UYO
The wife of Akwa Ibom governor has celebrated and empowered select widows across the 31 local government areas and non-governmental widows’ platforms in the State.
Pastor Patience Umo Eno’s gesture was to commemorate the 2024 International Widow’s Day, Friday.
The maiden Widows Enhancement Programme organised by the pet project of the governor’s wife, Golden Initiative for All, GIFA, took place at the Banquet Hall, Government House Uyo, where no fewer than 250 widows smiled home with cash and gift items.
Pastor Patience Eno, who thanked her husband, the governor for making it possible for every woman to be recognised in Akwa Ibom, said the event became expedient to “raise awareness of the violation of human rights that widows suffer in many countries following the death of their spouses.”
The Akwa Ibom first lady, who is the chairperson of the Akwa Ibom State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, frowned at various harmful widowhood practices, noting that Akwa Ibom had long domesticated the Widowhood law of 2013 and VAPP law of 2020.
She warned that the law would catch up with anyone troubling widows in the state with outdated traditional practices.
“As the chairperson of the State GBV Committee, I stand here today to reaffirm my support to you all. I will not hesitate to fight for you and any case of injustice against widows that is brought to my attention would be given due attention by me,” said the governor’s wife.
Eno charged the different Non Governmental Organisations of widows in the State who attended the event to create entrepreneurial clusters for the training of their members on a particular product to enable their economic growth and development.
In a welcome remark, one of the coordinators of GIFA, Mrs Anne Abraham, who lauded the widows for remaining strong and resilient despite the significant loss suffered, noted that the platform was to harness a support environment where the widows are recognised by the state government.
Giving a brief exhortation on the theme “A Wise Widow”, Bishop Enobong Essien, encouraged the widows not to be overwhelmed by their present circumstances, but to brace up and forge ahead, assuring them of the ever-abiding presence and help of God.
In their separate goodwill messages, the commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, applauded the governor, Pastor Umo Eno and his wife, Pastor Patience Eno, for giving succour, comfort and a sense of belonging to the widows as well as their humaneness in taking on programmes that touches all strata of people in the State.
The director of the Akwa Ibom Multi-Door Courthouse, Magistrate Helen Umana and the FIDA chairperson, Barrister Iquo Abia, took turns to enlighten the widows on the provisions of the VAPP Law, which protects widows against harmful widowhood practices in the State while encouraging them to speak up and report to appropriate authorities whenever such negative cultural issues arise in their communities.
They commended the governor’s wife for the motherly show of love and pledged their continuous support in the fight against harmful widow’s practices in the State.
Madam Alice Uwah from Itu Local Government, who responded on behalf of the beneficiaries at the event, thanked the governor’s wife and said they were glad on their selection for participation in her Empowerment Programme for the Widows, describing the act as a relief to them. She prayed God to bless, replenish and reward the Governor’s Wife for her labour of love.
The event featured distribution of bags of rice, wrappers and cash gifts to the beneficiaries.
The event was graced by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Inemesit Uwah; member representing Uruan State Constituency, Dr. Itoro Etim;wife of the State PDP chairman, MrsUnyime Akpan;coordinator of ARISE Initiative for Elderly, Mrs Mercy Ekah;president, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts Women Forum, Hon. Iniebehe Silas; Members of LEWA, female transition committee chairmen of local government councils, wives of the commissioners, wives of the transition committee chairmen, NCWS members, among others.
Discussion about this post