FG flags off widow’s empowerment scheme .

The Federal Government has flagged off the Widows Empowerment Scheme with strong commitment to address the plight of widows in Nigeria and ensure their integration into national transformation endeavours.

At the flag off ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya  Zainab Maina said, “government is committed to ensuring a better deal for widows. We must ensure that their vulnerability, issues and concerns are not only positively addressed but also enjoy the rights and social protection they deserve.

“They must be encouraged to participate in economic activities and other activities geared towards improving their status and full integration into national development.”

The Minister observed that available statistics indicate that women make up roughly half of the Nigerian population and that the number of widows has been steadily increasing over the years, thus necessitating the need for attention to be focused on this category of persons.

She stressed that in Nigeria, “the state of widowhood is worsened by situations of poverty, widowhood rites, and lack of access to services and resources. Widowhood may deprive women of their home, agricultural land, assets and sometimes even their children.”

She opined that what was urgently required were appropriate legal and policy frameworks that will protect the rights and enhance the livelihood of widows in Nigeria.

While acknowledging the legislature in several states of the federation for enacting laws that address harmful widowhood practices, the Minister disclosed that at the federal level, the violence against Persons Bill has been passed in the House of Representatives and is currently receiving positive attention in the Senate.

“I would like to encourage Nigerian Lawmakers at the federal and state levels, to continue in their stride to legislate against all oppressive, injurious and degrading widowhood practices.”

She advised beneficiaries of the scheme to ensure that they grow their economic ventures to the next level, and urged them to continue to be strong and believe in themselves and their capacities to pull through their situation.

She commended MTN Foundation for its partnership with the Ministry on the successful take off of the scheme, and expressed optimism that, “with the tacit contribution of all, the future will be brighter for Nigerian widows.”

Highlight of the event was the distribution of economic empowerment equipment, machines and materials to the beneficiaries of the first batch of the scheme.

Above is a picture of   *Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, handing over a Sewing Machine to one of the beneficiaries of the Widowhood Empowerment Scheme, and assisted by the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonye Ugboma, while to her right is the DG National Centre for Women Development, Lady Onyeka Onwuenu and a Director of MTNF, Mrs. Aishatu P. Sadauki looks with keen interest.