The Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has called on philanthropists and Non- governmental Organisation (NGO) to assist in the care of widows in the state.
The State Permanent Secretary, Folusho Sali, made the call at a Widow’s Financial Empowerment Programme (WEFP) organised by the Channel for Widow Relief Initiative, (CFWRI), an NGO.
Represented by the Deputy Director Women Programmes Vivian Alabi, Sali said women needed to be trained because training a woman means training the nation.
She said that it was pertinent for women to be empowered irrespective of their status in the society adding that government at all levels must show interest in the care of women.
She explained that the ministry has embarked on various programmes for women especially the widows because being a widow can make them vulnerable in the society.
“This is why the state government is embarking on various training centres for women and we are calling on philanthropists and NGOs to support the programme because government alone cannot do it’’ she said.
The founder, CFWRI, Fadhilah Balogun, said that the NGO was established to promote and protect the interest and well-being of widows and their orphan children.
Balogun said that 16 widows were selected as beneficiaries of the programme based on their youthfulness of age, nature of work and their number of children, adding that each of the selected widows received N20, 000 to assist in their various trades.
Balogun urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously, adding that the foundation would continue to assist in the plight of widows in the society.