……as foundation gets new Executive secretary

By Esther Onyegbula

The Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF) has announced the 2021 edition of its parent-in-waiting conference where forty couples, from the lower economic class with infertility problems across Nigeria and who have been married for five years without any issue, in dire need of reproductive intervention would be provided an opportunity to become parents through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

The Parent-in-waiting conference, which is an annual programme of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, will feature seminars and plenary break-out sessions led by medical experts and testimonies from couples that have waded through the challenges of infertility. The foundation also provides the necessary psychological and spiritual support to help parents-in-waiting deal with the pressures they face along the journey to conception, which will be held on Thursday November 11, 2021.

Speaking at the breakfast meeting, on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 the Chairman of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, noted that the conference aims to create awareness of the rising cases of infertility; its early detection, causes and treatments as well as alternative methods of conceiving such as In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF), egg donation, surrogacy and adoption. The initiative was conceived by the late Ibidunni to support 40 couples who go through IVF procedures and get their babies.

He added that the theme of this year’s conference is “Continuing The Legacy”, with the hope that indeed the 40at40 project will stay in the minds of people.”

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, also announced the appointment of the foundation new Executive Secretary, Mrs. Grace Ibijoke Ogunniyi, who will help continue to drive the founder’s legacy.

The newly appointed executive secretary, Mrs. Grace Ibijoke Ogunniyi then added that “The conference is meant to achieve four things; the first is to educate the general public and those who have been challenged of fertility and awaiting, the second is to announce the winners of the second circle of 40 at 40 project, the third is to engage our donors, some of who will be at the conference, to show what we have done and to thank them, and lastly, to encourage anybody who is going through this process.”

Ogunnniyi holds is an alumnus of the Lagos State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Sociology. She also holds a professional diploma in Education from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Nigeria.
Chief Medical Director, Roding Reproductive Centre, Dr Adewunmi Adeyemi-Bero, who is a board member of the foundation, said the advent of technologies in medicine has changed the face of infertility globally, with a 25-30 per cent success recorded among couples treated with IVF.

Caption pix: L-R: Mrs. Tosin Adefeko, Managing Director, AT3 Resources; Dr. Ade Adeyemi-Bero, Board Member, Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Chairman, Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation and Mrs. Grace Ibijoke Ogunniyi, Executive Secretary, Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation during the press conference to announce the 2021 edition of its Parent-in-Waiting Conference on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.