Anambra State Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt. Hon. Barrister Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche has empowered three widows who are petty traders with fifty thousand naira each to invest in their businesses or start a new one.
Also, other 150 widows received bags of rice and cash as early Christmas largesse from the Commissioner during her seasonal get-together with widows in Onitsha South Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event which held at the local government headquarters at Fegge, Onitsha, the wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo who supported the commissioner with bags of rice, commended her for always remembering the downtrodden in the society.
Mrs Soludo who was represented by the state woman leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mrs Esther Onyekesi told the widows that Governor Chukwuma Soludo understands the economic hardship in the country and the impact it has on the poor and less privileged, stating that this is why he has initiated policies such free education, free delivery and antenatal service and massive infrastructural development to alleviate the suffering of the poor masses.
On her part, Commissioner Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche asked the women not to be despaired by the absence of their husbands, promising them that she will continue to remember them and give them necessary support.
She explained that the widows’ empowerment is a programme she hold three times a year especially during celebrations to help the women celebrate the season without feeling dejected.
Hon. Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche also asked the widows to maintain home gardens in line with the Anambra State government’s “Farm-To-Feed” initiative as a way to fight hunger and eat healthy and organic foods.
Welcoming the Wife of the Governor, the Commissioner and her entourage to the council headquarters, the Mayor, Hon. Emeka Orji represented by his deputy, Hon. Onyebuchi Obi expressed happiness that the Commissioner remembered the poor women and promised his continued support to initiatives that will better the lot of the poor in the local government area.
Two benefitting petty traders, Mrs Calista Echerem who is a food vendor and Mrs Chinasa Ukwueze, a satchet water hawker narrated how they have been suffering to feed their children since their husbands died and thanked the Commissioner for remembering them, praying God to continue to bless her life’s endeavours.
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