The wife of the Governor of Lagos State, in conjunction with Hope For Women Foundation (HOFOWEM), has empowered no fewer than 32 widows, 14 parents of multiple births and provided a hip replacement for a woman in need at an empowerment programme held at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
In a keynote address at the occasion, Mrs. Ambode reiterated the State Government’s commitment and unflinching support for the less privileged, particularly widows who are often ignored and maltreated by in-laws once their husbands had passed on.
According to her, societies thrive when the burden on widows are made lighter and the less privileged are assisted in a number of ways to live better lives, adding that “ no society thrives in an atmosphere where this class of people are continuously ignored or scheme out of welfare calculations.”
While urging well meaning Nigerians and stakeholders to support the government by putting smiles on the faces of widows and the less priviledged, Ambode maintained that the government cannot do it alone.
She however implored the widows to seek economic empowerment either through paid jobs or vocational skills for stable income in order to guarantee their happiness and preserve their dignity and self worth.
Earlier, the representative of Hope for Women Foundation (HOFOWEM), Mrs. Oyefunke Adenike said that the Foundation is primarily concerned with the welfare of women and children as members of the society are not rendering enough help to ameliorate the sufferings of widows in our midst.
While emphasizing the need for widows to be supported morally and financially by all and sundry, Adenike noted that widows are not the only needy ones in our society, adding that there are also women who unexpectedly gave multiple births with one pregnancy while others are in dire need of support due to health complications.
Others dignitaries present at the event were the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande, Wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mrs. Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello, members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, members of COWLSO and the South West Women Leader of APC, Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson, among others.