No fewer than 100 widows within the Okun-Ilado community of Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State have been empowered by a non-governmental organisation known as the Chinwe Bode-Akinwande (CBA) Foundation.
The under-privileged widows were lifted with business grants, food-items, clothings, scholarships for their children and free medical treatments by the group during a one-day outreach supported by First Bank of Nigeria in commemoration of the 2019 United Nations’ International Widows’ Day.
Speaking at the event, the founder of the foundation, Mrs Chinwe Bode-Akingbade, said that the gesture was imperative to assist the pitiable conditions of widows and less-privileged in the society as well as boosting their confidence.
“The foundation was established to alleviate sufferings and pains of the less-privileged, especially widows and their children in the society.
“And I decided to do this because I’m led by God and also, I’ve watched closely, listened to some of the victims of widowhood and I realised that less attention is paid to under-privileged widows.
“I have friends who are victims and I can tell you, the dehumanization and injustice meted to widows in the country is unimaginable, hence, I decided to contribute my little quota as a selfless act to alleviate their pains,” she said.
“As I speak, we currently have over 600 authentic widows on our profile, and the children of about 90 per cent of them have dropped out of school because of lack of funds.
“So, even if it’s the basic education we are able to give to them, they can build on it. We don’t want children who should be in schools on the streets because their mothers cannot afford school fees.
“Who knows if the future president is among them? Every child should have access to education and a good life and that is what CBA Foundation intends to achieve.
“To change our society and make the world a better place, we must love, give and share no matter how small,” she added.
Mrs Bode-Akingbade called on the government to implement and enforce the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) which has the protection of widows in the country, stressing that the government needs to create more awareness about the act for widows to know their rights and also for people to thread with caution.
The traditional ruler (Baale) of the Okun-Ilado community, Chief Ologbon Oladeyinde, speaking with joy, noted that the gesture would go a long way in salvaging the wretched situation of widows in the community as poverty, hunger and malnutrition are a great threat to their livelihood.
One of beneficiaries, Mrs Yaya Taiwo, while expressing her gratitude to the foundation said she was overwhelmed by the gesture of the foundation as it has given her life a meaning.
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Adedapo Adesanya