By Lucy Ezeliora
As the world celebrates International Women’s day, the CEO Love Works Foundation International, Dame Minnie Igbrude, has urged widows to ask God for wisdom to do common things in an uncommon way, Knowing that success is not final and widowhood is not fatal or a failure but the ability to continue and forge ahead is what they require in order to succeed in life.
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Speaking during the celebration at Asaba, Dame Igbrude said, the International Day for Women is observed to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women and promote women.
With the theme ‘ Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ with a focus on addressing economic empowerment, while the campaign theme for this year is ‘Inspire Inclusion.’ which highlights the significance of diversity and empowerment across all sectors of the society.
“This is the time for widows to rise above their mental barriers, challenges and start looking cheerful and optimistic at all times. A woman’s journey to success begins from harnessing the power of her mind and hands,” she said.
According to her, International Women’s Day is a historical day that we can appreciate women, a day set aside to honour women in different sectors and empower women. In general
It is important to remember the difficult journey they went through for the lives and gendar equality we have now in the country.
She said, We should also take time to support and help most women especially widows who are not yet as fortunate as others and not be ignorant of the fact that many countries still do not have women’s rights and equality.
Encouraging women she said, “I want to enjoin women especially in Delta State, to key into the M. O. R.E. Agenda of our Governor which is designed to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and the ‘You Matter Charity Foundation’ of the amiable, Wife of our Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, adding that, they should actively participate in all the activities that are associated with them that will lead to their self development in the state”
The past and present government of Delta State are doing everything to help widows. They should explore into such activities.
She said, Every woman is a rare gem who can always excel in assignments because of the zeal and commitment they possess. She said, women need to come out and avail themselves of the opportunities of becoming decision makers by being more politically active.
According to her, Loveworks Foundation which is her pet project was founded several years ago, primarily established to cater for the widows, by empowering them financially and engaging them in poverty eradication activities and self reliance. It is one outstanding Non-Governmental Organisation that is perfectly charting the way forward for interested widows in Delta State.
In her words, “the Foundation will go beyond alleviating poverty, but dealing with it from the root to make the women financially independent and remain in control of their various means of livelihood”. In the Love works foundation we don’t only give them fish but teach them how to rear the fishes and be able to eat”
She emphasized that, women everyday in many communities experience great hardship after their husbands death.
She reiterated that, a lot of widows are passing through various challenges and maltreatment she however encouraged widows not to relent but improve themselves and rely more on God.
She observed that, majority of the widows who feel neglected are ignorant of some of the activities put in place for their welfare just like Delta State widows scheme that is taking care so many widows to alleviate their suffering
“They are seldom captured in statistics, unnoticed by researchers, often neglected by laws and development strategies making their situation invisible”,
Dame Igbrude enjoined Federal government and state, to join the cause of widows by initiating programmes, policies and projects that are aimed at ameliorating their plights.
“There should be policies and programmes that will take care of the overall welfare of widows and other vulnerable groups in the society. There should be enlightenment programmes on issues relating to their health, as. most of these women die of dis.
eases , stress, loneliness and pain which could be averted by early detection.
The Federal government and states should put up more skill acquisition centers, where these women could undergo various training and harness their potentials. They should equally ensure that these programs and services actually get to the targeted audience. She stressed.
I wish women all over the world happy international women’s day celebration and more of Gods blessings. She said.