LG boss advises widows against cursing children

Widows in the State have been asked to refrain from heaping curses on their children to enable them fulfil their destiny in life.

The Ika Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Marcus Macdonald speaking last Tuesday, during a meeting by Women Advocacy and Support Centre (WASC) Uyo, rather urged widows to always pray for their children to be prosperous.
Saying he was an example of the message of Dakkada, Mr. Macdonald said as a son of a widow who did not give up hope, he encouraged himself with the help of his mother and studied hard to be what he is today.

The Ika Council boss said that Ika Transition Committee, through the Ika Community Enhancement Programme will soon give financial support to widows in Ika and train youths in relevant skills.

 He encouraged the widows not to be despondent of the situation they found themselves, but have faith in God who is using the founder and Chairman of the Women Advocacy and Support Center to meet their needs.

Mr. Mcdonald commended the Chairman of the Women Advocacy and Support Center, Retired Honourable Justice Philomena Etim for her vision in the formation of the NGO and her philanthropic gesture towards the widows in the society which, he said, is complementing the effort of Governor Udom Emmanuel in making life meaningful for Akwa Ibom people.

 The Chairman, who applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel on his industrialization vision for Akwa Ibom State called on the widows in Ika to hold on to the promises of God.

 The Wife of Ika Transition Committee Chairman, Mrs. Grace Marcus Mcdonald thanked the founder and Chairman of the Non-Governmental Organization and members of the team for the visit, particularly for giving financial and legal assistance to widows whose rights are abused and denied.

While commending Governor’s Wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel who had equally shown compassion to the widows, the youths and the less privileged in the state through her pet project, “Family Empowerment and Youth Re-orientation Programme”, she advised the widows and other mothers to take proper care of their children and be patient with the Government of Udom Emmanuel.

The Supervisor for Women Affairs in Ika, Mrs. Augusta Usoro, the Chapter Co-ordinator of Women Advocacy & Support Center, Mrs. Emaedu Otuekong Inyang thanked the founder of the NGO, and charged the widows to have hope and put their trust in God other than man for God will see them through.

 Earlier, the founder and chairman of Women Advocacy and Support Centre (WASC), Retired Honorable Justice Philomena Etim thanked the Chairman, Transition Committee Ika and his wife for according them a warm reception, saying the visit was to sensitize widows of Ika of the existence of Women Advocacy & Women Support Center which came into being in July 22, 2015.

 Mrs. Etim enumerated the objectives of the organization to include free professional and legal services to abused women and children, creating awareness programmes through seminars and workshops; providing skills and training for enhanced livelihood; and economic empowerment to the widows to enable them take care of their children’s education and themselves.

She intimated the widows and Ika people that the initiative to form the organization, was borne out of her concern to affect the lives of the widows and the vulnerable children who have been abused in the society, urging the widows to have faith in God and live righteously even as they keep respecting the relatives of their late husbands.

 In a similar development, widows and orphans in the state have been charged to be hard working to enhance the socio-economic well being of their families.

Etim Ekpo Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Godson Uwah gave this charge last Friday when Hon. Justice Philomena Etim (retired) and her team visited Utu Etim Ekpo council hall.

While correcting an erroneous impression that widows have no hope in the society, Hon. Uwah who was represented by Obongawan Comfort Ekpo urged them to key into the vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel by working to avoid becoming dependent on others.

The founder of the NGO, Hon. Justice Etim said the mission of the NGO is to educate, support and create awareness to the vulnerable persons in the society, hinting that her centre offers free legal services to aid abused and vulnerable women and children.

Assuring the widows of assistance, she said that the NGO has available liaison offices for counselling in hospitals across the state, adding that “Women should work hard and live a positive lives, which will influence their children and the society”.

Mrs. Idongesit Etim, a widow with eight children, who responded on behalf of the 50 widows in attendance, expressed her gratitude to the founder of the NGO for her willingness to assist them, calling for empowerment of the widows to make them less dependent on the society.