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RACHAEL BAIYE'S Foundation
Rachael Baiye Foundation for Orphans and Widows
Mission Statement
"To empower orphans and widows through quality education and supportive programs, fostering resilience and opportunities for a brighter future."
Vision Statement
"Envisioning a world where orphans and widows thrive, the Rachael Baiye Foundation aims to be a cornerstone for educational and emotional empowerment, building stronger, uplifted communities."
ABOUT RACHAEL BAIYE
Rachael Baiye Foundation for Orphans and Widows
Biography of Mama Rachael Rekiya Eneyamire Baiye
EARLY LIFE
Biography of Mama Rachael Rakiya Eneyamire Baiye
Mama Rachael was born into the family of Mallam & Mrs Fashe around February 1929, in a village called Ozuri in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State. She lost both parents as an infant, so she became an orphan, nurtured by her elder sister, Late Madam Victoria O Ajala. She grew up and learned through the hard way of life, traveling to distant places on foot to run errands on behalf of her elder sister turned mother.
Mama got married to Late Chief Julius Medina Ochu Baiye as the fourth and the last wife of the family. Her marriage brought her from a totally different religious experience as her biological parents were pagan. She joined her husband in practicing Christianity. She went through all the specified religious processes within the Anglican Church where they worshipped.
Beyond just following her husband into Christianity, Mama had personal encounter with Christ in the early 80s when she accepted and confessed Jesus as her personal Lord and Saviour. Her zeal and commitment to God intensified as the years went by. She was one of the pioneer members of a unit in St. Paul's Anglican church Okengwen, popularly known as 'Egbe Ilosiwaju'. She remained a committed member till her demise.
In addition to this, Mama was a devoted usher in the church till strength started failing her. Her ushering role was impactful both to the young and the old.
To crown it all, Mama's personal devotional life was worthy of emulation. She maintained a steady worship lifestyle till her strength started to fail her. Apart from her consistent waking up early to pray, she would hardly miss the church's early morning Prayers. Mama was a worshipper.
She was one time a member of the Women's choir in her church. She sang a lot like Miriam of old and taught her children and even some of the grandchildren many worship songs in Ebira.
The Summary of Mama's religious life is that Mama loved God passionately and she imparted this zeal for God and His service on all her children.
Late Mama Rachael wasn't really so exposed to formal education as education was a scarce commodity at the time she was born. But her quest for knowledge made her to submit herself for any available opportunity to learn. This included her initial exposure to learning 'ABD', (the Yoruba letters of the Alphabet). Later on, she also joined the Adult Education classes organised by the St. Paul's Anglican Church. Suffice to mention also that late Mama's ambition to acquire knowledge and skills also led her to attend a course in Food and Nutrition handling, organised by the Ministry of Health, School of Health Services at the Rural Health Centre/D.H.U in Igbaja, Kwara State in April 1989.
Mama's passion for education and quest for knowledge were the reasons behind the foundation in her name. The foundation is aimed at reaching indigent children like orphans and/or children from poor backgrounds to support them to achieve some basic education.
Late Mama Rachael was a business woman to the core, having being mentored by her elder Sister who brought her up.
Mama was a diligent trader. She was well-known for her entrepreneurial pursuit as she diversified in several trades, ranging from weaving Ebira traditional attires (Achinoguntoro), popcorn business and operation of a provision store. Her popcorn business was so popular that she got a nickname 'Mama oniguguru' from both teachers and pupils of St. Paul's Anglican School, Okengwen. Nobody who passed through that school those days would claim ignorance of the impact of Mama's popcorn, either as a buyer or a beneficiary. Mama was so generous that whether you have money to buy or not, as long as you passed through that path at any time, some popcorn would enter your pocket.
No wonder she was never stranded as she got rewarded from time to time by all and Sundry.
Late Mama was a delightsome woman even till she drew her last breath on earth.
If all that she lived for were to be written, this book will definitely not contain them.
Late Mama was blessed with adorable Children, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.
Rachael Baiye Foundation for Orphans and Widows
In addition to this, Mama was a devoted usher in the church until strength started failing her. Her ushering role was impactful both for the young and the old. For instance, when the children were done with their service, Mama would not allow any of them to run into the adult church, as they would always do to meet their parents. Rather, she would assemble them in a corner at the back and ensure that none of them went to distract their parents, and noise-making at that time was also prohibited. Any child that made noise would be shown the cane that would be permanently in Mama's hand till the end of the service. Mama was a great and outstanding disciplinarian. In recent years, when she noticed that she wasn't able to perform her ushering duties again as before, she started grooming her daughter-in-law, who was always in her company in the ushering activities, perhaps with the mindset of replacing herself with the younger woman in the unit. This is a clear practice of the scripture that says older women should teach the younger women how to serve God and be good keepers at home (Titus 2:3-5).
To crown it all, Mama's personal devotional life was worthy of emulation. She maintained a steady worship lifestyle till her strength started to fail her. Apart from her consistently waking up early to pray, she would hardly miss the church's early morning prayers. Mama was a worshipper.She was once a member of the women's choir at her church. She sang a lot like Miriam of old and taught her children and even some of the grandchildren many worship songs in Ebira.
Rachael Baiye Foundation for Orphans and Widows
The Summary of Mama's life is that Mama loved God passionately and she imparted this zeal for God and His service on all her children. And in marriage too, it is important to mention that Mama navigated polygamy with wisdom, humility and patience. As the last of four wives, she loved and submitted to her husband and served the senior wives faithfully and respectfully. She embraced all the children in the house, accorded them due respect, and trained her children to do the same. Mama was a peaceful woman, inside and out.
HER EDUCATIONAL AND BUSINESS LIFE
Late Mama Rachael wasn't really so exposed to formal education, as education was a scarce commodity at the time she was born. But her quest for knowledge made her submit herself to any available opportunity to learn. This included her initial exposure to learning 'ABD' (the Yoruba letters of the alphabet). Later on, she also joined the adult education classes organised by St. Paul's Anglican Church. Suffice to mention also that late Mama's ambition to acquire knowledge and skills also led her to attend a course in food and nutrition handling organised by the Ministry of Health, School of Health Services at the Rural Health Centre/D.H.U. in Igbaja, Kwara State, in April 1989. The late Mama Rachael was a businesswoman to the core, having been mentored by her elder sister, who brought her up and was herself a business guru.
Mama was a diligent trader. She was well-known for her entrepreneurial pursuits as she diversified in several trades, ranging from weaving Ebira traditional attire (Achinoguntoro), the popcorn business, and the operation of a provision store. Her popcorn business was so popular that she got the nickname 'Mama oniguguru' from both teachers and pupils of St. Paul's Anglican School, Okengwen. Nobody who passed through that school those days would claim ignorance of the impact of Mama's popcorn, either as a buyer or a beneficiary. Mama was so generous that whether you have money to buy or not, as long as you passed through that path at any time, some popcorn would enter your pocket.No wonder she was never stranded, as she got rewarded from time to time by all and sundry. Summary: Late Mama was a delightsome woman, even till she drew her last breath on earth.If all that she lived for were to be written, this book will definitely not contain them. The late Mama Rachael was blessed with adorable children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mama Rachael Rekiya Eneyamire Baiye, rest on the bosom of our Savior till we meet again!Adieu Mama!❤🙏
Help Support Rachael Baiye Foundation
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
