By Dr. Oke Aruleba @Deprof
Rare gems, nowadays, are in short supply
It is a truism that Rare Gems are going extinct .In a world where good values have been eroded, It is a rarity to come by men and women who are completely committed to the cause of helping humanity.
In the quest to boost my creative and native intelligence via reading online biographies of Great Men and Women who have made positive contributions and changes in the lives of other people, a caption “Erelu Bisi Fayemi” popped-up my screen like a Meteor exuding an alluring flavour that arrested my attention.
The reverberating sonorous effect of the prefix” Erelu” had on my drinking lobes(ears) was so intense and refreshingly irresistible that I craved further to know the spiritual import of the name “Erelu”.
“Erelu” is a Chieftaincy title exclusively for WOMEN of Subtance and Valour. It is the highest National Position which a woman can attain in Yoruba Land.
Few people like changes, while those who are named “Erelu” actually love changes as well as making living worthwhile for their fellow human beings.
No matter where Erelu is, people tend to give Erelu respect. Surrounding Erelu Chieftaincy holder, there is a certain aura or atmosphere of Authority.
It is not a misnomer, therefore, that the totemic insignia of Erelu bestowed upon Her Excellency, Bisi Fayemi, is in line with her nature as a positive life-changer and a relentless contributor to humanity.
A plethora of Eulogies emanating from prolific writers of note unveiling the heroic deeds and achievements of Erelu Bisi Fayemi as a Citizen of Nigeria, a two-time Ekiti State First Lady and a Human Rights Activist(Women’s Rights Activist is too limiting a title) abounds in diverse moulds.
The more I burrowed through the repertory of the creative works dedicated to Great Heroes and Heroines of our time, the deeper I dived into Erelu Bisi Fayemi’s breath-taking humanitarian world.
No doubt, the name Bisi Fayemi is a household name locally and internationally.
Yes. First and foremost, Erelu Bisi Fayemi is the loving life- long companion cum wife of our Amiable Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi. She is a Numéro Uno wife, Mother and Friend JKF will forever treasure.
The “Mother General” is such a woman who believes in the complimentary role of women in a men-dominated society. Ascribing the Second Fiddler’s role to women to Erelu , by a higher degree , is nothing short of injustice.
In Erelu Bisi Fayemi’s humble opinion, being the First Lady of a State is not an end in itself rather it is a means to an end.
Little wonder, she is propelled by the hackneyed moving quote by Shakespeare’s Macbeth: ” To be thus is nothing but to be safely thus”
Erelu Bisi Fayemi, firmly believes that being the First Lady does not really matter, the positive difference one can use the office to make in the lives of the citizenry is paramount.
It is worthy of note that Erelu Bisi Fayemi as Ekiti State First Lady, loathes using her position as a ceremonial tool for junketing and gallivanting the length and breadth of Ekiti via Circus-like jamboree, which is characteristic of many First Ladies. Neither does she see her position as a conduit to siphon the Commonwealth of Ekiti State.
In spite of the veracity of the aforementioned, I am still tempted to ask one pertinent question: Is Erelu Bisi Fayemi truly a Rare Gift to Humanity?
Erelu Bisi Fayemi as a rare gem, was proactive in life. She was quick to PICTURE the FUTURE in which she would FEATURE. She discovered early enough that the Partriarchal Society in which she would live required a cast-iron determination of an Indefatigable Advocate of Human/Women Emancipation.
Her background in International Development cum Gender and Women Rights was an impetus for her to sponsor and get passed the following Bills in Ekiti State:
The Gender Based Violence Prohobition law (2011);
Equal Opportinities Bill (2013) and HIV anti-Stigma Bill (2014),
A Law to Repeal The Ekiti State Gender- Based Violence (Prohibition) Law (2011);
Re- enact the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, 2019;
A Law to Prohibit Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (2020);
Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence ( Prohibition, First Amendment Law, 2020);
The Ekiti State Sexual Violence Against Children ( Compulsory Treatment and Care ) Law, 2020.
In the true mould of a Compassionate Mother General, Erelu Bisi Fayemi settled the Hospital Bills of Many Women and Children thereby giving them the lease of life. The two instances of her demonstration of a Humane and Compassionate Mother were her total intervention in the cases of Mr Sodeinde’s Daughter, who was down with Ocular/Eye Challenges and the Ikere-based Octogenarian Woman, in a Straitened Circumstance but was given hope and adopted as a Mother by Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
Erelu Bisi was faithful to her adopted Mother , even at death. She ensured that proper rites of passage and a befitting burial were accorded her Ikere mother.
Protecting and fighting Women’s and Children’s Cause, with special attention to the Girl-child is one of Erelu Bisi Fayemi cardinal programmes.
She did a lot to improve the lives of women through many Empowerment Programmes across Ekiti State, Nigeria and around the world. About 6000 Women in diverse Senior Cadres in Academia, Politics, Management, Industry are beneficiaries of such Empowerment Programmes.
Chief Mrs Bisi Fayemi launched Ekiti Development Fund (EDF) in 2011. No doubt, it was a useful avenue through which she lent helping hands to different cadres of women. Giving them grants and loans to improve their businesses is like the Sun that shines on the Rubbles after Rain.
The Multiple Trust Fund where money and cash gifts were granted mothers with multiple births is another life-changing and succour giving gesture from Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
It is no longer news that she donated a bus each to the Iyalojas in the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State to enable them carry out their commercial activities and to ease mobility in their areas of jurisdiction.
Rural development is one of her goals. Little wonder, Erelu Bisi Fayemi frequents the Rural Areas and donated cash, materials and facilitated the sinking of boreholes rural dwellers in Ekiti State.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Leadership Center, King’s College, London.
Our Mother General is good-naturedly tolerant, humble, cerebral, non-assuming, focused, accessible and generous , even to a fault.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi is an intellectual icon. . Apart from using the nib to demystify the Partriarchal Superiority in an extraordinary style. Erelu Bisi Fayemi enjoys the Native Speaker’s Status as far as her English usage is concerned.
She is a Wordsmith of repute. This unique creative prowess is made manifest in her many creative outputs such as : Speaking Above a Whisper, Speaking for Myself, Loud Whispers, Where Is Your Wrapper? and Power and Soul, with an input from Jessica Horn.
Her Excellency, Bisi Fayemi is an inspirational Speaker par Excellent. Magical is the best epithet to describe her oratory talent. She once held her International Audience in a spell-bound capacity at the United Nations on the subject matter of Gender issues.
She is always in her elements while discharging her roles at international levels. This trait has fetched her International Recognition and many Awards.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi, was not only a UN Women Nigeria Senior Advisor , till date , she is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Leadership Center, King’s College, London.
Never in the history of Ekiti State has an Amazon like the Biblical Daniel come to Judgement!
Never in the annal of our dear State( Ekiti) has a First Lady done so much for so many.
It is my fervent prayer that God will bestow a very sound health of the body and Mind upon our Dearest “Mother General”, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
See you UP THERE soonest at TOPMOST TOP in NIGERIA by Special Grace of God.(Amen)
Oke Aruleba @Deprof
A University Lecture Indigene of Ikere Ekiti.
08027906799
leorexinitiatives@gmail.com