MorounRanti Oloye Ashabi
Rafat Idris Salami
Olori Janet Afolabi
When the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic hit Nigeria on 27 February 2020, after an Italian was diagnosed with the Virus, Nigerians underestimated its-full blown impact until it escalated to the point where a lockdown was announced by President Buhari on May 30th 2020. And then, it dawned the masses that COVID-19 was real and here to stay until something drastic is done about it.
The Nigerian Government had announced its initial preparedness for COVID including large budget and isolation centers. NCDC was ready. Even the United States, which is one of the hardest-hit countries in terms of casualty figure, has been collaborating and financially supporting Nigeria in the fight against the virus by supporting Nigeria with $32.8 million as at March 2020 with more in the pipeline.
With lockdown still on, there was hunger in the land especially for the low class, the Federal and State Government announced palliatives which pathetically was not enough to go round.
Seeing the hunger in the land, some people sat down doing nothing while some took the matter in their hands and brave the odds, risks their lives to alleviate the suffering. Three women stepped out of their comfort zones to share palliatives to those in need.
Stepping out of her comfort zone as a title holder as Yoruba Cultural Ambassador is Asoju Asa Ile Oodua, Oloye MorounRanti Ashabi who is engaged in a non-governmental project called Omoluabi Ile Yoruba, a social intervention agenda to re – awaken the social, cultural and moral values that define the Yoruba people.
Oloye MorounRanti Ashabi will sound so hilarious but quite inspirational of an individual with over 17 years’ experience in the marketing communications industry, and as the regional director for Africa under iBelieve Foundation, this holder of Masters of Business Administration from Business School Netherlands, says though she has been involved in Charity for a while, but her main motivation for the Covid19 reach out came from watching her children eat during the lockdown.
“They ate whatever they wanted and whenever they wanted and it struck me that there are children who couldn’t afford one single meal a day, So I started reaching out to new people in my neighborhood with loaves of bread, sardine, spaghetti and tea, I was burdened in my heart to do much more so I sent a message to some friends and family to join hands with me in feeding the poor around us”.
Spotted in Hard To Reach Areas, she defied the odds of contracting COVID-19 and goes about using canoes and also trekked for miles, just to personally deliver palliatives. “So far, we have been able to touch over 300 lives with the outreach. From Regina Mundi Old People’s Home in Mushin to Makoko Community, we have visited and given palliatives to Life Changers Less Privilege Home in Festac, also visited Oderinde Community in Opebi and Monkey Village in Opebi as well”.Oloye says.
Olori Janet Afolabi sharing food for her “Congregation”
On her part and stepping out of her crowned position is a renowned journalist and publisher who is now the Queen of Apomu land in Osun State, Nigeria, Olori Janet Afolabi, who says her motivation did not start today as she has been touching people’s lives especially children and women before Covid 19. “I have always had a passion for children, even before I married, I was giving food stuff to neighbors and children in need”.
The Award-winning CNN Journalist said Olori Janet “I decided to reach out because of the plight of these children especially at this season of COVID – 19, many families cannot feed their children following the effect of the Covid-19 which shut down economic activities’
During the May 27, 2020 celebration of Nigerian Children’s day, she extended act of kindness to some blind children in Ekiti state, where she donated facemasks to Government Special School of the Blind in Ikere Ekiti. She also personally shares face masks and palliatives to indigent children in Apomu community with the assurance that the gift package is not a one-off exercise, that it will be done intermittently.
“As we celebrate 2020 children day, we should remember children in need and put a smile on their faces. We should give them hope for a greater tomorrow, there are millions of children whose lives are surrounded by huge starvation, poverty, death, violence, forced labor, sexual abuse, domestic violence, malnutrition and no education. Feed one of them if you can.”. She added
“I have reached out to children in Apomuland, Osun state and Arepo in Ogun State. Those in Arepo are indigent children who my husband jokingly refers to as my “congregation”.
“Every year, I organize a small but remarkable get together party for 100 of them. But this year COVID-19 disallowed. Nevertheless, today is a special day for all Nigerian children. We should celebrate them. Let us put smiles on their faces and give them hope for a greater tomorrow”. She added
Okenite foundation sharing palliatives led by Ahmed, Rafats special needs son.
Rafat Idris Salami, a journalist with the Voice of Nigeria VON, in Abuja, Nigeria, through her Okenite Foundation knows the pain of having special needs children. As a mother of one, she took to the streets in search of parents with special needs children and donates both cash and food items to them.
An award winning journalist who is well travelled within and outside Africa covering news, Rafat speaks about her motivation, ” My journey of caring for my son who is now 15 years old, took me into a world unknown to many, a world I would not have known if I had not a personal experience, I work, I earn a living yet I am constantly under strain because with a special needs child, there are multiple needs to be met”
“It costs me thrice as much as I spend on my other children to care for my child. So, I understand that every family like mine is always under pressure. That, is my motivation to help others. I registered Okenite Foundation to serve as platform to coordinate this type is support”. She noted
Rafat defies COVID-19, Drives round the suburbs of Abuja, Nigeria, to share palliatives “During this lockdown, I observed that we are not in anyone’s radar or focus so I decided to do something. I reached out to a few friends and they provided support. We gave financial support to 16 families and we gave out food packages to parents with special needs children, our volunteers and some families got twice” I have NAPTIP and Cabad Aid to thank for their contributions”. Rafat added.
