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Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi Visits Rwanda, Gives Hope to Victims of Genocide

Published

5 years ago

November 23, 2019

Eric

By Femi E. Gabriel

The excellent woman of giving and Founder, Esther Ajayi Foundation, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, has taken her philanthropic gestures a notch further by visiting the widows and orphans of the Rwandan genocide in the beautiful city of Kigali.

The over 180 widows and orphans, who are members of Solace Ministry, in the Rusoro District area of Kigali, Rwanda, received cash gifts from Rev. Mother Ajayi, whose visit was boosted by the company of her husband, Rev. Dr. Ademuyiwa Ajayi, her sons; Adewunmi and Michael among others.

Rev. Mother Ajayi was in Rwanda on the invitation of her financial adviser, Dr. Aderemi Banjoko, to ascertain the level of efforts, rendered by Solace Ministry, with a view to commit her support.

Solace Ministries is a non-denominational Christian organisation dedicated to comforting widows and orphans in response to the overwhelming needs of traumatized survivors of the 1994 genocide, especially HIV/AIDS victims.

Founded by Jean Gakwandi, Solace Ministries, apart from helping survivors to heal their wounds, is also committed to reconciling them to Christ, and providing hospital, where thousands receive treatment.

Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi laying a wreath in honour of Rwanda genocide victims

Overwhelmed by joy and surprise, Gakwandi, who also has a very terrible experience, losing his siblings, parents and grandparents to the 1994 genocide but survived by the grace of God said, “Today is a special day for us. Though we are small, we have a very big God. I heard of what Rev. Ajayi is doing around the world, but I thought we are not in the category of people she could have time to visit, but she is led by Holy Spirit to visit us today”.

In her message of hope, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi charged the congregation to be full of trust in God who is able to wipe off their tears.

Her inspiring ministration spurred faith in God among the people.

“Devil will always want to remind you of yesterday to get you stuck in pains, but forget yesterday and thank God for today and be assured of greater things God will do for you tomorrow. Jesus is the great healer, believe in Him and whatever that has happened to you will end in praise. If God can change my story, He will surely visit you and give you reasons to smile. Do not despair, Jesus is alive,” she said.

The Reverend Mother also revealed that God told her that some of the people were with “no hope of food after the service” and this led to blessing everyone in the church with $50 each.

The same gesture was extended to all the widows and orphans in the congregation.

Reverend Mother Ajayi’s children; Adewunmi and Michael

The action elicited untold joy and great appreciation was rendered unto the Lord.

Iya Adura, as Rev. Mother Ajayi is fondly called, also donated handsomely towards the ongoing hospital project of Solace ministries. She had embarked on the tour of the facility earlier in the day.

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda between the Hutus and the Tutsis, led to the brutal killing of about one million people, leaving many who narrowly escaped, severely injured.

A day earlier, the Ajayis were hosted to a business meeting by the management of Rwanda Development Board on possible investment in the fast growing Rwandan economy. They also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, built in Rwanda’s capital at a site where some 250,000 victims of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide were buried. The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a place of rememberance and learning, which hosts tens of thousands of visitors every year.

In a brief remark, after the tour of the memorial, Rev. Mother Ajayi, tasked Africans to ensure love among themselves, as a way to avert the recurrence of such catastrophe.

“We should love to tolerate ourselves and love ourselves dearly. Come to think of it, you are still going to come back to roundtable, why not go to the roundtable first? There is nothing love cannot solve. We should keep loving ourselves. And it’s a lesson for Africa as well. You can only know the beginning of a war. You never know the end of it, so why start something that you know will end? We should learn from this. This is too sad,” she said.

She joined her husband, Rev. (Dr.) Ademuyiwa Ajayi to lay wreath in honour of the victims of the genocide.

The Ajayis three days visit to the Eastern African country of Rwanda climaxed with a tour of the Ahagera National Park. At the park, they savoured the pleasure of the beautiful sight of some of the wild animals including: antelopes, elephants, tortoise, crocodiles, hippopotamus, zebras among others.

Pics by Segun Lawal

Featured

Dele Momodu @65: The Billionaire of Hearts, the Common Man’s King

Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Eric

By Gite Igiehon

In a world where affluence often breeds distance, and fame creates fences between the privileged and the people, Chief Dele Momodu, at 65, continues to walk a different path—one paved with humility, empathy, and human connection.

Many know him as the media mogul, the respected publisher of Ovation International, the presidential aspirant, and the seasoned journalist with global acclaim. But few truly understand the weight of the name Bob Dee, as we fondly call him, and what it means to those whose lives he quietly touches without headlines or hashtags.

At 65, Dele Momodu is not just a public figure. He is a living bridge—between wealth and poverty, between celebrity and humanity, between the elite and the everyday Nigerian. Despite his exposure to kings, presidents, and pop culture royalty, he has never forgotten how to sit, eat, and laugh with the poor. He listens when others speak over. He shows up when others send excuses.

I remember vividly when I celebrated my 40th birthday. I called him just two weeks before the event. He was in the UK and told me plainly that he had no plans to return to Nigeria anytime soon. I understood. I thanked him and moved on. But a week later, he called back with words that still echo in my heart: “Princess, you’ve never invited me to anything before.”

On the day of my celebration, I looked up—and there he was. My mentor. My inspiration. My “Oga,” in every sense of the word. Dele Momodu showed up. Not because of status, politics, or press. But because that’s who he is—a man of his word, a man of the people.

At 65, it’s not his global network, his powerful interviews, or even his political aspirations that make him remarkable. It is his consistent humanity—a rare virtue in these times. He carries the weight of the world with a smile and wears his wealth not in fabric or fortune, but in the countless lives he has uplifted, empowered, and remembered.

Dele Momodu is not just a man. He is a movement of grace, of loyalty, and of love.

As he turns 65, may the world not only celebrate his achievements but take a moment to learn from his greatest legacy—his heart.

Featured

A Glorious 65th Birthday Tribute to Bashorun Dele Momodu

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2025

Eric

By Azuh Arinze

On Friday, May 16, 2025, the world will celebrate not just a man, but a living legend – Bashorun Ayobamidele Ojutelegan Abayomi Ajani Momodu – a visionary journalist, media titan, political thinker, cultural ambassador, and an unrelenting force for truth, excellence, and the African dream.

Happy 65th birthday, Bob Dee!

Your life’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary and exceptional. From the newsroom to all the rooms that matter, from political corridors to international stages, you have remained a beacon of hope, courage, and intellectual brilliance – just like your astounding mentors, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Otunba Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Adenuga. Through Ovation International magazine, you ingeniously gave Africa a mirror to see its own beauty, elegance, and potential. You equally created a platform that elevated our celebrity stories and interviews with pride, power and possibilities.

Your voice has echoed across continents – not just reporting history, but shaping it. Your words have inspired millions, your boldness has challenged systems, and your generosity has uplifted countless lives. Even in adversity, especially while in exile, you carried your convictions with grace, proving that truth is not only worth telling, but also worth living for.

At 65, you effortlessly embody the wisdom of a sage and the vigour of a man still on a mission. May this new chapter bring you deeper joy, divine health, and even greater impact. The world may change, but your legacies – your light and your life – will continue to grow brighter and brighter.

On behalf of all those you have touched, mentored, empowered, and inspired – like my good self – I say thank you and thank you and thank you. You are indeed a national treasure and a global gift that will continue to be cherished and adored.

Happy birthday, Sir, and long may you reign.

With deepest admiration and warmest wishes to one of the best things that ever happened to the journalism profession in Nigeria and Africa.

Azuh Arinze, KSM is the
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and Odenigbo I of Azia

Featured

A Tribute to Chief Dele Momodu at 65: The Man Who Wears the World Like a Cap

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

It is as if Paul Coelho knew Dele Momodu when he said “When you are enthusiastic about what you do, you feel this positive energy. It’s very simple”, for it is quite visible to the blind and audible to the deaf, Momodu has carved a niche for himself as an altruistic, enthusiastic, passionate leader and a big name in all that he does with sterling records of multidimensional success.

How does one describe the essence of Chief Dele Momodu?

To some, he is a journalist who tells truth to power, a role he has been playing for over four decades.
To others, he is the publisher of Ovation International Magazine, the CEO of Ovation Media Group, pan Africanist, and the ink behind many untold stories.
To the politically inclined, he is a fearless voice, a candidate of conscience, a mirror held up to Nigeria’s democracy.
To the culture custodians, he is a walking archive, every handshake, every smile, every frame a testimony to history.
And to those who know him beyond the headlines, he is simply “Bob Dee”, a brother, mentor, bridge-builder, and friend.

Chief Dele Momodu is the embodiment of the ancient parable of the blind men and the elephant. Each man touches a part of the animal and draws a different conclusion, so vast is its form, so layered its truth. So it is with Dele Momodu. You may think you know him, but you have only touched a tusk, or a trunk, or a tail. The whole of him? It is too expensive for one perspective.

This is a man who has worn many caps, not as decoration, but as duty: journalist, activist, publisher, publicist, diplomat, politician, peace promoter and above all, a global citizen. Each role he has worn with authenticity and audacity.

He has stood in exile and yet spoken louder than those at home.
He has been in rooms where power whispers, yet he chooses to shout truth on behalf of the voiceless.
He has witnessed the worst of Nigeria’s turmoil, yet he continues to believe in its best tomorrow.
He is not just an observer of history, he is a participant, a provocateur, a preserver.

At 65, Chief Momodu does not merely carry years, he carries stories, nations, and generations. His journey is not a straight line but a vibrant tapestry: woven with faith, resilience, reinvention, and love. It is a story that tells us that greatness is not a destination, but a life lived fully, courageously, and selflessly.

Sir, today we do not just celebrate your birthday. We celebrate the light you carry. The platforms you’ve built. The battles you’ve fought. The people you’ve inspired. And the generations you continue to prepare.

May your cap never fall. May your pen never dry.
And may history forever remember you, not just as one who told stories,
but as one who became a story worth telling.

Happy 65th Birthday, my dearest mentor…