By Daniel Abe
In a gesture of compassion and community service, the Executive Chairperson of Irewolede Local Council Development Area, Hon. (Mrs.) Dupe Bakare, has marked her 60th birthday by distributing food packs to widows, the elderly and other vulnerable residents of Temidire-Ekiti.
The intervention was carried out through the newly launched Fakehinde Bakare Divine Hand Foundation, established to support less-privileged members of society.
The food packs, which contained rice, beans, garri, vegetable oil and seasoning, were distributed to households across Temidire-Ekiti as part of activities marking the council chairperson’s milestone birthday.
Bakare, who was accompanied by her husband, Oluyemi Bakare, was received at the event with songs and dancing by residents and beneficiaries.
The event was attended by the Vice Chairman of Irewolede LCDA, Hon. Samson Kolawole; Secretary to the council, Hon. Adewale Adebo; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Ijero Local Government, Mr James Adelerin; and the Head of Local Council Administration, Irewolede LCDA, Mr Babatunde Vincent, who led members of staff to the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Bakare thanked God for granting her the privilege to attain the age of 60, saying she had always desired to use her birthday celebrations to put smiles on the faces of people in need.
She said, “I have always had the desire to reach out to the less privileged in society. I believe the best way to celebrate my 60th birthday is to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.
“I joined politics 20 years ago with the main purpose of serving the people, and this remains one of the values that guide me.”
Bakare described the Fakehinde Bakare Divine Hand Foundation as a non-partisan organisation, stressing that its interventions would not be influenced by political, religious or ethnic affiliations.
According to her, the foundation’s maiden food distribution covered households across Temidire-Ekiti, adding that she deliberately chose to begin the initiative in her place of birth.
“Charity begins at home. That is why we decided to start from here. But this is only the beginning. The foundation has come to stay, and we will continue to reach out to vulnerable people from time to time,” she said.
In their goodwill messages,the Vice chairman of Irewolede LCDA, Hon. Samson Kolawole and Secretary,Hon. Adewale Adebo commended Bakare for choosing to celebrate her birthday by supporting people in need.
They described her as compassionate and said her gesture demonstrated an exemplary commitment to community service.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Florence Ajayi and Mr Gbabe Joseph thanked Bakare for the gesture and prayed for continued blessings, good health and fulfilment in her life.