By joshua 
Today, the 20th day of July, 2023, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is 70 years old.
I count it as a rare privilege to be given a space in this historical compendium to air my views on a woman whom I often referred to as HUMANITARIAN MA’AM.
To start with, how do I begin to write about a woman who survived a life threatening aliment (Breast Cancer) in 1997 and 25 years after, she’s alive to celebrate 70 years of God’s Grace and Faithfulness?
What do I want to say about a woman who sees LEADERSHIP POSITION as SERVICE to Humanity.
How can I described a woman in POWER yet Speaking TRUTH to Power?
To say that Arabinrin-Ada Owerre 1 is an Encyclopedia of knowledge and a combination of Beauty and Brain, a Fashionista per excellent is stating the obvious.
At 70, Arabinrin-Ada Owerre 1 is not looking her age at all hence my conclusion that Age is just a number. With her workaholic disposition, I keep asking myself what is the source of her strength? She’s always available to attend to the needs of the good people around her 24/7.
At a point in time, I begin to wonder if she’s the only woman married to a sitting Governor in Nigeria because of the numerous Developmental Pet-Projects/NGOs she has founded through her office as the First Lady of Ondo State. If I keep mentioning few of her life Saving and Developmental Pet-Projects like BRECAN, BEMORE, FOWOSO etc there will be no space to publish them.
Going by her unrivaled and unprecedented activities as the most Caring, Loving and Supportive First Lady of Ondo State, who will wear the BIG SHOES she will be leaving behind after the expiration of her successful tenure of office…. will there be another BETTY in ALAGBAKA beyond 2025? This should be our concern and Food for Thought for those who shared her vision of Women’s Emancipation and Empowerment.
With her presence in office, NON-INDIGENES are doing very well in the Sunshine State. Using her supportive roles and influence on His Excellency….the Governor of the State whom she often referred to as ‘Darling Mi’, she ensure that the needed enabling environment is created for NON-INDIGENES in the State to do their businesses without molestation and intimidations.
In a Nutshell, NON-INDIGENES has not found it so good under the previous administrations when comparing our condition of living in the State.
Today as you attain the DIAMOND AGE in life, I wish this PAN- NIGERIAN many happy returns of the day in good health.
Enjoy the rest of your life in affluence and more services to humanity.
Austine Alaba Medaiyedu
Convener, COALITION OF NON-INDIGENES FOR AKETI SEASON 2.