Joy Unlimited as Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation Selects 20 Qualified Parents in Waiting for IVF Treatment

By Eric Elezuo

There was palpable joy at the Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre Friday when over 20 beneficiaries of the 2018 fertility treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination were selected as part efforts of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation to restore the pride of the woman and recreate joy in homes.

The beneficiaries were picked through raffle draw and random selection as supervised by the Minister in Charge of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo.

The programme, which was in its second edition was themed: “Maa Gbe Temi Jo’ (Yoruba for I will dance with my own baby).

The day long event began with a thorough medical screening conducted on all the participants. The screening covered all areas of fertility treatment including cervical examination.

Thereafter, thoroughbred medical experts took turns to educated the parents in waiting on all areas worthy of coming to terms with to live a health life worthy of procreation.

The first among the speakers after Pastor Tera Onyemaka has led the congregation in spirit-filled prayer, was Dr. Ogundiran Babatunde Deji of the Bridge Clinic, who lectured on Fibroid and Pregnancy. He intimated among other things that the womb, semen, ovaries and tubes must be highly functional if fertilisation must take place while also informing that obesity encourages the emergence of fibroid. He therefore urged parents in waiting to maintain a healthy lifestyle in anticipation of their children.

Earlier, the chief host of the event and wife of the General Overseer of Trinity House, Mrs Ibidunni Ighodalo, who is also the CEO of Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, had given an emotional speech of what prompted her desire to put smiles and happiness in the homes of parents in need of children.

In quick succession, other speakers including Dr. Oluwatoyin Bode Abass (Infertility and the Stigma that Comes with it), Dr. Nini Iyizoba, Dr. Coker, Dr. Adeleke Daramola (Male Infertility), Dr. Oluyemisi Adeyemi Bero (Surrogacy and Donors), Barr. Muiz Banire and others educated the audience on the psychological and spiritual implications of waiting for the children.

In her lecture, Pastor Ruth inculcated comedy into the serious business of waiting as a parent to be, practically dousing the the tension associated with child expectation. She mixed the physical with the spiritual to drive home her point, and all that listened to her were happy and excessively joyed.

Then the hour every one had been waitng for came, and Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo took the privilege of presenting the 20 beneficiaries for the year’s treatment. He cautioned that faith as already preached is capable of turning around the situation of anyone even without the treatment.

The richest woman in Nigeria, who doubles as the Founder of Rose of Sharon, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, and wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola, were on hand to speak to the needs of the parents in waiting through heartfelt prayers and shared experiences.

The treatment, it was revealed costs a whopping N1.5 million per person.

Other personalities that graced the event were Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Miss Bola Adesola and a host of others from both the medical and other professions.

The IIF was created by Ibidunni Ighodalo to raise awareness on issues pertaining to infertility and to provide grants for couples that require fertility treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination. It has over time put smiles on the faces of parents seriously in need of babies of their own.

Photo credit: Solomon Ekhaiyeme