Group laments lack of care for widows

Over 200 widows of the Nigeria WidowsPray Movement have urged Nigerians to support the group to ensure the actualisation of a presidential candidate who has the interest of widows and the less privileged in the 2023 general elections.

They made the disclosure in Lagos during a recent prayer walk for the nation ahead of the forthcoming election.

They expressed concern that 70 per cent of Nigerian widows grieve in pain, having lost their breadwinners and have continued to face renewed economic insecurity, discrimination, stigmatisation, and harmful traditional practices with no succour from the Ministry of Women Affairs.

Chinwe Bode Akinwande Foundation lamented that Nigeria has over eight million disadvantaged widows with over 21 million children. According to her, a growing population of over 200 million Nigerians including widows would increase by 2023.

President of Nigeria WidowsPray Movement, Pastor Blessing Onwuachi, decried that the arm of the Ministry of Women Affairs in the country does not have welfare for widows and that organisation would ensure that its agitation for widows’ department is created.

One of the coordinators of widows in Lagos and Anambra states, Pastor Maureen Chukwujekwe said the foundation is not limited to praying for the nation but has mandated members to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and vote in the forthcoming election. She added that the foundation does not belong to a political party but would vote for a candidate with a widow’s interest.

Also in her contribution, Mrs. Veronica Nwajei said widow’s children should be considered for scholarships and make funding available.
 
She said: “As far as I am concerned, the government has not done anything to assist widows except different churches such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), our mummy in the Lord Folu Adeboye does not joke with widows, she takes care of them in all the parishes.”