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Tag: widows

  • ‘Widows should cultivate self-help attitude’

    Widows have been urged not to wallow in self-pity, but to engage in productive ventures that will ameliorate their plight thereby making them self-reliant. “One attitude that is common among widows is self-pity”.

    Pastor Amenu Ajuluchukwu-Bielonwu gave the advice during this year’s end-of-year get-together of the Glorious Women of Faith, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to catering for the welfare of widows in society.

    Ajuluchukwu-Bielonwu, who is the founder of the group, said about 500 widows came together this year to thank God for taking care of them this year. During the event, 10 of the widows were empowered.

    Ajuluchukwu-Bielonwu, who is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), said: “We’ve been empowering 30 widows every year since 2004. This year, we could not go beyond 10, because of our dwindling financial resources.

    “Each of them was presented with a cooler and two crates of soft drinks. We believe with the cooler and the drinks, they could go into business of selling minerals and water. They could also cook food, put it in the cooler and sell. These are the simplest form of businesses a widow could go into.”

    She said it could be traumatic when one wakes up to the reality that the husband with whom one had dreams about the future of one’s immediate family is no more.

    The woman who lost her husband in 1995, after only three years of marriage, said many widows face challenges because of the way they are treated by relatives after the death of their husbands, based on the country’s socio-cultural and religious norms.

    Pastor Ajuluchukwu-Bielonwu said she was inspired to start doing something to assist widows after the experience she had in the late 1990s.

     

  • Group distributes food to widows, others

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Humanity Development Initiative (HDI), will distribute foodstuffs to widows and the destitute in Lagos State on December 1, its President, Dr Uloma Ojei, said yesterday .

    In this country, especially in Lagos, there are people who can barely feed themselves like widows and the destitute. This is why we are distributing foodstuffs. They should come to our office at 9, Isaac Okomu Street, Gafari Balogun, Ogudu, Lagos, between 9am and 3pm on December 1 and they will be given foodstuffs.

    “These foodstuffs will last for a month and they are free to come back in January to collect again.

    “Any philanthropist who wants to assist us can contact us at our office because we cannot do it alone,” Ojei said.

  • Defence, police officers’ wives lift widows, youths in Ibadan

    Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) has empowered over 200 persons, including 98 widows,  in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The event was preceded by a two-week training in tie and dye, tailoring, barbing , bag and shoe making, make-up and gele tying,  beads stringing and production and fashion designing among others.

    The beneficiaries smiled as they expressed joy after receiving the equipment and accessories donated to them by the association to assist to them startup businesses.

    The association disclosed that over 200 women and youth from Akure , Ondo State benefitted from the empowerment  programme.

    The programme titled “Empowered for Life “ has rendered assistance to hundreds of youths and women in many parts of the country.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the trainees held at the Letmauck Cantonment Soldiers’ Club Mokola, Ibadan, the National President of the association and  wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, Omobolanle said the only antidote to social unrest was the provision of gainful employment for women and youth.

    She added: “Until our women and youths are provided with gainful employment, peace would difficult to attain.”

    Electricity generating sets, grinding machine, leather materials, sewing machines, barbing accessories, and make-up materials were presented to the beneficiaries.

    Mrs. Olorunisakin said: “This empowerment programme tagged ‘Empowered for life’ has equipped participants with knowledge, skills and values that will make them productive, constructive and peaceful members of our society. And at the same time being resilience to any form of abuse, radicalism and extremism. So, I believe this kind of programme , once we keep extending to youth , women and our widows they will be engaged and they will able to put food on the table for their children and for their households.

    “We dont give cash, only to our widows in our programme in Abuja, we do give cash to them so they rent shops and commence their businesses immediately. What we do is to give startup parks to all our participants and of course that is what we have done today. Everyone is going home with their parks so that they can commence their businesses immediately.”

    Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, the wife of the Oyo State governor who was represented by the wife of the Secretary to the state government, Mrs. Bolanle Ali, said the programme would affect the state positively.

    “We shouldn’t leave the work of empowerment alone to the government and organisations just like DEPOWA, it’s something that individuals too should come in to help out because like the saying goes you empower one woman, you empower the whole nation because she would be able to put food on the table for her children and  the family,” she said.

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) , Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, represented by Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Liman,  commended the  beneficiaries, saying “if they continue to produce these materials , in no time,  they will be exporting to West African countries.”

    Other dignitaries in attendance are Commanding 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.Gen. Chukwudi Azinta, Commander 42 Engineers Brigade , Col.D.Aliyu, Commander Air force, Air  Commodore R.K.Shittu, and the Coordinator DEPOWA Skill Acquisitio Cenre, Captain Aniekanabasi Nbede.

  • Women mark Widows’ Day in Enugu

    In their determination to give back to the society, members of the God’s Battle Axe Women Fellowship International (GBAWFI) in Enugu have feted more than 60 widows drawn from the five Southeast states of the country.

    The occasion which took place at the Living Praise Worship Centre For All Nations, Ugwuaji Road, Independence Layout, Enugu, was part of activities marking the 2018 World Widows’ Day whose theme was “The Spirit-Filled Woman”.ý

    In her address, the leader of the group, Dr. Linda Oge Okoye said the association founded in 1995, holds the event annually with a view to giving succour to the widows who are in deep financial hardship.

    She stated that having been blessed with some level of resources and good health, there was no better way to appreciate God than to touch the lives of the needy.

    The GBAWFI boss said, “It will be interesting for some of us who can afford to eat daily, to also think of our next door neighbour who is in pains, we should see ourselves as God’s servants”

    Okoye, a former dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, told the widows not to lose hope, but to see their present condition as temporary.

    Citing Luke chapter 2, verse 25 in the Holy Bible, Dr. Okoye, recalled the story of Anna who lost her husband after seven years but God came to her rescue after praying and fasting for over 60 years, saying “any time you cry, God will hear you”.

    The group’s leader further explained that the association’s mission statement was built on raising and grooming women to greatness, as instruments of change in our society, adding that “every woman is a sharpened instrument in God’s hands”.

    She called on the wealthy and corporate bodies in the country to always remember the needy in their budget.

    Mrs. Gloria Aniakor, who spoke on behalf of the widows thanked Dr. Oge Okoye and all members of the Battle Axe Women Fellowship for remembering them in their time of difficulty and prayed God to continue to bless them with resources and good health.

    The widows who were entertained lavishly later went home with a bag of rice each.

    The spiritual director of the Living Praise Worship Centre, Enugu, Pastor Emeka Okoye, and top government officials from Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states were among dignitaries who graced the occasion.

  • Harrysong, MI, others champion zero maltreatment for widows

    Some Nigerian artistes led by Felix King of the 90s music group, Fellyx & Mozzyx, have urged the United Nations (UN) to declare June 23 Zero Maltreatment Day for widows.

    They made the call last Saturday at Moremi Hall, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, against the backdrop of culture-backed inhuman practices widows are known to suffer in this part of the world.

    King, who is the founder of the Felix King Foundation, was joined by pop star Harrison Tare Okiri, aka Harrysong, rapper MI Abaga, internet sensation, Charles Okocha aka Igwe Tupac and comedian Bayegun Oluwatoyin, popularly known as Woli Arole.

    The event also witnessed the simultaneous flag-off of the ‘Widows Rights Movement’ campaign by the Felix King Foundation in Nigeria, Ghana, the US, Canada and the UK.

    King described the movement as an international campaign for the abolishment of widows’ maltreatment, while advocating for a UN declaration of June 23 as a ‘Zero Maltreatment Day’ for widows in countries with traditional societies where women suffer human rights violations, with membership spread across the world.

    “The ultimate goal of the day is to develop resources and policy to empower widows and allow them to have access to education, work, healthcare and lives free of violence and abuse, while enables them to create a life for themselves and their children following the death of their husband and ending a cycle of poverty and abuse,” he said.

    Also speaking, Harrysong who performed at the event said widows’ maltreatment in Nigeria and Africa at large should be outlawed.

    Igwe Tupac also lent his voice to the campaign, condemning the practice which he describes as ‘unnecessary’.

    Aside performances from Harrysong, Wole Arole, Igwe Tupac and MI, some University of Lagos undergraduates performed a drama to demonstrate the ills of widows’ maltreatment in the country.

    Ororo Pattaya directed a short 60 second film with voiceover by M.I Abaga which had been aired in both Nigeria and international media.

     

  • FOMWAN seeks welfare for aged, widows

    The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has called on Nigerians to cater for the welfare of their aged and the widows.

    Speaking at the Welfare Day organised by the Elder forum of the association in Akure, Ondo State capital, the President, Alhaja Aminat Akinpelumi said the occasion was to improve the welfare of the aged and particularly, the widows.

    Akinpelumi, who was represented by the State Chairman of Welfare and Humanitarian Services, Alhaja Rafat Momoh, urged government at all levels to establish a committee to take charge of the welfare of the widows.

    She said the association cannot meet the welfare of the growing number of widows in the state.

    Government, she said, should collaborate with relevant organisations, particularly women organisations to assist the widows.

    According to her, the challenges widows face as single parent is beyond comprehension.

    She admonished other Muslim women on the need to abide by the Islamic tenants to express love to widows who may be lucky if their husband ask them for marriage.

    This, she opined, will address the crisis that may come unfold if the situation is not addressed.

    The guest speaker, Sheikh Lagbaji advised widows to be hopeful unto God.

    He observed the need for them to change their place of living to make it easier for them to get spouse and starting a good life.

    Women, he said, should allow their husbands to marry some of the widows as second wife.

    Widowhood, he said, is not a crime rather Allah’s design which can happen to anybody.

  • TOSIN OLAYIWOLA: Bringing love back to the widows

    Tosin Olayiwola has first degree in English Arts from the University of Ado-Ekiti. She later studied Public and International Affairs for second degree at the University of Lagos.  Young and umarried, the insurance broker behind the Tosin Quota Foundation tells Adetutu Audu why she is giving love back to the widows.

    WHAT informs your interest in widows?

    I believe in giving. I don’t like seeing people unhappy and I wanted to try in my own little way to make them happy. It was borne out of the decision to make unhappy people happy.  I realised that in the Bible we should give first before expecting.  Something like ‘give and it shall be given unto you’. I give and when and I did it is not as if I am expecting things back from the same source but it will surely come back in a bigger way.

    So, why widows?

    Widows are the most neglected. Initially, I wanted to start with the youths in my community, but I realised that the youths have a way of sorting out themselves. They still have strength to work. We have a lot of empowerment scheme for the youth s; some depend on their parents, uncles and aunts that give them money.

    But for widows, people don’t bother about them. We have this perception that they are witches and can kill if we move closer to them. Most of them in my community still go to farm despite the fact that they are old and should sit back and enjoy life. I felt that rather than abandoning them, I can contribute my quota. I am not talking about widows who can still remarry or have strength to work. It is from the age bracket of between 60 and 70 years.  My grandmother is a widow but she is not a beneficiary because she has children who can still take care of her. We have widows who cannot afford three square meal.

    So, for how long have you been doing this and has the impact been achieved?

    I started three years ago. We started in my grandmother’s compound with about 30 widows and at that time we gave free drug, little food and N500 each. The following year, the number grew to 50 and last year we had to rent a hall because we had so many crowds.  From that moment, I realised that the vision is bigger than me and we need to register them and have them in our record. Currently, the feedback has been massive. With this, I know we have a lot to do in the future. We have about 150 widows now.

    During the valentine, we add glamour to it and we had red carpet and tagged it bringing love back to the widows. I told them to wear a touch of red and also made them take pictures on the red carpet to share love among each other.

    Why Aramoko-Ekiti?

    I strongly believe in the maxim ‘charity begins at home’. Those are the people that actually needed me. Some advised that I should come to Lagos, but we will definitely spread out. The next one, we are planning to move into all the local government areas that make up the Ekiti-South constituency. We are expecting nothing less than 20 widows from each.

    Many have used such platform to launch themselves into politics. Any plan of you going into politics?

    I am an insurance marketer and agent. It is not about politics. I don’t even have a car or my own house.

    So where do you get fund to execute your plans?

    I used my commission and God has also been using my clients for me. I designed envelope which I give out for donations.  Although I am close to a few politicians who I can talk to for assistance, I don’t want politics to be attached to it.

    But don’t you see politicians hijacking it from you?

    I make sure when they are invited because they are also part of the community I tell them the rules and regulations and make them stick to them. For instance, our last outing, we had talk on widows on election and good governance. It is not a platform for political campaign.

    What would you say are your challenges?

    I am a single lady and I have siblings who also depend on me. Initially, I would say fear of unknown. Someone once called and said because I am unmarried and doing this for widows it can back fire. I was scared. But because it is a vision, I had to stick to it.

  • Philanthropist empowers widows

    A philanthropist in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos, Hon. Ayobami Akanni Omabegho, has empowered some of the widows in the local government area.

    Omabegho,  a member of the All progressives Congress (APC) and an aspirant to the Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday at the Chief Henry Oladele Ajomale Hall, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Legislative Building, Amuwo Odofin said he decided to empower   the widows because they have a load of responsibility ahead of them, saying it is the beginning of his gesture.

    The event which had in attendance the Executive Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Hon. Engr. Valentine Buraimoh and others, saw Omabegho hinting on what to expect from him by the residents of the council area.

  • QBF to honour widows, mothers of the military on Val’s Day

    QBF to honour widows, mothers of the military on Val’s Day

    Nollywood actress, Queen Blessing Ebigieson will on February 14 honour widows of  fallen soldiers in Lagos through her widows empowerment initiative, Queen Blessing Foundation.

    Holding on February 14, 2018 at the hall of Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja Army Cantonment, about 1, 000 widows are expected to benefit from the initiative.

    The Nation gathered that monetary support will also be given to some lucky few to start up small businesses.

    The fifth edition of the Valentine Special has the theme, ‘Celebrating the Widows & Aged Mothers of Our Fallen Military Heroes’ will also serve as the foundation’s 10th anniversary.

    “We are celebrating the widows and mothers of our fallen heroes in the Air Force, Army and Navy this year and it promises to be a special one,” she said.

    “I am passionate about widows and aged women as their prayers go high up into heaven.”

    Last year, Okpella community, the country home of the quintessential actress hosted the last widow empowerment and it was a huge success.

  • Ashimolowo gives succour to widows

    Ashimolowo gives succour to widows

    The annual outreach for widows organised by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo took place yesterday in Ode-Omu, Osun State.

    Widows from the community and neighbouring towns thronged the venue to receive packages that would bring relief to them and their children. According to the cleric, the widow’s events started 12 years ago and it started as a simple desire God laid on his heart.

    “I lived in the UK for about 34 years and I became burdened. We started a university in Ode-Omu and I needed to touch lives. The scripture says we should not neglect widows. For the first year, we got 308 responses. We gave them clothes and money and we touched lives. I saw how successful it was and I felt it should be continued.”

    Asimolowo added that “by the second year, the number rose to 850 and an excess of one thousand by the third year. Last year, we had 10,000 widows participating and this year, we thought we would have about 12,000 but we got a list with 16,900.”

    The man of God, who hails from Ode-Omu and Ile Ife, disclosed how the widows are selected for the yearly event: “We used to ask from 119/120 compounds and they would give us names. But Modakeke, which is 20 miles away, heard about what we were doing. There is a link historically and you find that every compound in Modakeke was replicated in Ode-Omu.

    “Interestingly, the other towns also wanted to participate and we insisted that the monarch in each town would accredit the head of the widows. These widows began to bring each other together because of their challenges and, this year, we have about 17,000. The event is being put together by my wife and I; not the church. It is a celebration of these women. Usually, they do not get celebrated; instead they are castigated and set aside.”

    He stated the expectations and the fact that eight towns would be involved in the special outreach. “We will have kings from 12 cities, friends, dignitaries, and the deputy governor, who has been there with us over the years at the event. It is our own way of impacting and empowering the women. We wish we could do more.”

    The event which would cost the Ashimolowos about 57 million naira will bring succour and help to give the widows a better direction for the year. “Usually, it is the largest money that they would be handling for the year. We hope others would continue this. It is a biblical injunction to visit the fatherless and widows. The need in the nation is high, we are hoping things are different here. In the UK, the system cares for them.”