The Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, has empowered about twenty-two widows below the age of forty.
Dr. Ayoade acknowledged the unique hardships faced by the widows, particularly those who lost their husbands at a young age.
While offering support through her non governmental organization, Folashade Ayoade Initiative for Widows and Orphans (FAIWO), in Lokoja on Thursday, Dr Ayoade said the move was to bring solace, encouragement to the the young widowa, assuring of her commitment to supporting them in navigating the profound challenges of early widowhood.
She attributed their challenges to include; emotional distress, economic vulnerability, and societal pressures.
“Your loss is profound, and your strength in the face of it is commendable,” Dr Ayoade stated.
“Today, we are here not just to offer words, but to listen and to act. My foundation (FAIWO) will work to support you based on your specific, individual needs.”
The SGS, who took time to listen to each of the widows as they shared snippets of their emotional story, maintained that her team would conduct follow-up assessments for them to understand their particular circumstances to know how to provide support.
She stated that be so doing, the Team will know whether the need is for educational scholarships for their children, vocational training, seed capital for small businesses, or other forms of livelihood support.
The widows, who were delighted by the renewed Hope message, expressed profound gratitude for the rare audience and the personalised approach promised.
They offered fervent prayers for Dr Ayoade, asking for God’s wisdom, protection, and blessings upon her and the state administration for remembering them in their time of need.
One of the widows, Mrs. Patience Edward, said, “We came here heavy-hearted, but we are leaving with hope. For the first time, someone in authority is not just giving us a blanket gift but wants to know what I, specifically, need to stand on my feet again. We pray God Almighty continues to bless Dr Ayoade and strengthen her to fulfil these promises.”
Meanwhile, the management of Celebrity International School has donated two hundred thousand Naira to the widows with a promise to offer scholarships to two of the children.
