Olukere of Odo Oja, Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Obasoyin. Photo: Nigeria World

The Olukere of Odo Oja, Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Obasoyin, has inaugurated the Arede Dynasty Foundation in honour of his late mother, Madam Omojolagbe Apempe, popularly known as Eye Rede, who died 10 years ago at the age of 98.

Obasoyin, who described his late mother as an epitome of love and kindness during her lifetime, said the foundation was established to preserve her legacy of caring for the less privileged and helping those in need.

Speaking at his late mother’s residence, the venue of the inauguration in Ado Ekiti, the monarch said, “A major lesson that I learned from my mother, which I am working towards, is giving to the needy and less privileged as a habit and making sure I give back to society.

“Our mother lived and died a kind woman; her life symbolised love. She loved everybody and wanted people around her to be happy. She was always giving to the less privileged.

“This gave us, the children, the impetus to continue with her legacy of giving to the less privileged, helping people and lifting humanity.

“To show kindness is the reason for this foundation. It is to support the elderly, less privileged persons, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in society.

“We intend to use this foundation every year to support and help people achieve their aims.”

The monarch and his siblings, during the inauguration and maiden edition of the programme, presented cash, foodstuffs and other provisions to needy students, neighbours, elderly persons and other beneficiaries in need of support.

Oba Obasoyin assured that subsequent editions of the yearly event would be expanded in scope.

“This is just the beginning; we hope for better things to come through this foundation,” he said, while appealing to beneficiaries to make good use of the gesture.

He added, “With this, we are passing the message that what really matters in life is the positive impact that we have on other people.

“The need to do what we can to assist others to survive is crucial in this life. There is fulfilment in giving to others, particularly the vulnerable and less privileged.

“That is a major lesson I learned from my mother, which I am working towards by making sure I give back to society.”

Also speaking on behalf of the children, the eldest daughter of the late Eye Rede, Evangelist Lola Fati, described the inauguration of the foundation as “a way to celebrate a life well spent by our late dedicated, loving and hardworking mother, who wanted the best for her children and everybody around her.”

Fati said, “We don’t want to limit the celebration and benefits to our family alone, which is why we decided to begin this support programme with the 10th anniversary of her passing.”

A grandchild, Pastor Sunday Babatola, described the late Madam Apempe as a bundle of love and a caring mother.

Babatola said, “When Kabiyesi, Oba Obasoyin, initiated this idea of a foundation in her memory, we jumped at it, especially as it was yet another opportunity to give to the less privileged.

“Her attributes of generosity will linger through the Arede Dynasty Foundation.”

A relation and the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Sola Adigun, who said the late Eye Rede lived a life of love, added, “She was an epitome of generosity. The best way to celebrate her is to continue with the legacy she left behind, a demonstration of love and giving to others.

“This is what the children and family members have demonstrated today by giving to the needy.”