… as course mate floats Wuraade Adekoya Foundation
The Nigerian children have been encouraged to exhibit the trait of love and care for one another and their environment.
This forms the objective of the newly established The Wuraade Adekoya Foundation, which held it’s maiden programme on Monday.
The late Wuraade Adekoya successfully put out a very small fire that broke out from a burning vegetable oil, the smoke emission of which eventually led to her death because it was in a very enclosed kitchen, where she stopped the gas from exploding and wrecking further havoc.
In her memory on what could have been her 21st birthday, her family visited the Triple Passion Home Initiative (orphanage) Magodo Lagos, to extend hands of charity to children with special needs.
They also visited the Truama and Burn Centre Gbagada LASUTH, where Wuraade was taken after the domestic fire incident, before her unfortunate demise, with gifts for patients.
Some of her course mates at the Mass communication Department of the University of Lagos, talked so much about her kindness, brilliance, eloquence, sociable mien,
selflessness among other fantastic qualities.
Oluwapelumi Ogungbe a colleague at school note that: “Wuraade is a quite friendly person, no matter who you are she will greet you.
“I remembered that she was one of those I met the first time I gained admission. We both attended same Church before, which made us get a little more closer I could not believe that she was the one when I first learnt she died.
“It ought not to be her, she is still very young I am even older than her and I am still here. We felt really sad about her demise but we can not help it. There is none that can take her place we will really miss her.
“She is accommodating and Jovial, that informs the establishment of the foundation, her memory need be preserved. We had to show benevolence like she normally do while still alive.
Miss Adekola Tofunmi her friend note that, ” We are here today because of the love we have for her that brought us together.
“It is really sad that on her birthday this is the kind of way we are celebrating her.
” She is the last person this kind of thing is meant to happen to and I am not just trying to sugar coat things, she died trying to safe people.
“I wish she wasn’t so brave but at the same time she died like a true Wuraade passion, a selfless person that she is and there is just so much love for Wuraade, this is so much painful thing ever.
“Given her kind of person she spread love and that is why we are giving love back to the people. It is basically meant to continue her legacy.”
Miss Abeni Adelaja a colleague of Wuraade who was in tears all through the programme note that, “She is a well behaved lady, who loved everyone she is not the type that looks for trouble. Wuraade is a selfless person. She will be sorely missed. “
The visits was part of the programmes lined up by The Wuraade Adekoya Foundation in commemoration of her posthumous birthday celebration on June 12, 2023.
Family members, relations, friends of the deceased Wuraade from University of Lagos and staffers of the Lagos State House of Assembly were on ground in solidarity with her parents.
One of the founders of the home Mrs Adedoja Omikorede a renowened specialist child care giver, who received the visiting team at the orphanage home facility in Magodo, appraised the operational modes of the home, while stating that the purpose of Wuraade’s death is fulfilled in the number of help that can go round to the less able ones.
“There is ability in disability, we are all created for a purpose, so that people like you can show us compassion.
“Wuraade’s death has a purpose part of which is being fulfilled here today.” Mrs Adedoja said.
Wuraade’s mother Mrs. Bisola Branco Adekoya, the Director of Public Affairs unit of Lagos State House of Assembly had fond memories of her lovely daughter, whom she described as a passionate, bold and selfless personality while inaugurating the foundation in her memory.
The group cladded in branded white tops with The Wuraade Adekoya Foundation boldly written also visited the community where she grew up in Bariga to notify residents of her departure by staging a walk with her portrait.
Speaking about how the Orphanage was chosen as a first port of call amongst others lined up. Mrs. Adekoya noted that the maiden edition of the foundation was a way for her to fulfill her promise to late Wuraade, that she will celebrate her birthday although she never expected it will be a posthumous one.
“Wuraade is an industrious young lady, full of love and compassion to all that met her while alive.
“This posthumous celebration of Wuraade was made possible by support from the Lagos State House of Assembly, contributions from family, friends and her colleagues from the Mass Communication Department of University of Lagos.
“We intend to keep this relationship starting today for many more years to come in the memory of Wuraade.
“She fulfilled destiny because she touched lives, that I can say boldly even in her death.
“She was involved in NGO activities so we started a foundation for her, we gave out her costly medications to those that can’t afford it.
“Without our knowledge she had often times in agreement with her friends contributed monies to get items for indigent children in Makoko.
“That informs why this is our last port of call to reenact what she loved doing.” Adekoya said.
She however narrated the essence of the foundation while enjoining others to go out of their way, to help change the society in their own little form, just like Wuraade.
“The foundation is for people going through trauma, people in need in one way or the other.
“For this foundation to stand everybody here contributed. Whatever we will be giving you today is a token, for this age has been neglected for too long.
“We want to pay attention to you, you have a future and you can actually do it. Your life can have a meaning if you affect other people’s life positively.
“If you are the only one enjoying you are not living, I tell you for free. So this foundation has come to stay.” Mrs Adekoya said.
Wuraade’s father, Mr. Michael Adekoya in a short remarks note that his daughter, given the impressive turn out and mutually benefitting gathering is being celebrated in a most memorable way.
He urged the children to covet the virtue of love and care. Citing the fact that the society will be better for it.
The event which centred majorly on the wellness of the girl child, featured amongst others, safety health tips and personal hygiene for girls, games and dancing competition and it was all fun.