The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • ‘Youths need skill centres’

    Youths in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) under the auspices of Concerned AMAC Youths have called on the council chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba to set up skill acquisition centres for them.

    Coordinator of the Youth body, Comrade Matthew Yerimah, said that they were promised in the past that the leadership of the council was going to set up skills acquisition centre to empower the youth, but they are yet to see the actualisation of the prolonged promise.

    According to Yerimah, it is believed that the youth are the live wire of any society, but, it is obvious that most leaders do not plan to invest in the lives of the youth in the society, thereby neglecting them to be use for negative vices.

    “The youth are been neglected by the government of the day, that is why they are left with no other choice than to commit crimes. We do not want that to happen in AMAC, that is why we are calling on the council boss, Hon. Micah Jiba to plan for the youth before his tenure expires.

    “We know that in less than a year and six months from now, the present council administration led by Hon. Micah Jiba would round off, but, we do not want it to end without another government doing something reasonable for the youth of this council.

    “We are tired of been used and dump by politicians, after making unfulfilled promises. We believe that the present council boss is a good man and we are appealing that he should use his office to setup skills acquisition centre in one of the satellite towns or in the city centre,” he said.

    Secretary of the youth body, Comrade Shekwo Musa, also said that most of the youth in the council are jobless because of lack of employment, that when the skills acquisition centre is built, it would go a long way in empowering youth in the council.

  • NULGE gives ultimatum over arrears

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the six area council chairmen to pay the 20 per cent arrears owed staff or face indefinite industrial action.

    FCT NULGE President, Comrade Al-Hassan Abubakar and Secretary, Comrade Terry Henry Isaac, who spoke on behalf of the union at a joint press conference after the state Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the union secretariat in Gwagwalada, said the ultimatum has started.

    The union said the decision to issue the ultimatum became necessary after the six council chairmen failed to pay the council staff their 20 per cent arrears amounting to N155, 787,579.52 for one year.

    According to NULGE, it was at the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) on December 23, 2014, where six council chairmen were in attendance, in which the issue of the 20 per cent staff arrears was discussed.

    “There was a resolution which we have a letter to that effect at the plenary of the JAAC meeting concerning the staff monies which was written by the permanent secretary through ALGON to agree on the mode of payment of that monies with leadership of NULGE as earlier agreed, “ they said.

    NULGE noted that despite they had met severally with the leadership of ALGON, based on the report in which a committee was constituted to look the matter, in order to come up with modalities of paying the money, after the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed intervened and the union decided to suspend its 14 days ultimatum in October 2013, but, the council chairmen have fail to make any move to that regard.

    “Besides, an agreement was reached after the FCT minister, Bala Mohammed intervened that the money be paid in four installments, commencing from January 2014 and one year after, nothing has been done,” NULGE added.

    The union said it would inform the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, over inability of the ALGON in FCT and the council chairmen for failure to come to terms with agreement with NULGE one year after.

    “Failure of the six area council chairmen to pay this 20 percent staff arrears, the union would have no option than to embark on indefinite industrial action,” NULGE said.

     

  • When Jonathan gets angry

    The goings-on in the run-up to the elections must confound most Nigerians. Some aspects of President Goodluck Jonathan’s remarks while receiving a delegation of the Northern Elders Council (NEC) led by Tanko Yakassai at the Presidential Villa, last Wednesday, seemed not to have helped much.

    He was visibly angry with some unnamed elder statesmen whom he said were making provocative statements and want to set the country ablaze

    Jonathan said: “Some people call themselves statesmen but they are not statesmen; they are just ordinary politicians. For you to be a statesman, it is not because you have occupied a big office before but the question is what are you bringing to bear? Are you building this country? Or are you a part of people who tell lies to destroy this country to create enmity and make people who ordinarily would have been living together to fight themselves?”

    “Are you planning to set the country ablaze because you did not get that particular thing you want?”

    He went on: “At the appropriate time Nigerians will know all of us even though I know most of you know us but the younger ones do not know. Some people are hiding under some clogs, some big names and creating a lot of problems in this country.”

    “Making provocative statements in this country, statements that will set this country ablaze and you tell me you are a senior citizen. You are not a senior citizen you can never be, you are ordinary motor park tout.”

    “Because if you are a senior citizen you will act like one. It is not because of the offices we occupy, it is by divine grace and providence that some of us occupy these offices. But what role are you playing to build this country?” he queried

    An aspect of his remark which many Nigerians will be interested in knowing the answer is what the elder statesmen wanted from him, which he denied them and failed to disclose during the NEC’s delegation visit.

    Are the statesmen looking for contracts, oil wells or other benefits from the Presidency. Not too long ago, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, noted in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH that some visitors to Aso Rock come to beg for one thing or the other.

    To digress a bit, not all visitors to the Presidential Villa are normally seen by journalists on duty as some of them drive into the forecourt, close to the President’s office, in tinted glasses far away from the prying eyes of journalists.

    They could even visit the President’s residence late in the night when journalists must have closed for the day. Since journalists don’t live in the villa, they could only rely on sources to fill in the gaps on who and who came to the Villa during the dark hours.

    A part of Abati’s interview in Saturday PUNCH published on October 12, 2013 reads: “The same people (critics) will wish to be on this side, they will wish to be in government, and I see many of these same critical persons, perpetually hanging around government looking for this and that, practically begging, soliciting, hustling, but they go out there and pretend to be otherwise. But that is a story for another day. And their story shall be told someday,”

    The growing confusion among Nigerians would have been doused to some extend if the President last Wednesday had hit the nail on the head by mentioning the names of the statesmen that wanted to set the country ablaze.

    It would also have been better if he had gone further to disclose to the nation what the statesmen wanted from him which he denied them. Or better still, he should have maintained his style by keeping cool on the matter.

     

    Escaping mob attack

     

    What would have been absolutely impossible for many Nigerians to imagine, happened last Tuesday at  the Presidential Villa, a highly secured area.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students’ Matters, Jude Imagwe barely escaped being mobbed and robbed.

    It all started with the announcement made by the Master of Ceremony after President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation at the Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja.

    The MC had announced to the gathering that all members of the campaign organisation will meet at committee levels in the Banquet Hall of the State House by 4.00pm the same day.

    The announcement, however, made those who do not have business with the meetings to throng the car park of the Banquet hall as they kept vigil and waited to get their share of politicians’ largesse.

    It was already dark when Imagwe stepped out of the hall after his committee meeting came to an end.

    As he was heading to where he parked his car, some of the boys sighted him and approached him shouting “our able youth leader.”

    They followed him to his vehicle while Imagwe initially tried to dismiss them with a promise to see them another day.

    But the young men were adamant, as they held him hostage in his vehicle, insisting that he must ‘perform’.

    The youth told Imagwe that he had no choice other than to settle them, saying: “After all, na you be our youth leader.”

    Imagwe retorted angrily and warned them not to talk as if they were commanding him.

    Sensing that he won’t be able to leave without doing something for the boys, Imagwe brought out few N1000 notes and gave them.

    In order not to be surchanged, they scrambled for the money and fixed their gaze on it as it was being counted.

    That was the saving grace as Imagwe, who was almost choked by the crowd of angry youth surrounding him, started his car and sped off while the few N1000 notes still engaged their attention.

     

  • Council chief praised for building market

    Residents of Dutse Alhaji in Bwari Area Council have hailed the council administration led by Hon. Peter Yohanna for what they described as the bold steps taken to build a modern market after demolishing the old one.

    Mrs Agnes Ukachukwu, a resident of Dutse Alhaji said that the move by the chairman of the council to upgrade the market is really commendable, because the previous market was an eye-saw, that the ongoing ultramodern construction has given market trading a new meaning in the area.

    According to Ukachukwu, the construction of the ultralmodern market, which is still in progress, is an evidence that the council chairman feels the plight of the people and is doing everything possible to ensure that he fulfills the promise made to the people when he was campaigning for the office of the chairman.

    “I must say that we are proud of what is going on here in this market, we never thought that we will ever have such a modern market in Dutse Alhaji, because have heard so many promises without the government fulfilling them. So, this one is really a surprise, that means there is hope for us in this country,” she said.

    Ms. Glory Gimba, another resident explained that the ongoing upgrade of the market has given the entrance of Dutse Alhaji a new look, saying that the usual rowdy entrance to Dutse Alhaji has suddenly become well organised due to the standard of the market at the junction.

    “The present of the market has really shapen things here, mostly the entrance of the Dutse Alhaji which used to rowdy. The okada riders and street traders are no been put on check by the Police. I pray it continues this way for a long time. This is really a very good development and we appreciate the leadership of the council for it.

    “Initially, when they demolished the old market, we thought they just wanted to punish. But, we are surprise to see this standard market under construction right under our noses. We are really happy and we appeal to the council chairman to use his good heart to make the fees for the shops affordable to the common residents like us,” Gimba said.

     

  • Boko Haram can’t stop elections, says Eze Igbo

    Boko Haram cannot stop the 2015 general elections, especially in the Northeast, His Royal Highness, Eze Ibeh Nwosu, Eze Igbo 1 of Abuja, has said.

    He disclosed that series of meetings are on to ensure that the election is free and fair, advising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to think of postponing the ballot.

    The traditional ruler spoke in Abuja as politicians visited him to inform him of their interest to run for positions in the elections.

    Among those who visited the monarch was Mr Maxwell Opara, an Abuja-based legal practitioner and human rights activist, who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He is the party’s candidate for House of Representative, AMAC/Buwari Federal constituency.

    Eze Nwosu was optimistic that the Boko Haram sect could not unleash any worse terror on the country.

    He said, “This is a political era and top politicians are coming to inform me of their intention and to also seek my blessing. I gave many of them my word and prayed for them.

    “We are making efforts to ensure that the 2015 general election is peaceful; that is one of the most important things I am preaching. In all fairness, there is security; President Goodluck Jonathan is serious from the look of things to see that nothing goes wrong in 2015 and also to see that people are secure.

    “The insurgents can’t do more than this. The insurgents cannot stop 2015 election. It cannot be postponed. Plans are ongoing as scheduled. Nobody should think that there will be no election. There must be election constitutionally and there should be no going back.

    “As a traditional ruler I hold meetings here almost everyday to deliberate on security and how the 2015 election will be peaceful. We have been praying to God for a successful 2015 election and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has been assuring Nigerians of conducting a peaceful election. Election must be free and fair. INEC is better now in conducting elections compare to before.”

    Opara said: “I have also visited other traditional Rulers in Abuja for blessing and to make my political moves known. I have used my legal profession to assist FCT poeple and I know what they want and what is needed to be done. I have been able to stop government from carring out series of demolition exercise. I have also submitted some bills to the National Assembly on the FCT laws. I have also helped the FCT residents in educating them on their rights.”

  • Reviving long-term economic plan

    Governments’ development economic plans have protected their economies  through periods of certainty and uncertainty.

    Such economic plans allow a country to influence, direct, and control changes in principal economic variables such as investment, savings, consumption expenditures, exports, and imports, over a period of time in order to achieve a pre-determined set of goals.

    The development plans are often classified into four broad categories, including short-range plans, medium-range plans, long-range plans, and rolling plans.

    Nigeria has not been left out of this practice as it has in the past strictly followed various lengths of economic plans from pre-independence to the post-independence era.

    The first attempt at development planning in Nigeria was the Ten-Year Plan of Development and Welfare (1945- 1955) it was followed by the Second Pre-Independence National Development  Plan (1955 – 1960).

    Development plan in Nigeria, after indepedence include the First National Development Plan (1962-1968), the Second National Development Plan (1970-1974), the Third National Development Plan (1975-1980) and the Fourth National Development Plan (1981-1985). This was followed by the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the regime of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida.

    The national rolling plans in the country began with the First National Rolling Plan (1990-1992), the Second National Rolling Plan (1991-1993),  the Third National Rolling Plan (1993-1995), the Fourth National Rolling Plan (1994-1996) and the Fifth National Rolling Plan (1997-1999).

    But some economic analysts have identified many problems that mitigated against successful implementation of development plans in Nigeria over the years.

    The problems, according to them, include corruption, lack of feasibility studies and/or project analysis and effective coordination of development efforts, lack of suitable economic and political environment, lack of consultation and involvement of the local communities and the private sector in planning efforts and plan implementations.

    Other problems, they said, include shortage of specialised skills, dearth of reliable data, technical changes and unforeseen economic fortunes, lack of properly defined economic and social goals, over-ambitious estimates, balance of payments problems and the nature of international economic environment, and bureaucracy in the Government administrative machinery.

    These problems could have informed the decision of those adminstrations that avoided such economic plans and went ahead to run their government on emergency basis.

    But President Goodluck Jonathan, on the first day of this year, noted that such emergency plan has resulted in wobbling economy.

    Speaking at the New Year Service of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, he said: “For you to achieve anything, you must have a clear vision. Even if you look at what we have been doing as a nation, you will really see that before this time when the country used to have this 25 years plan, the budget was based on 25 years clear plan for the country. So you know where you are going for 25 years. Then it is broken down into 5 years plan and annual budget and we knew where we were going.”

    “But after sometimes, things collapsed and we run government on emergency basis and you see government start wobbling. We are going back to those good days when we have vision. We have plan for agriculture, we have plan for industry, we have plan for automobile and many other areas.” he added.

     

    Jonathan’s kinsmen and emblem

    Next week Thursday is the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrace Day, which is a day specially dedicated for remembering fallen heroes, their relations and injured soldiers.

    Towards supporting the relations of the deceased and the living heroes, President Goodluck Jonathan had last month launched the 2015 emblem to raise fund for the Nigerian Legion.

    Not only did Jonathan encouraged Nigerians to buy the emblem but he made it mandatory for members of his cabinet and visitors to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “I, personally, will put on the emblem from today till January 15, and in the State House it is a tradition that for you to come in from tomorrow, you must wear the emblem.’’ Jonathan stated

    The security officials manning the key entrances leading to the President’s office and residence have not failed to enforce the directive as it would be a miracle for anybody without the emblem to pass through such points.

    Jonathan’s kinsmen including royal fathers from Bayelsa State were not exempted from the directive when they came to wish him merry Christmas and happy New Year at Aso Rock last Tuesday.

    Apart from the normal security checks on Jonathan’s kinsmen at the gates, the security personnel had to make sure they were all hanging the emblem before heading to Jonathan’s residence.

    Since most of them did not come with the emblem from Bayelsa State, they had to quickly buy one to gain entrance.

    This is just one of the sales strategy for the emblem and it will really go a long way if all the proceeds from the emblem really get to the Nigerian Legion for the benefit of those who are entitled to it.

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Micah Gayya had complained during the launching in December that N75 million out of the N105 million pledged in 2013 for the emblem was yet to be received after over one year.

    Hear him: “The saddest thing is that these pledges are made in the pubic eye leaving us with no avenue to tell the world that such pledges have not been redeemed. We call with loud voice on those who did not redeem their pledges to honourably do so.”

    “We had our Legion Humanitarian Day on 27 November 2014 during which we empowered widows and gave bursary to the children of the fallen heroes. Our emphasis was on the victims of the current insurgency operation in the country especially those who are yet to be paid their benefits.”

    “We lost over 100 members to the current insurgency in the Northeast and the affected families are in dare need of help.” he stated.

    It is really hoped that this year will be different for the Nigerian Legion.

     

  • ‘Nigeria needs prayers’

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has urged Muslims and Christians to pray for the country as the 2015 election approaches.

    He also asked Nigerians to pray for peace and continued unity of the nation.

    The Minister gave the advice in his Maulud Nabiu message.

    Mohammed admonished Muslims to reflect on the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, which is primarily premised selflessness, sacrifice, patience, modesty and spirituality.

    He urged Muslims to adhere to the scardinal principle of peace.

    The Minister noted that the celebration that marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad calls for sober reflection and spiritual rejuvenation, as the Prophet has remained a role model worthy of emulation for all generations.

    His words: “As you pray for the nation, I enjoin you to also pray for its leadership, for God to continue give and protect guide, to President Goodluck Jonathan the strength and the wisdom to steer the affairs of the country”.

    The Minister assured that the FCT Administration would continue to guarantee the security of the lives and property of all residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He, however, enjoined residents to always report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents.

  • Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency

    Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency

    It is difficult trying to survive without one’s parents…It is our prayer that the insurgency in the Northeast will soon be a thing of the past and the areas affected would be rebuilt.”

    This was the prayer of Master Abdullahi Mohammed, a primary school pupil who lost his father to insurgency attack.

    Mohammed was one of the pupils who largely depend on humanitarian support from Support Our Troops Foundation.

    He continued: “Laying down one’s life in the interest of one’s nation is largely regarded as a national honour and we pray that their labour put in while containing the insurgents will not go in vain. We pray that their souls continue to rest in peace. May the almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest.”

    Mohammed’s voice wavered as he said that prayer on behalf of other children whose fathers also died while fighting Boko Haram insurgents. It was clear they need help.

    Madam Patience Atekhide also lost her husband last year to the unrest in the Northeast. Her husband was in the military. Since then, she has trying hard to take care of her two female children. She hails from Edo State.

    Succour has come her way, as the military responded.

    About 150 bags of rice, 300 branded school bags, 1,000 books and 50 computers were given to all the children and widows by Support Our Troops Foundation. The late soldiers were indeed heroes who died for a good cause in line of duty.

    The event was put together to support the victims’ family especially, children of military personnel who died in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.

    The widows got bags of rice and other relief materials. Prior to this period, another beneficiary who did not want her name in print said the military had shown much love by offering them clothing materials, groundnut oil, bags of rice among others. Meanwhile, the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which embarks on this initiative was initiated by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, supported by the Defence Minister, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau but founded by Mrs. Funmi Ogbue to cater for the needs of these people left behind by their father.

    While the beneficiaries commended the foundation for the gesture, Ogbue emphasised the need to support the vulnerable group. She stated that it was the vision of the foundation to create a national culture of pride, patriotism and belief in the brave people who make up the nation’s Armed Forces – and to see that pride demonstrated in the practical support it offer them.

    When it was time for the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, represented by Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade to give his speech, he sought the opportunity to restore hope of the deceased families. He was particular about providing every needed support to motivate the military and their family. To him, generousity of the founder was one that has backing of the entire red brass in the military. His appreciation appeared insufficient when he called other corporate organisations and individuals to support the initiative. “I will like to appreciate this expression as it is coming at a time that our children are beginning to prepare for school. There are families that are either victims or involved in curtailing the activities of terrorists. We are aware that the federal government has a package to address the situation of victims, to see this as directly supporting our troops.

    “We sincerely appreciate it and identify with it. I can only give a commitment on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff that we will continue to encourage not just the activity to support our troops but all Nigerians who will like to express their supports for our troops in a trying period such as we are going through.”

    The gathering, which had in attendance other top military officers served as an opportunity to rekindle spirit of the men and women in uniform. Badeh restated his commitment assuring the people that the ‘Nigerian military is committed to ensuring that it does not disappoint this nation in a crucial time such as this.’ “All we need from Nigerians are understanding and supports for us to achieve our constitutional mandates of ensuring the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the Nigerian citizens wherever they are found in the world.”

    A beneficiary who did not want her name in print described the gesture as ‘very nice’ and reasonably good. However, she implored the military to endeavour to assist in paying tuition fees of their children. According to her, the military has done excellent job by providing them with foods among other needs but the future of their wards, she said was much more important. “They promised us that they will pay for the school fees of our children. Like mine, it happened last year. Up until now, I am the one trying to pay the fees. I have never seen their support for the school fees.” Asked if deliberate efforts were made to contact the appropriate authority, she said, “I have been to the army headquarters more than twice but they promised to pay the fees by next year.”

    The Former Defence Minister, Obanikoro thrilled the gathering with words of motivation. He enlightened the public on immense sacrifices made by the military to ensure safety and unity of the nation. The sacrifice, he emphasised should be replicated by supporting their wives and children they left behind.

    “This gesture is to show an expression of love, appreciation and recognition for men and women in uniform, those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our nation Nigeria. When I conceived this idea, I invited Mrs. Ogbue to come up with programmes to achieve this aim, she has not disappointed me.

    “This support for the military is something that is embedded in the innermost part of me. It comes naturally because service to humanity itself is the best service you can render anywhere in the world. But when you are now prepared to support rendering of that service with your life, then you have taken it to another level completely.”

    ”I salute those who have lost their lives to ensure that this great country remains a stable and progressive society. I want to say with more emphasis that those fallen heroes must always be celebrated. That Nigeria is stable, that we are progressive to a reasonable extent is the work that these men and women are doing in every part of the country. We Nigerians need to encourage them by giving blind support. We appreciate you and we love you.”

  • Indigenous people urged to fight marginalisation

    Indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Greater Gbagyi Development Initiatives (GG-DIN) have stressed the imperatives of unity and fighting marginalisation.

    Prince Gimba Gbaiza, President of GG-DIN, who spoke on behalf of the organisation at its annual convention in Abuja, said that the aim of the convention was to assess the impact of the struggle for the liberation of Gbagyi people to determine whether it has succeeded or not.

    According to Gbaiza, the convention was also to speak about the unity of FCT indiginenes in actualizing their desired goals, saying that FCT indigenes have been suffering marginalization in the hands of government for a very long time.

    “Unfortunately, we are still experiencing marginalization in the FCT. We are saying that by the grace of God, as other states indigenes are benefiting from the state and federal government, we the indigenes of the FCT, should also be benefiting in the FCT and the federal government.

    “Inasmuch as we are concerned, the government is still marginalizing our people, because other states of Nigeria have three to five senators and more members in the House of Assembly. But, in the FCT, we have one senator and two House of Representatives members.

    “We are also appealing to the government to always to carry along traditional rulers and indigenous youth associations in the FCT, to see how we can move the people forward. We need to reach out to our political office holders and make them more responsible to fight for the plight of indigenous people of the FCT,” he said.

    GG-DIN Head of Operations, Baba Elisha, also explained that they are using the convention to let the people and government know that the spirit for the fight for freedom is still in GG-DIN, urging FCT indigenes that whatever has been taken from them by government, they should not resolve to self help or violence.

    “We are doing everything possible to liase with relevant authorities to alleviate the plight of people of the FCT. We are using the convention to let the people know that the government in power is willing to listen to our plight that self help will not work, rather, it will only destroy us,” he said.

    Alhaji Musa Barde, the Hakimi of Galadimawa, who was present at the convention commended GG-DIN for the struggle, saying that would encourage FCT indigenes on how to take care of their culture, that despite the globalization going on in the country, they should not forget their culture.

  • Shelter for widows coming

    The Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation is working on a project aimed at providing housing units for widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    This is even as 200 widows who completed a training programme in the various skills acquisition projects of the foundation received N20,000 each to start small-scale businesses. Also, over 2,000 widows received free medical treatment, a bag of rice each and other materials to celebrate Christmas.

    The Founder of the foundation, Evangelist Ignatius Newman Ezeigbo disclosed this during the organisation’s empowerment and Christmas celebration programme for widows in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs weekend in Abuja.

    He said the housing units will accommodate some of the widows who either do not have a place of their own or live under dehumanising conditions.

    Newman said the foundation was also working on a programme aimed at expanding its policy of sponsoring the children of widows in primary and secondary schools.

    While calling on the Federal Government to enact a law that will help protect the rights of widows in the country, he said over 6,000 widows have benefited from the various skills acquisition programmes of the foundation valued at 23 million naira to date , besides free medical treatments, food items and other projects initiated by the foundation.

    According to him, “The afore mentioned foundation came into being as a result of my passion and overwhelming desire to give succour to widows in different parts of the country.

    “I am always highly elated and my heart feels the kind of joy that knows no bounds whenever I am able to create leeway for these widows who are going through various misfortunes, struggling to eke out a living to wriggle out of terrible, pathetic and dehumanising situations and circumstances of life. The foundation is an avenue for giving hope to the hopeless.

    “My greatest joy is to always see these women happy, and whenever they are happy, I am fulfilled. For me, it is a rare privilege and delight to put smile on the faces of these precious women whenever I am in a position to do so especially, in this present economic situation of the country”.

    A beneficiary of the Foundation’s previous empowerment programmes, Judith Dzungwe said she invested her empowerment money and materials in poultry farming and has been using the proceeds from the business in training her children in the university. Earlier, the Abuja Coordinator of the foundation, Blessing Orji said previously they just give the widows money to go and start businesses but since this year they always train them in one skill or the other before giving them start off capital. She said during the International Widows Day on June 23rd this year about 200 widows from Abuja were trained on tailoring while 400 were trained on catering adding that those who learnt tailoring were empowered with sewing machines, half of the caterers received empowerment materials while the remaining half received theirs at the weekend. She called on Nigerians to assist widows around them saying one does not really need much to help them as little as N10,000 can make a different in their lives.