- Pledges yearly event, education scholarships, others.
The Janet Modupeola Awarun Foundation (JAMAF) recently donated food items and cash to widows across communities in Yagba West Local Government Area to mark the fifth year remembrance of the late Mrs Janet Modupeola Awarun, who died on February 5, 2021. The colourful event, which coincided with the posthumous 80th birthday of the deceased matriarch of the Awarun Family of Ile-Loke, Okoa clan, took place at the Ajewo Civic Centre, Yeye Awe Street, Okoa Ward 02, Egbe on Sunday.
Led by Mr Ayodeji Awarun, a retired banker and aspirant for the 2027 House of Assembly election in Yagba West State Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), JAMAF, a philanthropy organisation, which aimed to alleviate suffering amongst the less privileged, at the Sunday event, distributed food items such as rice, maggi and salt and a token of cash gifts to the beneficiaries with a view to bringing joy and relief to widows across the local government area.
Speaking during the ceremony attended by hundreds of widows and aged women drawn from both the Area Council and the Town Council, JAMAF founder, Mr Ayodeji Awarun, who is second son of the late Mrs Awarun said the twin-event was organised not only to commemorate the 5th anniversary of his mother’s home calling and her posthumous 80th birthday but also to re-enact her impactful legacy of helping the needy during her lifetime.
He described his late mother as a mother of a multitude with a reputation for offering parental care, training, and good upbringing, not only to her biological children but to as many other people’s children who crossed her path.
He noted that over 180 widows and aged women benefitted from the giveaways as against the initial plan of 140 across the 14 electoral wards in the local government area.
According to him, the organizers were compelled to accommodate as many as possible within the available resources as the turnout exceeded the official number of beneficiaries.
He expressed regrets that some prospective beneficiaries in the Area Council could not make it to the venue due to the travelling distances and fears associated with the prevailing insecurity in the region.
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the success of the ceremony, especially being the first edition, with the assurance that future programmes would come with improvement and more incentives.
He disclosed that plans are afoot to make the JAMAF initiative a yearly event covering widows, women and youth empowerments, and education scholarships.
The beneficiaries took turns to appreciate JAMAF for the act of philanthropy describing it as commendable.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs Modupe Awarun, Jnr expressed satisfaction with the turn-out. She acknowledged the effort put into organising the event, the hard work of all involved with gratitude to God for positive outcomes.
“We blessed the name of the Lord for His mercies today. We’re here celebrating the life of our mother (a good mother who had a reputation for supporting the needy); Mama Janet Modupe Awarun Snr who slept in the Lord on February 5, 2021, and on the 5th of February this year makes it five years that she has gone to be with the Lord. Ordinarily, she would have been 80 years old today. So, a foundation is being set up in her name—JAMAF (Janet Modupeola Awarun Foundation). We are here to support widows. It is a foundation that has come to stay, God spare our lives. The turn-out today is impressive. Thank you, everyone, for coming. I pray we all get back to our destinations safely, ” she said.
Earlier, a thanksgiving service was held at the 2nd ECWA Church, Egbe in honour of the late Mrs Janet Modupeola Awarun with prayers offered to God for the continued repose of her soul and preservation of her surviving husband, Engr Adebayo Awarun, their children, grand children and the extended families.
