Askham Village employees prepare to retire after 20 years

Tribute has been paid to two caring employees who are set to retire after 20 combined years of service.

The Askham Village Community, near Doddington, is preparing to bid farewell to two of its longest serving and dedicated members of staff.

Isaac and Nikki Ajibade, who have each spent more than ten years building a legacy at the family-run community, are set to retire at the end of the month.

Isaac is currently Askham’s longest serving lead nurse, specialising in long-term degenerative conditions of young people at Askham Place and his wife Nikki is a specialist nurse in dementia care at Askham House.

Speaking of the couple’s remarkable service, Aliyyah-Begum Nasser, director at Askham, said: “Isaac and Nikki are Askham institutions. They have been with us for many years and to be honest I can’t imagine Askham without them.

“Their legacy will be here for years to come.

“Ever since they first started with us, they have always been part of the life and soul of Askham. As Lead Nurse of Askham Place for almost a decade, Isaac has witnessed the many high and lows of working in social care, but has always remained focussed on providing the very best care for his residents.

“Nikki is just as dedicated to her dementia residents in Askham House and her personality shines through in all she does. Most recently, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been what can only be described as a true soldier; motivating her team and ensuring residents were comfortable amidst incredibly trying circumstances.

“On behalf of everyone associated with Askham, we can’t thank both of them enough for all the vulnerable people they have provided excellent care for, and the countless staff they have empowered and led and supported over their years here.”

The couple, who married in 1979 having met at the school of nursing in Nigeria in 1976, have three adult children, who work in the US, Ghana and Nigeria respectively. Last Christmas, their children and grandchildren visited Askham during a holiday to the UK, much to the enjoyment of residents and staff – a testament to how much they are perceived as extended members of the Askham family.

The pair, who have lived and worked in the UK for 19 years, have exciting plans to open a care home in Nigeria founded on the same model as Askham. The building for the home, which will cater for 18 residents, is already built, and will provide nursing and dementia care, with future plans to provide neuro care too.

Talking about the timing of the couple’s move, Isaac (55) said: “In life, we are in stages. The main thing is to move when you are strong, and when you can go out and about and do the things you want to.

"We feel we have achieved three quarters of what we want in life! My children are grown and I’m happy they’re all in good places, so the next thing is to go and enjoy the latter part of our lives where we can do good and rewarding work that brings us joy.

“We will be using Askham as a source of inspiration for our approach – with a key focus being on the real sense of togetherness we feel here. Askham’s owners care for the place, for the staff, for the residents and it’s this we want to emulate ourselves in Nigeria.

"To care for people, you need to be compassionate. People need help and I’m always very happy when I’m helping people.”

Aliyyah concluded: “They’re so dedicated to our residents, and we know they will apply that same dedication to their endeavours in Nigeria.

"We’re all excited to see it come to fruition and will be doing all we can to support it from afar and we wish them all the very best.”