NGO plans N20, 000 monthly allowance for widows

Founder, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM) and Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode with beneficiaries during the Hope For Widows Empowerment Programme for 103 beneficiaries to celebrate the 2017 International Widow’s Day

The Givers for Capacity Enhancement, a non-governmental organisation, says it has initiated a project on which platform widows across the country will receive N20, 000 monthly to train their children.

The National President of the organisation, Mr Edward Olutoke, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday that the initiative would make widows more resourceful citizens and empowered.

According to him, widows who want to benefit from the scheme will be screened and she must have at least a child in school.

“The organisation is doing this on the platform of Project Father a Child; aimed at reducing crimes among the youth by assisting the widows to train their children through donations.

“The idea is that if we can train as many as possible of these fatherless children, they will become useful to the society, thereby impacting positively on development and governance.

“Poor upbringing of the child and poverty inform underdevelopment and bad governance and women are cardinal to proper upbringing of the child; that is why the organisation is targeting the widows for empowerment programmes.

“We have coordinators across the country to guide people on this initiative and impressive reports have been coming to the organisation,’’ he said.

He explained that the initiative would be sustained through donations from the members of the organisation and the concerned citizens across the country.

He explained further that in pursuit of emancipation of the masses, the organisation would inaugurate its Givers Embassy Church, located in the premises of 3Js Hotel, Jabi, Abuja on July 30, the church, he said, would not collect offering or tithe.

“Rather, such expected tithes and offerings in the church should be given by the church members to their neighbours; whoever he is; wherever he comes from.

“Parts of your income belong to the needy around you; give a part to your brother or your sister who needs to move on in life,’’ Olutoke said.