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Tag: widows

  • Elshaddai Church lifts widows

    No fewer than 100 widows smiled home last Christmas with a bag of rice and vegetable oil during a empowerment summit by Elshaddai Covenant Ministries in New Oko Oba, Lagos.

    The summit was part of initiatives by the church to alleviate the hardship facing many of the widows.

    The General Overseer of the Church, Dr James Iruobe, encouarged the widows not to give up hope.

    God, he stated, was interested in helping them navigate through the path of life of greatness.

    According to him: “Don’t give up on hope; don’t give up on life. There is so much God has in store for you.

    “Your life can shine again and radiate the glory of God because it is not over for you. Life still has so much to offer you now and always.”

    He enjoined the widows to give their all to God, assuring that their lives would never remain the same again.

    Iruobe said the church decided to empower the widows during the commemoration of the birth of Jesus to underscore the love of God for them.

    “God loves you. He wants you to believe in Him. He means well. That is why He sent Jesus. If you embrace Jesus, I assure that life will take the best turn for you,” he stressed.

    When he requested for widows willing to accept Jesus, many hands went up.

    Iruobe later led ministers of the church to minister healing and deliverance to the widows.

    He vowed that the church will stand by them through several other interventions that will unfold with them.

  • NGO makes widows happy in Enugu

    NGO makes widows happy in Enugu

    Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Cari-ng Heart Foundation has made 20 indigent widows happy in Enugu State.

    The widows who were drawn from two local government areas of Ibeagwa-Agu and Nimbo in Nsukka and Uzo-Uwani  were promised cash donations that will give them a means of livelihood.

    While presenting the gift items, Mrs. Joy Agbo, President of the foundation in a remark, said their objective is to help orphans, widows and elderly people in the society to alleviate their sufferings and give them a sense of belonging.

    “We are eight women friends that formed this NGO, our objective is to assist indigent widows, orphans and elderly people who have nobody to care for them in Nsukka senatorial district.

    “We are women married in Nsukka and we are living with our husbands in Lagos, this charity oriented foundation gives succor to those who have nobody to look after them.

    “It’s not that we have excess money but we want to use the little we have to put smiles on faces of widows, orphans and elderly, “she said.

    She said that she had one to one talk with benefitting widows and what they said they needed was money to farm to enable them to get something to eat as well as take care of their families.

    ‘Before March this year when farming will start, the foundation will send some amount of money through a volunteer member of the foundation from the local government.

    According to, Mrs Amaka Ugwu, Secretary of the foundation, non-refundable cash donations will be made available to the widows which we will monitor to ensure that the money was used judiciously.

    “When the foundation gives out the money to the widows, we will monitor the use through our volunteers to know if the money is correctly put into use.

    ”You know most times when you give this money to the beneficiaries they may channel it to some other things other than what it was meant for.

    Ugwu said two months ago, the foundation gave some gift items to some orphans that today was the turn of widows adding that in the next three months it would be the turn of elderly people.

    ‘We ensure this charity work is not concentrated in a particular local government by ensuring we select beneficiaries from different LGs that made up the zone, ‘she said

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Mary Ezema said she lacked words to express the happiness in her heart, but pray God to bless the foundation for coming to their rescue.

    “We have nothing to pay them back but only God  will reward them on the year gift and promised to send money to enable us buy farmland and hire labourers ,’she said

    A women leader in Ibegwa Aka community, Mrs. Joy Ezea, who witnessed the event commended the foundation for coming all the way from Lagos to help indigent widows and prayed God to help the foundation in their own point of need.

    “God will surely reward this foundation for remembering the poor in the society, “she said.

  • 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.

  • Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows

    Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows

    It was a happy and joyous Sallah for widows in Oyo State as the wife of the governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, hosted to a party and donated cash and other items to them. TAYO JOHNSON was there.

    in her bid to alleviate the sufferings of widows in our society, the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi has empowered no fewer than 1000 widows in the state under her Ajumose Widowhood Initiative programme.

    At the empowerment programme held at the Tennis court, government house during the recent Sallah celebration, the widows were selected from four different groups in the state and were given cash price, foods and other materials.

    The widows’ home includes; Christian Care for Widows, Channels for Widow Health Centre, Widows Care Centre and Dream Alive Concept.

    According to Mrs Ajimobi, the programme was  thoughtfully designed to coincide with this year’s Sallah celebration.

    “We thought it necessary that we should always put smiles on the faces of a very important group of vulnerable people in the society- the widows. This is not the first time that this government will be extending its hand of love to the widows in the State.

    “You will recall that in the year 2011, at the inception of this administration led by His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi, two of the earliest activities embarked upon by my office were the opening of mini-clinics for the aged and widows in all the 33 local government areas of the State as well as the flag-off of the widowhood support programme, also in all the local governments areas.

    “Also in May 2013, in commemoration of the second year anniversary of this administration, there was also an empowerment programme which was specially organised for the aged and widows. This goes to show how dear widows are to the heart of this administration and how germane it is to us to see that they are well catered for. Widows are the embodiment of the struggles and travails of womanhood and I would like our widows to know that this administration does not undermine your importance” She stated

    The governor’s wife said the present administration in the state recognises the peculiarity of the situations of the widows, and is more than committed to continue to give them (widows) the necessary support in order to ensure that they are saved from the stigma that is usually associated with widowhood in the country.

    She lamented that:”Traditionally, widowhood is seen as a curse and a burden and the death of the breadwinner usually translates into the ‘death’ of his family.  The plight of widows is thus indeed very pitiful. Many widows and their children are kicked out of their homes, forced to live in abject poverty on the fringes of society, and are prey to abuse, violence and sexual exploitation.”

    Mrs Ajimobi urged all Nigerians to rise to support and empower the widows in their midst, stressing that they must be given the opportunity to live again.

    She enjoined all sundry in the state to keep supporting the government of Governor Ajimobi “as you always have and let us work together to make our dearly beloved Oyo State great again”, urging the people of the state to ensure continuity of the administration.

    In her appreciation message on behalf of the widows, Dr Joan Agunloye thanked Mrs Ajimobi for her kind gesture towards them, praying God to grant Governor Ajimobi second term in office for continued transformation of the state.

  • Akpabio’s wife lifts 60 widows

    Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, last Sunday touched the lives of  60  poor widows. She also donated to three churches in the state .

    Mrs Akpabio in company donated N7.620 million in cash to the three churches visited and 60 set of wrappers to 60 the widows.

    At St. John’s Parish, Catholic Church, Okobo, Okopedi-Okobo Local Government Area, the governor’s wife donated N1 million. She also gave 20 set of wrappers and N10, 000 each to 20 poor widows in the church.

    At the St Joseph’s Quasi Parish, a Catholic church, Eyongete, Udung Uko Local Government Area, where she was referred to as an ‘answer to prayer” by the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Unyime Akpan, she gave the church N3 million. She also coordinated her entourage and additional N2.320 million was realised, making N5.320 million for the church. Mrs Akpabio also gave 20 set of wrappers and N10, 000 each to 20  poor widows in the church.

    At St Patrick Quasi Catholic Church, Obio Ndot, Abak Local Government Area, the governor’s wife, after announcing the donation of an 18-seater bus for evangelisation by her husband, Governor Godswill Akpabio, she made a personal donation of N200, 000 for fuelling of the bus. She also gave 20 set of wrappers and N10, 000 each to 20 very poor widows in the church.

    She urged the people of Abak which form part of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to support her husband, who has indicated interest to represent them at the Senate from 2015.

  • Photos: Party with Oyo widows

    Photos: Party with Oyo widows

  • HDI supports widows,ophans children

    HDI supports widows,ophans children

    A Non Governmental Organisation, Human Development Initiative (HDI) has donated educational materials to children of widows in Lagos State.

    The donation was made recently during the organisation’s launching of its Empowerment Trust Fund for Education of Orphans/widow’s children in Lagos.

    The support materials included; two sets of school uniforms, pairs of government socks, pair of school sandals, 15 exercise books, tie, beret, math set, core subject textbooks and government approved associated costs or fees.

    Chairman of HDI-ETF, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye said the trust fund gives soft loans of not more than N50,000 at 10% interest rate to beneficiaries through widow support groups/cooperatives. He also said Happy and Sad boxes were placed in partner schools to have an insight on what makes students happy or sad. The information collected is analysed for response and intervention programmes.

    Criteria for selection of beneficiaries include; HDI’s relationship with public school’s through monitoring and counselling programmes, letters of introduction/nomination and application forms sent to school principals and widow groups which have to have; two recent passports, father’s death certificate and last class result.

    A beneficiary of the programme, Christiana Omaseye who used to hawk pure water thanked the organisers for the educational support.

    Special guests at the occasion included the Chairman, Chief Michael Olorunfemi, Rev Azuka Ogbolumani of Chapel of Christ Our Light, UNILAG, Dr Kehinde Ayenibiowo, of the department of Psychology, UNILAG, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, Ministry of Women Affairs, Lagos state and Mr Sam Femi Folarinyo who represented principals of Lagos Mainland schools.

  • Anambra widows fault Jonathan’s wife

    Widows in Anambra State have accused the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, of deceiving them with an empowerment programme she organised last weekend.

    Mrs Jonathan was in Anambra State last weekend for a rally at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, where she reportedly promised to distribute some items to them.

    But at the end of the rally, the widows said the First Lady did not fulfil her promise.

    The rally, tagged: Southeast Empowerment Programme, was organised by Prince Arthur Eze to garner support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.

    Mrs Jonathan and the organiser, a frontline businessman, were said to have assembled various items to be distributed to the widows.

    The items included grinding machines, garri processing machines, soap, sewing machines, hair driers, bags of rice and beans.

    Over 10,000 widows from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states were said to have attended the rally.

    Deputy governors from of Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Delta states and top politicians from the region also attended the rally.

    But the widows accused Mrs Jonathan and the organisers of playing politics with the programme.

    According to them, the items were meant for politician’s wives and not widows.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Awka, the leader of the concerned widows, Mrs. Hope Nwandu, noted that although Eze had a good intention, the organisers of the programme allegedly used it to enrich themselves.

    She said none of the widows got an item, although  most of them left their homes as early as 7am and remained there till 10pm.

    The spokeswoman alleged that since the items were taken to local government headquarters by some people, nothing had been heard about them.

    “Why should they use widows to play politics when they knew that it was not real? Those fronted as widows are politicians. Anybody who ridicules widows is bound to have problems. It is even in the Holy Bible. You should not use widows for political propaganda because when widows cry out to God, the wrath of God will descend on those involved,” Mrs Nwandu said.

    Another widow, Mrs. Nkechi Oguelina, alleged that those assigned to share the items were to blame.

    It was learnt that the governor’s wife, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, once ordered that the items should be taken to the Governor’s Lodge at Amawbia.

    The directive angered the widows and they were said to have protested the move.

    The coordinators allegedly shared the items among themselves.

    Mrs Oguelina said the items given to Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu states were well handled, adding that it was only those for Anambra widows that had a problem.

    Another widow, Mrs. Florence Obiefuna, picked holes with the programme.

    She said: “We hired two 608 buses to Awka because they invited us. All the widows paid for their fare and some of them are on my neck to refund their money. Where will I get the money to pay them when it is difficult for me to feed my family?

    “Imagine, we were at Alex Ekwueme Square from 6.30am to 10.30pm without anything given to us. Even the gift items promised us have not been delivered.

    “They told us they would be shared on the basis of the local governments. But those asked to coordinate the programme are sharing the items among themselves, especially the politicians, who took up to three different items,” Mrs Obiefuna said.

  • Foundation lifts widows, orphans in Imo

    Foundation lifts widows, orphans in Imo

    A part from his professional job of crackdown on criminals and ensuring safety of lives and property of the people, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, AbdulMajid Ali has other traits unknown to many.

    That he has a soft spot of the poor  may not be known to the public except to close friends and relations.

    To help drive their philanthropic activities, the Imo State police boss and his wife, Hajia Idiat Ali, established the Majidat Ali (M.J.) Foundation in memory of their late daughter, Majidat who died at the age of 17 in 2005.

    In collaboration with the Imo State chapter of the Police Officers’ Wives’ Association (POWA), they provided succour for orphans, indigent widows and other vulnerable people.

    Scholarships were also awarded to orphans who had lost hope of continuing their education, while empowerment packages, ranging from sewing machines, power generating sets, grinding machines, bags of rice and money, were given to the beneficiaries.

    The Commissioner of Police said: “I feel pain when I see widows and orphans suffer. I often ask myself, what if it was my child who didn’t have parents and is in need of comfort.”

    He said his family decided to reduce the level of poverty among the families of former police officers in commemoration of her late daughter’s philanthropic gesture which she embarked upon until she died at the age of 17, adding that his family had kept faith with the promise of keeping the dream of their late daughter alive.

    “It’s something I have been doing for a very long time in all the states I have been to. This year’s edition took place in Imo because I’m here.

    “If my daughter were to be alive, she would have been very happy because this is the kind of thing she used to do before her death; helping the less privileged.  We will not forsake them but will continue to encourage them so that they may not lose hope in life.”

    Appreciating the agony which widows and orphans undergo as a result of the death of their breadwinners, Ali said the programme was meant to assure them that his family and the entire police community also share in their agony.

    He said: “We are telling our brothers, sisters, daughters and wives that we are still part of them. It is just for them to understand that we feel for them; so that they can have that sense of belonging. They are still part of us and we will never abandon them. I seize this opportunity to let them know that they should come to us; they should let us know what is happening because we must still care for them because we are still members of the same police family.

    “Whatever we do is a demonstration of our being part of them and sharing in their feelings.”

    He thanked the people of the state, especially politicians and businessmen, for their huge support to the foundation, even as he urged them to continue to lend a helping hand to the less-privileged in the society.

    Corroborating her husband’s position Idiat said: “What we have done is what my late daughter liked to do when she was alive. We are doing this to make her happy wherever she is and to make other less-privileged people happy.

    “It is our belief in POWA that our women can start a new life with the materials, and make their ends meet. The Federal Government should always remember the police, especially their families because that is the way it is done abroad.”

    Some of the beneficiaries praised the police boss and his family for giving them a new lease of life.

    Mrs. Caroline Iheme, who spoke on behalf of the over 50 widows, said: “When my husband died 14 years ago, things became so difficult for me and my children so much so that feeding became difficult. It is only the grace of God that has sustained us all these years. There was no money for me to start any business and nobody was available or willing to help me or give me any kind of job.

    “This made me have some reservations about God’s omnipotence as He allowed my husband to die in his early stage of life and left us suffering. That my cry was heard by God and he came through the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ali and his wife, Hajia Idiat to lift me and my family from poverty. So, I’m thanking God for using them to rescue me.”

    Another beneficiary, an orphan, Chukwudi Amaechi, said: “With this scholarship, the Commissioner of Police has just given my life a meaning. This is because I had lost admissions on two occasions because there was nobody to assist in paying even my acceptance fee.

    “My parents died few years ago, leaving nobody to help me. But today, my dream of being a man is coming to fulfilment with this scholarship. I am eternally grateful to the CP and his wife.”

  • Home for 131 widows in Imo

    Home for 131 widows in Imo

    The lives of 131 indigent widows in Imo State will never be the same again. Gone are their pains, frustration and reproach. The joy of the women, who hitherto were homeless, knew no bounds when they suddenly woke up to become proud owners of well-furnished two-bedroom apartments, under the pet project of the wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nneoma Nkechinyere Okorocha.

    According to Mrs. Okorocha, the project christened She Needs a Roof Project (SNARP), which is in line with the Rescue Mission Agenda of the state government, was designed to ensure that at least one indigent widow in each of the 27 local government areas gets a one or two-bedroom apartment, depending on the size of her family.

    According to the governor’s wife, the project seeks to provide shelter for the poor families who live in shanties across the state. This aims at giving them a sense of belonging.

    At the end of the first phase of the project, some indigent widows were provided with decent houses.  One of the lucky beneficiaries is a 56-year-old widow, Mrs. Rose Nwachukwu from Ogwuokwu community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.

    Left to cater for her family of six, Mrs. Nwachukwu lived in a decrepit structure that was barely habitable until the SNARP team discovered her during their tour of the local government area. Now, she is a proud owner of a fully furnished three-bedroom bungalow.

    Speaking during the hand-over of the building, the frail-looking widow who broke down in tears, said: “I still can’t believe that this is happening to me. I never thought I could one day live in a decent house, let alone owning a modern bungalow.

    “I cannot recount all that I went through living in that mud house since my husband died. The pains and reproach were unimaginable. Some people labeled me a witch, while many others avoided me and my children because of our level of poverty. But today, everything has changed and I am grateful to God and wife of our governor for rescuing me.”

    Another beneficiary, a 49-year-old widow, Mrs. Agnes Keke, from Umudurueke in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, who almost took her life after her mud house caved in, now lives in a three-bedroom bungalow with all modern appliances that make life comfortable.

    For a 65-year-old widow, Mrs. Regina Opara, from Umuchioke in Ikeduru Local Government Area who lost her husband and three children at the same time, owning a building of her own still seemed illusory.

    “I lack words to describe how I feel owning a house. I became contented with the challenges of living in this decrepit mud house for years, having resigned to fate. But, today, I am free and I don’t have to be afraid each time it is about to rain.

    “I am happy to witness this day. I will die a fulfilled person. I just can’t thank our governor’s wife enough. I pray God to bless and reward her and her family,” she said.

    Another of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Stella Nworisha, a 31-year-old widow from Umugba community in Isu Local Government Area, has a pathetic story to tell. She said, she and her seven children, was squatting with a neighbour after the mud house she inherited from her husband was washed away by erosion. She now lives in her own two bedroom bungalow built by Mrs. Okorocha.

    Inaugurating some of the buildings at Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, Governor Rochas Okorocha described the initiative as a right step towards eradication of poverty, which, he said, the government is committed to.

    He said the initiative was another way of appreciating the people, especially the less-privileged for their support for his administration in the last governorship election.

    Briefing reporters at the end of the first phase of the project, Mrs. Okorocha restated her determination to assist indigent widows through the project.

    She noted that a total of 131 poverty-ridden widows had so far received well furnished two-bedroom bungalows. She said her office had spent N391 million on the buildings.

    The governor’s wife further explained that as part of strategies to ensure that the project was not hijacked by politicians, an independent investigating team had been put in place to tour the 27 local government areas to find out those in need of shelter.

    She said: “There is no discrimination or favouritism in the implementation of SNARP because no government fun-ctionary is involved in it. It is clearly on merit.”

    She said funds for the execution of the project were personal funds, with volunt-ary donations from interested individuals as complements, adding that the project would be sustained after her tenure.

    She said: “My office does not receive allocation from the state government. I channel the little I have to solving the problems of the poor and the downtrodden. My husband has been involved in philanthropic activities as a result of his covenant with God. When he won the Imo State gubernatorial election in 2011, I got a better platform to continue with the humanitarian services my family has been known for.”