On Saturday, 29th October, 2022, Unique Grandmas Sisters Forum marked its 5th anniversary and 1st Global Event. The event was anchored by UG Dabiri Idowu Omobolanle, a producer and broadcast journalist and CEO of Wazobia Plus Naija on MiTv. There were many other celebrities who graced the occasion. The event took place at 10 Degrees Event Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
City People’s reporter, TITILOPE OSHUNLALU (08023380711) and Photo Journalist, FEMI ADELEKE were at the event to bring you the gists.
Give it to the founder/global coordinator, UGSF, UG Yemisi R. Oguntimehim,who stole the show at the event. She dazzled in her UG aso ebi ankara. She is a style dictator anyday, anytime. Her fashion sense was on-point.The UG aso-ebi was purple mixed with yellow with a yellow head gear to match. With her Ipele on her shoulder, UG Oguntimehin looked elegant at the event where celebrity grandmas gathered to celebrate with her. UG Yemisi R. Oguntimehim has always been a frontliner at parties, and at her party, she played her role well. She sat on the high table with members of the board of trustees, exchanging pleasantries with UGs from various zones.She looked so ravishing and gorgeous.
The very homely, prayerful and humble woman has friends from all ages in all spheres of life.
UGs arrived, looking beautiful in their purple and yellow aso-ebi ankara with their yellow headgear and Ipele. Opening prayers were observed in Islam and christian ways. Members of the high table were: UG Teresa Yekini from Lagos Zone, UG Bosede Oresanya, UG Oluyemi Soyemi from Ogun State, founder/global coordinator and chairman, UG Oluwayemi Rosemary Oguntimehin, UG Kemi Koleowo (chairman, planning committee), and UG Yinka Ogunde.
When it was time for UGs to give their testimonies, few UGs came up to say their testimonies. They testified that since they joined the forum, it has been a forum of joy and peace. And that they had never regretted joining the forum. They also said it had added value to them.
UG Yinka Ogunde gave a speech on the topic: ‘Ways to Maintain Robust Relationships with our Daughters/Sons-In-Law. She explained how UGs can be at peace with their sons/daughters-in-law. She said she had been practicing this with her sons/daughters-in-law and it has been working, she encouraged UG, to be at peace with their in-laws too.
This was followed by the cutting of the anniversary cake and zonal dance.
The anniversary committee numbers included UG Sirina Sumaila (member, Kwara zone coordinator, UG Lydia Adesina (member/Osun zone coordinator), UG Yetunde Williams (member /UK zone coordinator), UG Jossy Ali – Isu (member/Edo – Delta zone coordinator), UG Gladys Ibrahim (member/Abuja – Northern zone coordinator), UG Fatimah A. Abdulkareem ( member / USA zone coordinator), UG Afam Adebanjo (member/Ekiti zone coordinator), UG Yemisi Soyemi (member/Ogun zone coordinator), UG Yemisi Sodiya (member), UG Yemisi Oguntimehin (member/Lagos zone coordinator), UG Yemisi Orisameyiti (member/Ondo zone coordinator), UG Olabisi Wahab (member), UG Oluranti George (member), UG Adefunke A. Alawode (member), UG Caroline Aikoriogie (member), UG Olukemi Koleowo (chairman/Oyo zone coordinator), UG Atinuke O. Oloniniyi ( member), UG Morenike Ismail ( secretary).
Members of the board of trustees include: UG Yemisi, R. Oguntimehin (Chairman), UG Morenike Ismail (Secretary), UG Olukemi Koleowo (member), UG Yinka Ogunde (member), SUG Elizabeth Ojo (member), UG Theresa Yekini (member), UG Yemisi Soyemi (member).
Speaking at the event, the chairman, planning committee and Oyo Zone coordinator, UG Kemi Koleowo welcomed every one present. She thanked God almighty for keeping everyone alive and granting everyone journey mercies. She appreciated every member for their contributions to make the event a huge success. She was so excited and wished all a very superb enjoyment and robust interactive sessions.
UG Koleowo further said “we toyed with the idea of coming together from all over the world as we all know we have members in so many other countries, apart from Nigeria. I appreciate our global coordinator, UG Yemisi Oguntimehin for her trust in me to be the Chairman of the Anniversary Committee.
I also appreciate every committee member for their invaluable contributions to make the planning a huge success. A big thank you to members who believed that it could be done and went ahead to pay their dues for the anniversary, thereby making it a reality. Please know that without you, we won’t be here today to celebrate. We are here to have fun, enjoy ourselves and let our hairs down to savor every moment that we’ll be spending together as sisters.
We have interacted with each other on the platforms without seeing ourselves. This is the time to bond and make more friends, which is the most important reason that we are all gathered here.”
Yemisi Oguntimehin, the founder/global coordinator of Unique Grandmas Sisters Forum said, “Unique Grandmas Sisters Forum was created by my humble self as just Unique Grandmas Group with the assistance of my daughter, Mrs Bolaji Akwaji on 28th October, 2017.”
“I have been on Facebook since 2009 but wanted something that will impact on others, so, I told my daughter that I was interested in starting a Grandmas group on Facebook. She encouraged me and I added few friends who I knew were Grandmas in the likes of UG Theresa Yekini, UG Oyin Oyewole, UG Ronke Daramosu, UG Maria Umole, UG Rotimi Balogun who were the first set of UGs added as very few Grandmas I knew were active on Facebook then. I was thinking we could not be more than a hundred but today, we have over 20,000 members in the group here in Nigeria and many countries of the world.”
“The group is basically to celebrate all Grandmas on Facebook (though we have gone beyond that by meeting physically) who despite our responsibilities, ages and commitments still find time to socialize. We are unique because we are taking care of generations and still taking care of ourselves. Today, to the glory of God, we have been registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja and have a Board of Trustees. We celebrate, advise and counsel each other, while we remain beautiful.
We address each other as UG (Unique Grandma) for those who are below seventy years. Grandmas who are seventy years and below eighty are addressed as SUG (Super Unique Grandmas) and those who are eighty and above are SSUG (Senior Super Unique Grandmas).
This group is non-religious, non-political and non-ethnic, we are all the same, irrespective of our backqround. For further interactions and accessibility, we created zones that are managed by zonal coordinators through WhatsApp platforms.
Presently, we have eleven zones from 8 states of Nigeria and one for FCT Abuja/Northern States, one each in the UK and USA.We have carried out charity works in each zone and we also celebrate anniversaries yearly, zone by zone. Also, we invite experts to talk to us at every given opportunity about how to take care of our health as we continue to age gracefully.
We have visited the less- privileged, such as the old peoples’ homes, special children schools and contributed our humble donations to such homes. We attend functions and give support as sisters that we truly are.
Presently, we have 9 Facebook admin teams and 11 zonal coordinators. Basically, Unique Grandmas platform is meant to keep us happy and enable us to meet friends as we age gracefully.
I hereby say a big thank you to members, Board of Trustees, the admin team and all zonal coordinators. A special thank you to the chairman, planning committee, UG Kemi Koleowo, a dear sister and all committee members who have worked tirelessly to make our 5th anniversary and 1st Global celebration a successful one!”
Lastly, she greeted all officially with their slogan, ‘Unique Grandmas Sisters’ Forum, Sisters Forever.’
