To commemorate the International Widow’s Day, the Ogun state government, in collaboration with Ajose Foundation, empowered widows in the state in response to the current economic challenges in Nigeria and the world at large through various activities on capacity building.
As a result of this, freezers, sewing machines, grinding machines, gas cookers and burners, hair dryers, bags of rice and other items were distributed to 500 widows by the Ajose Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Speaking at the commemoration of this year’s International Widows Day, with the theme “Invisible Women, Invisible Problem” organised by the office of the First Lady in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Ajose Foundation, the wife of the Ogun state Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun stated that it was important to see to the empowerment of widows and to also give them access to required training to boost their trades and businesses.
She added that: “The more useful and productive you are, the more you can earn a living and take care of yourself and your family. Especially for widows, I would like to hear discussions among yourselves about how we can build your capacity, help you start a business or give you credit to expand. The opportunities are many, waiting to be explored, and there are many organisations willing to support”.
Mrs. Abiodun listed some of the challenges faced by widows in developing countries like Nigeria, to include, social stigma, suspicion and lack of right to the husband’s inheritance among others, adding that widows in Ogun state should no longer be invisible with their challenges but to be seen and their challenges addressed.
In her address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Funmi Efuwape, stated that actions needed to be taken to uphold commitments towards ensuring that the rights of widows as enshrined in the International laws were defended.
She said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in conjunction with Ajose Foundation was working assiduously towards ensuring that all women in the state were empowered through various empowerment programmes such as provision of Micro Credit Scheme, Vocational Training and Mobile Skill.
The event featured talks on various business opportunities for the widows by the Ministries of Agriculture and Women Affairs and how they could access one digit interest loans to start and expand existing ones by NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, Sterling Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria, the partnering financial institutions.
The event had in attendance widows from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state who benefitted from the raffle draw by the Ajose Foundation.
Bagged food items like rice, beans, cooking oil, garri, noodles and seasoning cubes were among the items distributed to the widows.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Bola Thomas expressed gratitude to the organizers and profoundly prayed for the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun adding that she counted herself blessed by God with Chest Freezer which she won.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…International Widows’ Day 2021 International Widows’ Day 2021
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…International Widows’ Day 2021 International Widows’ Day 2021
and then