Former First Lady of Ondo State, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has marked her 72nd birthday with a stirring reflection on her journey of resilience, advocacy, and personal reinvention since the passing of her husband, late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
In a heartfelt piece titled “Beyond Widowhood: Thriving @ 72” published on her Substack platform on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Dr. Akeredolu shared how widowhood, rather than silencing her, has become a springboard for renewed purpose and impactful service.
“Many expected silence and solitude after my husband’s death. Instead, I found my voice again — not in political circles, but on Substack, where I write freely and fight the good fights,” she wrote.
Dr. Akeredolu, who served as Ondo State’s First Lady from 2017 to 2023, remains a vibrant advocate across several fronts, from women’s empowerment and cancer awareness to sustainable development and youth education.
Through her foundation, the Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF), she continues to promote STEM+E (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics + Entrepreneurship) education for girls via the BEMORE Summer Bootcamp, while also advancing causes such as menstrual hygiene, healthcare access in rural communities, and birth registration in collaboration with the UNHCR in Benue and Cross River States.
Highlighting the importance of sustainable innovation, the former First Lady revealed her growing involvement in research, especially in promoting solar-powered aquaculture systems to boost food production. At the recent 7th Biennial International Conference of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) held in Akure, she presented two scientific papers — a moment she described as a reaffirmation that “purposeful contribution has no age limit.”
Yet, amid her successes, Dr. Akeredolu recounted a deeply painful moment — the controversial demolition of a monument erected in Owo in honour of victims of the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church massacre. The monument, a project initiated during her late husband’s administration, was reportedly pulled down by the current government of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa — a move she publicly condemned.
She described the act as a “deep betrayal” and expressed shock at the ritual curses reportedly laid upon her by Owo traditionalists under the watch of the town’s monarch.
“A widow. A mother of their own. It was a moment of shame, not just for Owo, but for the state,” she wrote.
Despite the controversy and personal loss, Dr. Akeredolu says she remains undeterred. A 28-year breast cancer survivor and public health champion, she affirmed her commitment to advocacy and development.
“At 72, I am not just living, I am thriving,” she declared.
Her reflection has drawn wide attention, sparking conversations on the role of women in public service, the treatment of widows, and the enduring relevance of elder stateswomen in Nigeria’s development discourse.
Dr. Akeredolu’s message stands as a powerful testimony to resilience, legacy, and the unyielding spirit of a woman determined to make every year count.
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