ADEOLA FYNCH EMPOWERS 300 WIDOWS, PETTY TRADERS IN AKURE
Hon. Adeola Rosemary Fynch, through her Emily Memorial Foundation, has empowered 300 widows and petty traders in Akure with cash support, food items and basic medications as part of the foundation’s 2026 annual birthday outreach.
The initiative, themed “Bless Her Hands, Secure Her Future,” was organised to provide assistance to women across six markets in Akure South Local Government Area: Odopetu, Oda, Oke Aro, Oja Fufu, Ijoka and NEPA Market.
The intervention aims to support their small businesses, strengthen their economic activities and improve their livelihoods.
In addition to the cash support, beneficiaries received food items and basic medications, including multivitamins and routine drugs, to support their immediate health and welfare needs.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Adeola explained that the outreach was organised to commemorate her birthday and honour the memory of her late mother, Mrs. Emily Adebayo, whose life of sacrifice, kindness and generosity inspired the establishment of the foundation.
She noted that the initiative was more than a birthday celebration, describing it as an opportunity to give back to society and recognise the resilience of women who work tirelessly to support their families.
Recounting her personal experience as a former petty trader and street hawker, she said she understood the challenges faced by market women and widows, particularly the daily struggle to sustain their businesses and meet family responsibilities.
The founder urged the beneficiaries to invest the financial support in their businesses, describing it as seed capital that could help them expand their trading activities and secure a more sustainable source of income.
She reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society, particularly women, children and the elderly.
She also highlighted the foundation’s previous interventions, which include the distribution of food items to vulnerable households, the provision of learning materials to 500 children and scholarships for 50 children during its last edition.
Hon. Adeola expressed profound appreciation to the foundation’s partners, supporters and individual donors whose generosity and contributions have continued to make the humanitarian initiatives possible, noting that their support remains invaluable to the foundation’s mission.
The event attracted dignitaries and stakeholders, including the Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Hon. Gbenga Fasua; the Ondo State Governor’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon. Femi Fadairo; Akure South/North APC House of Representatives Candidate, Hon. Omowumi Olatunji; community leaders, religious leaders and market representatives.
The outreach further demonstrated the foundation’s commitment to sustaining the legacy of Mrs. Emily Adebayo through humanitarian service and community support. Reiterating the message behind the initiative, Hon. Adeola said that while one programme might not eradicate poverty, it could make a meaningful difference in the lives of beneficiaries and their families.
