An aged widow and roadside trader, Mama Morenike Ajayi Alufoge of Igbara-Odo-Ekiti, has reunited with Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, months after the governor intervened in one of the most difficult periods of her life by providing her with a new home.
Mama Morenike was among residents who attended the Citizens’ Engagement Programme for the South Senatorial District held in Igbara-Odo-Ekiti, where she had an emotional encounter with Governor Oyebanji.
Her presence at the engagement programme brought back memories of the intervention in February 2025, when her former home was reportedly ravaged by flooding, leaving her homeless.
Following the incident, Governor Oyebanji provided her with a newly constructed and fully furnished three-bedroom apartment as a personal gift through the Abiyamo Esther Oyebanji Foundation.The house was commissioned by the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji.
Beyond the provision of accommodation, Mama Morenike was also reportedly placed on monthly upkeep support, while employment was provided for her child.
At the commissioning of the house, Mama Morenike expressed her appreciation to the governor, saying, “BAO ti fun mi l’aye tuntun, ka je emi mi gun si,” meaning that Governor Oyebanji had given her a new life and prayed for longevity.
Her recent meeting with the governor at the Citizens’ Engagement Programme has since drawn attention to the lasting impact of the intervention on her life.
For Mama Morenike, the house represents more than a completed building. It provides shelter, security and dignity at a stage of life when she had lost her home and faced uncertainty.
Her story also highlights the personal impact that government interventions can have on vulnerable citizens when assistance goes beyond public infrastructure to address individual needs.
The intervention has been presented by supporters of the administration as an example of Governor Oyebanji’s emphasis on compassion and people-centred governance.
Mama Morenike’s story remains a reminder that for beneficiaries of life-changing interventions, the value of such support is often measured not only by its financial cost, but by the security, dignity and hope it restores.
