Born in Benin Nigeria, Her Majesty Olori (Queen) Wuraola-Zynab Otiti Otiti Ogunwusi attended The European School of Economics. She later went on to establish her career as a real estate developer and Investor- involved in developments both in the Middle East and Africa. On March 12, 2016, Wuraola-Zynab Otiti Ogunwusi was granted the title, Yeyeluwa when she wedded His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, The Ooni of Ile Ife Kingdom in Nigeria. The Royal Dynasty of Ile Ife, one of Africa’s most ancient dynasties, is over eight centuries old. Today, this dynasty is ruled by The Ooni, King Adeyeye Ogunwusi. who was crowned in December 2015.
The history of this prestigious and sacred grounds of Ile Ife dates back thousands of years. The Yoruba’s are the largest ethnic group in Africa and consists of over 600 million people around the world. Ife is home to one of Nigeria’s most prestigious universities as well as the Natural History Museum of Nigeria.
Around the world, The Kingdom of Ile-Ife is known for its distinct art. According to historians, Ife artists, ahead of their time, were creating unique bronze, stone, and terracotta sculptures by the turn of the 12th Century. Many of those rare pieces can be found today in museums in South America, Europe, and Nigeria.
Her Majesty, Wuraola-Zynab Otiti Ogunwusi, in partnership with her husband, Oba (King) Adeyeye Ogunwusi have created several humanitarian & philanthropic initiatives in their quest for peace and unity across Africa. Her passion for bettering the lives of women and children from impoverished backgrounds can be seen through her work with various charities and foundations across Nigeria – using her profile and position to raise awareness of important issues such as poverty, education, and environmental sustainability both domestically and around the world.
Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation
The Queen of Ile Ife Foundation (QIIF) is a Non-Governmental Organization birthed out of passion and strong will for community and humanity development. The organization spreads her tentacles beyond Ile-Ife to the nooks and crannies of Africa and other continents.
QIIF supports women and children from grass-root level in the achievement of their dreams and life goals. Our o
rganization believes there are untapped strengths in many individuals and is focused on developing structures that will enable the unlocking of the potentials in African women.
EDUCATION
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Our mission is to be 100% catalyst for literacy in West Africa. By empowering every child, youth, and woman we serve with the right to read, write and pursue a higher education.
PROJECT SIWAJU
The word “Siwaju” in Yoruba translates to, Forward. Project Siwaju is the enterprise development initiative of the Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation. Project Siwaju teaches women artisan trade skills to make high quality products from locally sourced materials. Our women are taught the art of weaving fabrics and create products for trade and sale to enable them to earn money.
The women of Project Siwaju have been trained in the craft of tie-dying to create traditional scarves, garments and bags. Household products such as shea butter and cocoa butter will also be available for purchase through Project Siwaju. These women create bags, dresses, accessories and home décor for sale in local and international markets. Proceeds of the sale of these products are invested into their homes, families and business. Project Siwaju is enabled through The Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation’s provision of small business microloans and business management training.
CULTURAL & HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT
Culture is the highest expression of what it means to be human. The QIIF is committed to the preservation of Yoruba culture in Ile-Ife, Nigeria through its many strands: language, stories, songs, dances, sacred sites, artifacts; arts and crafts; relationships to the land; and forms of subsistence that pay homage and celebrate what it means to be Yoruba.
ORPHAN AID
In 2016, UNICEF reports that there are over 153 million orphans in the world, many of whom live in institutional orphanages with deplorable conditions. The Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation is commited to help orphaned children fulfill their potential by assisting in the renovation of local orphanages while providing food and supplies for orphans in rural areas of Nigeria and across Africa.
HEALTH INTERVENTION
One of the biggest issues in West Africa is the lack of Healthcare assistance in rural areas. The QIIF foundation aims to address and improve the gap in the availability of primary health care in rural Ife and surrounding Nigerian villages through intervention, preventive care, and patient outreach.
Launching in Autumn 2016, The Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation has already committed to supporting and investing in economic and social empowerment of children, women and families in Nigeria and across Africa. With several of our initiatives and aid already active, we are proud of our dedicated staff and volunteers in Ife, Benin, Lagos, Ghana and Cameroon. Our supporters continue to play a large role in the success of Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation’s efforts. We are immensely grateful for the commitment you have made to furthering our agenda.
For More information on how to donate or become one of our volunteers, email our office at Info@OloriWuraolaOgunwusi with subject “QIIF”.
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