people to be reached in his community.
“I want to request for more slots for our people in Oke – Eletu, because there are still many that are not part of today’s gesture. Kindly help us increase the quota next time. God shall provide you with capacity to do more”, he said.
Mrs Rashidat Awobajo, a resident of Oke Eletu, who collected the food bag on behalf of her mother, thanked the initiator of the Miracle of Mercy Foundation, for the gesture.
Another resident, Madam Nimot Balogun, described the initiator as someone who cares for others and prayed for more blessings for her and her group.
Mr Oshikoya, also commenting, said:
“We are appreciative of this gesture and we really thank the organizers. God will continue to increase their capacity so that they can do more”.
In his own reaction, Chief Fatai Taiwo, Baale Itun Ijetan community, described the Initiative as first of its kind in the community.
“This is a big surprise and first of its kind in Oke Eletu community. We thank them and God will continue to increase their capacity and grants them long life”.
Another elder in the community, said that the reign of Eletu Adeniyi Ajayi, has been ushering in good things and development to Oke Eletu, and prayed for more of such.
While commending the organisers, the elderly man also prayed that other sons and daughters of Oke Eletu, will continue to return home to give back and make the community proud.
