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Military widows preach peace on Armed Forces Day

Peace
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Jan. 15, 2020 (NAN) The President, Military Widows Association (MWA), Mrs Veronica Aluko, has sued for peace and tolerance among various Nigerians to avoid recurrence of violent conflicts in the country.

Aluko made the call in an interview with newsmen at the Wreath Laying Ceremony in commemoration of the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration (AFRDC) on Wednesday in Abuja.

She lamented that some of the conflicts that had led to loss of officers and soldiers of Nigerian armed forces were avoidable.

“My message to Nigerians generally is, let peace reign and conflict that can be avoided should be avoided because that is what brought us here today. The number of widows is much and we are feeling the pains we never bargain for.

“Our husbands are gone but they never bargain for it. We are almost having widows colony all over the place now.

“So please, words that aggravate wars should be refrained from and that is why we are preaching peace so that more widows should not join us again,” she said.

Aluko, who disclosed that she became a widow about 14 years ago, said that the journey of widowhood had been a mixture of sorrow, pains and joy.

She commended the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), NAOWA, NAFOWA and NOWA for their continuous support to the widows of fallen officers and soldiers.

According to her, they came around them to tap their shoulders and urged them to damn the pain.

“The likes of DEPOWA, NAOWA, NAFOWA, NOWA and the consultants have been there for us. DEPOWA has been training and empowering us with starter packs around the country. They have become light to us at the darkest part of our lives.”

Also, a widow, Mrs Faith Amakwe, said she was proud of her husband and other fallen soldiers, who she described as a true heroes of Nigeria.

Amakwe commended the government for always remembering the sacrifices of their late husbands and fathers in defence of their fatherland.

She also thanked the government and the military authorities for ensuring that they were paid their benefits, adding that the government had shown serious commitment to their welfare.

According to her, well wishers and some army officers of goodwill have been of assistance to us and we really appreciate them.

Ibrahim Aminu, Member, Board pf Trustees, Nigerian Legion, disclosed that the leadership of the Legion had introduced a scheme through which the widows could be assisted.

Aminu said that the body had developed strategies to provide help for the widows and the living veterans through vocational training and empowerment programmes.

He also commended the government in the area of welfare of the widows and veterans.

“We are making sure that our members are organised because it is the legion that can help itself. We have transportation scheme, vocational scheme which will assist in empowering them to enhance capacity and capability,” he said.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the 2020 AFRDC being the 50th was a unique one, adding that a lot of innovation was brought into it.

Nwachukwu disclosed that as part of activities to mark the celebration, the Defence Headquarters decided to take music stars to meet with the troops at the theatre of operations.

He said that the music tour to the North East and the concert held in Abuja was aimed at paying tribute to the fallen heroes and living veterans in the war against insurgency and other threats.

“It is indeed a time for appreciation to the armed forces for their sacrifices to the nation.

“Other humanitarian activities was carried out like the distribution of food items by DEPOWA to the families of fallen heroes in collaboration with DHQ,” he said. (NAN)
OYS/ISMA
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

Bajju monarch donates wrappers to 234 widows

Bajju monarch donates foodstuff, wrappers to 234 widows
By Moses Kolo
Donation
Kafanchan (Kaduna State), July 15, 2019 (NAN) The Agwam Bajju, Malam Nuhu Bature, has donated 16 bags of maize and wrappers to 234 widows across the Bajju Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Presenting the items at his palace in Zonkwa on Monday, Bature said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the economic realities of the beneficiaries.
The paramount traditional ruler said the decision was to also identify with the widows in the challenges they were passing through and their children.
Bature explained that he initiated the gesture 14 years ago and urged well to do sons and daughters of the chiefdom to join him in ameliorating the plight of the widows.
“I do hope other prominent personalities in the chiefdom would emulate me gesture and step it down to their various localities, villages and district levels, depending on the strength of those wishing to join in meeting the immediate needs of the widows,” he said.
He also urged members of the community to be each others’ keeper and expressed optimism that the items donated will be of help to the beneficiaries and their families.
Mrs Rhoda Musa, a beneficiary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she had always benefited from the annual gesture which, according to her, gave widows in the chiefdom a sense of belonging.
While appealing for such support from philanthropists, she assured that the items would be used maximally. (NAN)
MKG/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

NDE disburses loans to police officers’ widows in Nasarawa

NDE disburses loans to police officers’ widows in Nasarawa
By Awayi Kuje
Widows
Lafia, July 11, 2019 (NAN) The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has disbursed N10,000 each as loans to 113 widows of police officers in Nasarawa State.
This is to enable them engage in income generating activities to improve their standard of living as well as those of their family members.
Dr Nasiru Argungu, the Director-General of NDE, disclosed this on Thursday during the Empowerment/Loan Disbursement to Police Officers’ Widows in Lafia.
Argungu, who was represented by Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, the agency’s Head of Department of Procurement, said the gesture was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of helping the less privileged group in the society.
According to him, it is also in commemoration of the 2019 International Widows Day.
“These women are police officers’ widows whose husbands have protected our lives and property while alive.
“This loan is under the Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES); it is one of the agency’s many initiatives which is to assist and enhance the widows’ capacity to engage in income generating activities for self reliance,” he said.
Argungu also said the agency has trained thousands of unemployed Nigerians in different skills acquisition and other programmes to enable them become self-reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.
He urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money to improve their economic status.
The Chairman of the cccasion, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani, who is the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, noted that the gesture would improve the lives of the widows and that of their family members.
Tijjani, who was represented by Mr Abubakar Ishaq, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the SSG, assured of the state government’s commitment to create an enabling environment for all NDE activities to succeed in the state.
Earlier, the Nasarawa State NDE Coordinator, Alhaji Dauda Idris-Wase, said 113 widows of police officers were to receive N10,000 each.
“However, only 74 of them have now fully completed their documentation and so will get their packages today.
“The remaining ones will also be given theirs immediately they complete the required documentation,’’ he said.
The state coordinator assured the state government of the agency’s readiness to collaborate with it in the area of vocational skills acquisition training, business training and counselling service.
“This is also to create job opportunities for youths and women of the state and Nigerians at large,’’ said Idris-Wase.
In her goodwill message, the Chairperson of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) in Nasarawa State, Mrs Chuza Abimbola Longe, thanked NDE for the gesture.
Longe, who was represented by an official of POWA, Mrs Jessica Boniface, also called on the beneficiaries to use the funds to engage in profitable business to improve their lot.
Responding of other beneficiaries, Mrs Julia Dakat, thanked the government for the gesture.
They promised to ensure judicious use of the funds for the purposes they were meant for. (NAN)
AKW/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Entertainment

Valentine: Cultural enthusiast donates clothing, food items to widows, students

Valentine: Cultural enthusiast donates clothing, food items to widows, students
By Justina Auta
Valentine
Abuja, Feb. 14, 2019 (NAN) Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, a cultural enthusiast, on Thursday in Abuja donated food and clothing items to widows, IDPs and students as part of activities to mark this year’s Valentine Day’s celebration.
Ezenwa, who is the proprietor of LeLook House of Bags, Shoes and Household items, said the effort was to support the less privileged in the society in this season of love.
She added that the event also aimed at changing the conception of youths and adults in the society about the way Valentine Day should be celebrated.
“On a special day like valentine, where people misconstrue what Valentine is all about, I decided to make it a cultural event that is why I have children here, the widows, IDPs instead of people misbehaving somewhere, let them come and see the other side of love.’’
She added that her organisation has acquired the services of some Austrians, who will be coming into the country to train widows, unemployed youths and students on various skills.
“We have already contacted and reached an agreement with some Austrians, who are very good with leather works to train them on bags, shoes, household goods like bed covers, throw pillows, chairs, table clothes and table mats.’’
Ezenwa also used the opportunity to showcase locally-made accessories and household items to promote African culture, particularly that of Nigeria within and outside the country.
“We have a project we call Lelook cultural project mainly to try to get people to start appreciating their culture. I am a cultural person and I feel we are losing our moral and cultural values.
“ I am bringing the fact that we need to promote our African heritage, we need to empower people through all these creating of arts and cultural events.
“We need to take our Nigeria culture outside Nigeria, our bags are making waves, because they are ambassadors of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Also, Mrs Bernice Jospeh , CEO of Amazing Grace Widows Foundation, said training for widows and less privileged in the society would equip them with skills, would reduce their dependence on other persons.
One of the recipients of the gesture, Mrs Priscilla Francis, appreciated the efforts of the philanthropist, adding that the items received will aid her family tremendously.
She noted that the training would further empower her with skills to generate income for herself and her family.
Similarly, Master Giftson Sunday, a student of Abuja Children’s School, Karu, commended the efforts, which he said would reduce the burden on his parents. (NAN)
JAD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Wife of Akwa Ibom gov. builds 24 houses for widows 

Wife of Akwa Ibom gov. builds 24 houses for widows
Houses
Eket (Akwa Ibom), April 7, 2018 (NAN) The wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, has built and furnished 24 bungalow houses for widows and widowers in the state since 2015.
Mrs Emmanuel disclosed this during the maiden edition of Eket Women’s Day Celebration in Eket Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
She said that the houses were built and furnished through the Family Empowerment and Youth Re-Orientation Initiative (FEYReP), her pet project.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Emmanuel commissioned a fully furnished two-bedroom bungalow for a widow, Mrs Adiaha Udo, in Ede Obok in Eket during the occasion.
Mrs Udo was earlier living in a shack for over 10 years.
She said that FEYReP was providing shelter to the hopeless, succour to widows, restoring hopes and touching the lives of most vulnerable people across the three senatorial districts of the state.
“The aim is to create a robust economic empowerment for families and re-orientate the youths to eschew all form of moral decadence,” she said.
Mrs Emmanuel advised Eket women to form cooperative groups so as to benefit from the State Government empowerment programme.
She also inaugurated a staff canteen, office block and 10 mini buses to convey staff to work.
According to her, the gesture is to complement the developmental strides of her husband.
She also donated N3 million to support the project for Eket women, saying that women are worth celebrating because they are pace setters.
The Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Mr Frank Archibong, said that Eket women were celebrated because of the critical role they played in the development of the area.
He said the pet project of the governor’s wife was focused on providing economic alternatives to people and families who hitherto had been injured by poverty.
“Through FEYReP, you have built and furnished 24 houses for widows and widowers in order to alleviate their poverty and suffering,” he said.
While thanking Mrs Emmanuel for extending the building of houses to Eket , Archibong described Mrs Emmanuel as a “life changer”.
“We, as Eket people, are very happy for the house you have built and furnished, through FEYReP, for one of our widows, popularly known as `Adiaha Ntiin’.
He said that Emmanuel’s commitment to the economic empowerment of Eket people had continued to manifest in the various life-touching policies and programmes of his administration.
Mrs Bright Archibong, the wife of the council chairman, said that Eket Women’s Day Celebration was important not only for Eket women but for all women who seek to establish the fact that women are pacesetters for sustainable progress.
She underscored the importance of women, saying that women are home makers and nation builders.
“The celebration is significant because it affords Eket women the opportunity to reflect on their activities and the progresses they have made so far,” she said.
Rep. Ekpoatai Uwoidighe said that she has also attracted development projects worth over N400m to Eket.
Uwoidighe donated kitchen utensils to the widow and promised to give her N10,000 every month for her upkeep.
Responding, the beneficiary expressed appreciation to God for making the governor’s wife to remember her in time of need.
Mrs Udo thanked the wife of the governor for her kind gesture, saying that the Mrs Emmanuel had put roof on her head and smile on her face.
“I am also very grateful to Mr Archibong for facilitating the building through Her Excellency’s pet project FEYReP,” she said. (NAN)
SDB/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Nasarawa legislative wives donate N4m materials to widows, inmates

Nasarawa legislative wives donate N4m materials to widows, inmates

NAN-H-63

Donation

By Awayi Kuje

Keffi (Nasarawa State), April 10, 2017 (NAN) The wives of legislators in Nasarawa State on Monday donated foodstuff and other items worth N4 million to patients, inmates and widows.

Hajiya Maryam Balarabe-Abdullahi, the Chairperson, Nasarawa State Legislative Wives Association (LEWA), told newsmen shortly after making the donation in Keffi.

The association also assisted the beneficiaries with undisclosed amount of money in Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi Local Government Areas.

Items donated including bags of rice, Semovita, cartoons of Indomie noodles, soap and detergent.

Balarabe-Abdullahi said the gesture was part of the association’s commitment towards alleviating the suffering of the less privileged in the society.

“First and foremost, we the state Legislative Wives Association (LEWA) thank God and appreciate Gov. Tanko Al-Makura for initiating good policies and programmes that have direct impacts on the lives of the people of the state.

“We visited and donated items and with cash to the sick ones at DASH, Lafia, the widows in Akwanga and the prison inmates in Keffi prisons worth N4 million as part of our humanitarian gesture to improve on the standard of living of the less privileged in the society.

“We deem it necessary to donate the items to also to make them happy and to show love, care to the sick ones, widows, inmates in the state and to let them know that they are very relevant to the society and we want to assure them of our continued support in that direction.

“We want to call on the widows and other women to remain steadfast and to be vanguard of peace in their various communities because peace is the necessary requirement for the development of any nation,” she said.

Balarabe-Abdullahi advised the inmates to be “agents of change, law abiding, respect constituted authority and remain peaceful’’ while serving their jail terms. (NAN AKW/AOM/MST

Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Muhammad Suleiman Tola