By Sade Williams
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Jedidiah Divine Home Of Love (JEDLOF), has urged widows across the country to develop skills that will enhance their financial status and be self reliance throughout widowhood.
The NGO founder, Dr (Mrs) Ebele Okoye, who gave this advice at the Salvation Ministry Church Dopemu, Lagos while empowering over 25 widows with food items, said self development in different trades will give them resilience in the face of stress and trauma.
“Work towards making your own money, when the money is made, we must learn to manage funds, let your spending focus be on basic necessities of life”
Mrs. Okoye, who lost her husband for over 23 years, admonished them not to give up but imbibe skills that will help in times of hardships rather than self sympathy that will only build emotional torments.
Okoye, a retired general manager, customer service with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, declares “Pressure comes when you are alone blaming yourself for what you did wrong”
She also urged them to always ask God for genuine helpers to fulfill God’s mandate in their lives.
She assured the widows that JEDLOF will work to empower women both young and old who were finding it difficult to to engage their families by formulating integrated and innovative methods for progressive social change and introducing skill development
The JEDLOF founder explained that the foundation has carried out three outreaches since it started March 2023 adding that the first was identifying with Widows in Enugu, a visit to the orphanage in July and that of empowerment of Widows in Lagos while it will end this year’s program with in Enugu in December.
According to Okoye, the objectives of the foundation include, economic empowerment of Widows, widowers local and international, to transform lives in communities through the provision of social amenities
The ceremony which attracted dignitaries across the state also feature a lecture titled ‘Empowering Widows for a better tomorrow by Mrs Fumilayo Olonisakin of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Highlight of the occasion was the present of gift items to Widows and others present.
