CROSS River State Government has embarked in the payment of monthly stipends to widows in the state as well as empower them.
Meanwhile, wife of Governor Liyel Imoke, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, has donated six wheel chairs to physically challenged women to ameliorate their sufferings and also distributed foodstuff and clothing materials to widows in the state.
Speaking at the commemoration of 2012 International Widows Day in Calabar, the state capital, Governor Imoke announced that about 980 widows were part of the programme, tagged, ‘SAFETY-NET’ which is for the most vulnerable in the society.
Imoke said, “We have a programme in social welfare, called SAFETY-NET for the most vulnerable in the society with a monthly stipend and skill acquisition.
We have 980 widows under the programme. This shall be extended to the widows,” adding that his administration’s focus had been to bring governance to those who needed government most
Speaking earlier, Mrs. Obioma Imoke noted that the project, Giving Life Options to Widows, GLOW, which is another wing of her pet project, ‘Partnership Opportunity for Women Empowerment, POWER, was aimed at mitigating the impact of widowhood, especially those whose condition makes them very vulnerable.
“widows occupy a special place in God’s agenda. God has put this burden in our heart to intervene and reduce the burden they carry to the extent to which we have the ability to do,” she said.
“The vision of this project is encapsulated in its name, GLOW, which is Giving Life Options to Widows.
That way, they will be able to confront all malaise they contend with such as poverty, discrimination, stigmatization, vulnerability to diseases and loss of self esteem.
“We did a symbolic intervention today to commemorate the international widows say, but our plan is to teach them how to fish and not necessarily giving them fish so as to change their lives for real.
“Widowhood, is not the end of the world. Our slogan is Keeping Hope Alive. Life should not end because their husbands died. We are here to protect their right and by the grace of God, life continues after.”
