The Computer Village in Ikeja Lagos State is popular for one thing. It is the hub of electronics in the Western part of Nigeria, even as the Alaba International Market Ojo, also in Lagos is also well known for electrical and electronics which traders from outside the country patronise.
But last week, the Computer Village seemed overstretched as a result of more people that visited it that day, in addition to the normal heavy human traffic that has become its feature.
That day, women, especially widows and their children were there in their numbers on the invitation of the Happy Moment for Widows and Children Foundation (HMWCFO), a non-governmental organisation (NGO). The NGO had invited them to interact and fete with them.
That day was a day of celebration for many of the widows and their children when a fellow widow, Princess Yeolade Adetona, founder of Happy Moment for Widows and Children Foundation (HMWCFO), extended love to them.
They could not hide their delights. They danced, played games, listened to motivational talks, ate and drank. They were also given food items including sugar, salt, groundnut oil, tin-tomatoes and matches, among others.
According to Princess Adetona, it was not the first time she had carried out such gesture, even as she promised to do much more for widows and their children both in Lagos State and beyond.
She said the gesture was borne out her zeal to make widows and their children happy.
Princess Adetona said: “Today’s programme is all about widows and their children. The country’s economy is in a shambles and many people are suffering.
“I am a widow; I lost my husband to a plane crash in 2007; we were together for 15 years. I know what it takes to be a widow, it is not easy. I have gone through a lot and that is why I established the foundation.
“The aim is to put smiles on the faces of widows, their children and orphans, and to empower them and encourage them to face the future with hope.
“Many of them feel all hopes are lost and I am here to let them know that they still have hope. I don’t want to see them cry, I want to see them happy. I pray God takes me up so that I can do more.”
She said the widows and their children received food stuffs including sugar, salt, groundnut oil, tin-tomatoes and matches among other things.
“They have also eaten several delicacies and drinks. They had dancing competition, and the winners received gifts. They are all happy,” she said.
The founder of the organisation revealed that the NGO has plans to provide accommodation for some of the widows and their children.
“The accommodation that the organisation plans to establish will be home for widows and their children. They would also have the opportunity to learn several vocations, including fashion design and hairdressing, to enable them to be empowered and make life meaningful for them.
“I have to do this because when I lost my husband in a plane crash, I had problem with accommodation. I was living from one place to another; there was a time I slept in my car for two days with my children because we had nowhere to stay,” she said.
She, however, said she was yet to get over the death of her husband, noting that God has been faithful.
She urged widows to have hope in God. “What I am doing here today resulted from my placing my hope in God. I have four children and God has been faithful. I am reaching out to widows to tell them that they still have hope.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mojisola Ajiroba said the gesture will relieve some of them of the burden of caring for the families alone.
“What we widows are passing through is terrible; from handling the kids, feeding and to send them to school is never easy for us,” she said.
She said the programme has helped them to know that they need to depend on God to help them train the children.
“I thank Princess Adetona because without her we will not be here today. She has showed us that she cares for us; she remembers what we are passing through.” She said.
She urged government to remember widows and their children, noting that what they are going through is much for them to bear.
“We suffer a lot and we have many problems. If government can help us, they will wipe our tears, alleviate our suffering and life will be better for us,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Kate Okoye, described the programme as good and life-changing. She said Princess Adetona has made them become hopeful, made them have a sense of belonging.
“She has touched our lives in a positive way. She has made us to realise that to be responsible for the upkeep of our children and ourselves is not the end of life; she urged us to move on and remain strong.
“I can only plead that government should support her; she is good, she makes us happy, she touches lives, she made us not to feel that we are hopeless. This is what government is meant to do but government cannot do it alone. So, government should assist her.
“We all left our wares to be here to feel happy. It is one thing to be happy; it is another thing to sell our wares. Happiness is more important than any other thing, because when you are happy, you have every other thing you need in life. I pray God will bless and grant her long life,” she said.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr Agboola Dabiri, represented by Mojisola Abiola, said the ministry is ready to support the foundation.
“The state government has several programmes for widows and children, which has brought positive impact on them. The Child Development Department in the ministry has been equipped to protect and enforce the rights of children in various ways. The department organises different programmes that was aimed at enlightening the public on various ways to prevent child abuse. We have also put in place several legal and social policy frameworks that would ensure the protection of the rights of children at every stage in life,” he said.