By Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre
Haaaaaaa!
Oh My God!
What exactly happened in Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday, October 30, 2026?
And why has such an extraordinary event apparently escaped the attention of the Nigerian media?
No breaking news?
No newspaper headlines?
No special features?
Not even a modest human-interest report?
Haaaa! What is happening?
Is this deliberate? Is it an oversight? Or have we become so obsessed with political quarrels, scandals, controversies and sensational tragedies that stories of extraordinary kindness no longer excite our journalistic instincts?
Who has bewitched our newsrooms?
Who has persuaded our journalists that only bad news deserves prominent attention?
How else do we explain the apparent silence surrounding an event that reportedly brought together over 2,000 children and other participants, celebrated 65 teachers and even remembered newborn babies still clinging to their mothers’ breasts?
And the person behind this remarkable humanitarian spectacle?
An American woman!
A New Yorker!
Clarissa Zoe Arokodare!
Yes! An American lady who married an Ijero-Ekiti man and has developed such extraordinary affection for his ancestral community that she decided to demonstrate it in a most spectacular manner!
And all this happened just last Friday!
Walai!
How do we describe the last Friday of October 2026 in the history of Ijero-Ekiti?
A RED-LETTER DAY!
Yes! That is precisely what it was!
A day of extraordinary generosity, uncommon kindness, contagious excitement and unforgettable happiness!
Imagine!
Thousands of children and other participants, 65 teachers, and even newborn babies were fortunate to partake in a celebration of love and generosity that many of them might never have imagined would come their way.
And I am convinced that many of those children will remember that Friday for a very long time, perhaps for the rest of their lives!
Haaaa!
And the whole thing did not happen in some obscure corner of Ijero-Ekiti!
No!
It did not take place secretly in somebody’s sitting room, behind the walls of a private residence or in some secluded compound.
It happened right in the heart of Ijero-Ekiti, at the historic town centre where the famous Ita Ajero cultural celebration usually takes place!
In the full glare of the community!
Before children, teachers, parents, community leaders and distinguished personalities!
Even the revered Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti sent a delegation to witness the remarkable occasion.
And listen to this!
Reverend David Kayode and his wife flew all the way from the United States of America to witness this extraordinary humanitarian spectacle!
An American woman spoiling children in an ancient Yoruba town!
What a story!
But who exactly is this woman?
Her name is Clarissa Zoe Arokodare!
A New Yorker! A singer! A model! A lover of Africa! A woman who married an Ijero-Ekiti man and apparently decided that marrying the man was not enough. She must also embrace his people!
But there is something else about Clarissa that deserves special attention.
She has a humanitarian platform known as Zofeem’s Hope for Children Foundation!
And the name is not merely decorative.
The foundation identifies its mission with a simple but powerful declaration:
“Brighter Children • Stronger Families • A Greater Tomorrow.”
Its stated focus is the education, welfare, empowerment and well-being of children and families.
Looking at the photographs of the Ijero outreach, one could see the foundation’s identity boldly displayed on the event backdrop, while schoolchildren gathered beneath canopies and colourful mascots entertained young beneficiaries.
There were smiling children, school uniforms, gift packages, educational materials and an atmosphere of communal celebration.
This was not simply a woman arriving in town with a few gifts.
It was an organised humanitarian outreach, combining educational support, family assistance, entertainment and appreciation for teachers.
And what did she bring?
One hundred bags of raw food items! Ninety pairs of shoes! Fifty gift bags! Sixty calculators! Books! Pencils! Pens! Clothing! Three newborn hampers! Five foodstuff hampers!
Sixty-five teachers received special appreciation packages!
Over 500 portions of cakes, cupcakes, popcorn and other refreshments were provided. Fifty children enjoyed face painting, while colourful mascots added laughter and excitement to the celebration.
And many more!
But wait!
The real shock came when I interviewed Clarissa Zoe!
She told me that she and her husband had committed over ₦10 million to the programme!
Over ₦10 million!
Haaaaaaa!
Who sponsored it?
Which multinational company?
Which wealthy philanthropist?
Which government agency?
Nobody!
According to Clarissa, several important personalities she met during the previous Ita Ajero celebration had promised to support her humanitarian activities.
But the promised assistance never materialised.
Did she abandon the children?
No!
Did she postpone the programme?
No!
Did she sit down lamenting the disappointment?
Certainly not!
She explained that she could not disappoint the children simply because those who promised assistance had failed to come forward.
“I had to do it. I had to share what I have with the children. You know I am now an Ijero lady. I must contribute to the happiness and excitement of these children and their teachers.
“My husband and I sourced the money ourselves. Nobody sponsored us. You can see that I am using my own sweat and blood to do this.”
Haaaaaaa!
What manner of woman is this?
What manner of affection inspires someone to spend so much of her personal resources on children who are neither her biological offspring nor her direct dependants?
And then she revealed something even more astonishing!
Within 12 years in America, she said she had cared for 42 children who lived under her roof at different times!
Forty-two children!
This was no sudden discovery of philanthropy.
According to her account, caring for children had long been part of her life, even before her marriage brought her into the Ijero-Ekiti community.
Now, through Zofeem’s Hope for Children Foundation, that longstanding passion for children’s welfare has found another expression in Nigeria.
She explained that she had organised a similar outreach in Ijero-Ekiti last year but deliberately expanded the programme this year.
“I did it last year, and I had to expand it this year. Yes, I need partners,” she told me.
And that statement deserves attention.
Here is a woman who has demonstrated her commitment with her own resources before asking others to join her.
She is not merely soliciting assistance on the strength of promises.
She has provided an example of what she wants others to support.
Indeed, Zofeem’s Hope for Children Foundation could become a valuable platform for sustained educational assistance, children’s welfare programmes, family support and community empowerment in Ijero-Ekiti and beyond.
But that possibility will require credible partnerships, continuity and transparent organisation.
Then came another revelation that particularly caught my attention.
Clarissa Zoe is a passionate admirer of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife!
And she made no secret of it.
“I admire the Ooni of Ife. I have studied him and have been following his activities closely. We need more people like the Ooni,” she declared.
Interesting!
An American woman who celebrates Nigeria through music, embraces Yoruba culture through marriage, commits her resources to children and teachers, and draws inspiration from the Ooni of Ife’s entrepreneurial and empowerment initiatives!
What an intriguing combination!
Indeed, her admiration for the Ooni introduces another dimension to her personality.
She appears to appreciate not merely the splendour of traditional royalty but also the potential of traditional institutions and private enterprise to promote human development.
And I find that particularly significant.
For years, I have argued that the value of our cultural institutions should not be measured solely by the magnificence of their palaces, the richness of their regalia or the grandeur of their festivals.
Their relevance must also be reflected in their capacity to inspire enterprise, encourage investment, preserve heritage and improve the welfare of their people.
This is one reason Clarissa’s admiration for the Ooni deserves attention.
She is fascinated by an example of royalty associated with economic activity and empowerment.
Yet she is not waiting to acquire the wealth or influence of a traditional ruler before making her own contribution.
She is starting with what she has!
Clarissa also expressed appreciation to the Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Reverend David Kayode and his wife, her husband, and Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre for their encouragement and support.
For me, however, the significance of this extraordinary Friday goes far beyond the gifts distributed.
It is a remarkable demonstration of cultural integration, people-to-people diplomacy, community tourism and humanitarian service.
Here is a woman who was not born in Ijero-Ekiti, whose ancestors did not originate from the town, yet who has voluntarily embraced a responsibility towards its children and families.
She did not wait for government funding.
She did not allow unfulfilled promises to defeat her ambition.
She and her husband simply decided to act.
And this is where I find her story particularly inspiring.
Clarissa Zoe did not merely marry an Ijero-Ekiti man. She embraced Ijero-Ekiti itself!
She sings about Nigeria. She celebrates its culture. She identifies with its people. And now, through Zofeem’s Hope for Children Foundation, she is committing her resources to the happiness and welfare of its children.
Her song, Ijero Calling, may be a musical expression of her affection for the town, but what happened on Friday, October 30, 2026, was a practical demonstration of that affection.
I have always maintained that tourism is not merely about waterfalls, mountains, hotels, festivals and beautiful landscapes.
Tourism is also about human relationships, hospitality, cultural appreciation and the bonds that unite people across national boundaries.
Clarissa Zoe’s story illustrates this beautifully.
She is, in her own way, practising people-to-people tourism diplomacy!
Through marriage, music, cultural appreciation and humanitarian intervention, she is building bridges between New York and Ijero-Ekiti.
And those bridges may ultimately prove more enduring than many expensive promotional campaigns.
To those who made promises but failed to fulfil them, perhaps the success of this event offers an opportunity for reflection.
Clarissa says she needs partners.
Genuine partners!
People who will support the mission of Zofeem’s Hope for Children Foundation to bring educational materials, essential supplies, family assistance and happiness to children.
Not empty promises!
As for the children who received gifts, the teachers who were celebrated and the families whose newborn babies were remembered, I suspect that the last Friday of October 2026 will remain a cherished memory.
And as for our journalists, I hope this story reminds us of an important professional responsibility.
Journalism must not become so addicted to conflict, scandal and political controversy that it loses its appetite for stories of compassion, generosity and human progress.
Good news is also news!
Human kindness deserves headlines!
And when an American woman embraces a Nigerian community and commits substantial personal resources to making its children happy, that is surely a story worth telling.
Clarissa Zoe came to Ijero-Ekiti through marriage, discovered a community worth loving and decided to demonstrate that love in an extraordinary manner.
And through Zofeem’s Hope for Children Foundation, she is giving that affection an organised humanitarian expression.
Haaaa!
What a woman!
What a humanitarian gesture!
What a red-letter day for Ijero-Ekiti!
And what an extraordinary story of love travelling all the way from New York to the heart of Ekiti State!
Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre