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| Goschen |
*International Widows’ Day
The MTN Foundation, the
corporate social responsibility vehicle of Nigeria’s leading ICT company, MTN
Nigeria, has partnered with the Ministry of Women Affairs to commemorate the
first ever International Widows’ Day in Nigeria.
The Foundation seized the
occasion to unveil its Widows Empowerment Scheme through which it is providing
training and tools of trade for select widows in the six geo-political zones of
Nigeria.
Speaking at the press
conference to commemorate the occasion, MTN Foundation Director, Mr. Akinwale
Goodluck, represented by the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Ms. Nonny
Ugboma, described MTNF Widows Empowerment Scheme as an initiative aimed at
providing business management skills and equipment support for widows in
Nigeria to improve their living conditions.
“Economic empowerment of women,
including widows is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty in Nigeria,
because when women are empowered, the standard of living of the entire family
is improved,” Goodluck said.
According to him, a
recent United Nations study reports that 115 million widows live in extreme
poverty worldwide along with their children, adding that reports such as this
prompted the Foundation to seek for ways of assisting widows.
Goodluck said the
Foundation however realized that addressing the challenges faced by widows
required a proper understanding of the issues, which was why the Foundation began
its intervention by organizing a stakeholders’ workshop on widows’ concerns in
2011 to understand the unique multi-dimensional challenges faced by widows in Nigeria.
MTNF Widows Empowerment Scheme is a by-product of the consultation.
“We believe that the unfortunate loss of the
head of a home should not be the end of comfortable life for that household.
Provided with the necessary support, a widow can be a source of inspiration to her
household, her community and can also make valuable contributions to the
development of the society,” Goodluck said.
Over the next few
months, beneficiaries drawn from Imo State, Lagos State, Rivers State, Sokoto
State, Taraba State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who were
carefully assessed using a comprehensive vulnerability index analysis questionnaire
followed by physical verification, will receive formal training and be
presented with their tools of trade.
Also speaking at the conference, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia
Zainab Maina, commended MTN
Foundation for deeming it fit to improve the quality of life of the
beneficiaries by providing business management skills and equipment.
“It is highly
commendable that MTN is concerned about impacting the lives of people,
including the widows in our society who are more often than not neglected.
While I advise the beneficiaries to fully participate and tap into the benefits
of this programme, I encourage other organisations in the private sector to
take a cue from MTN Foundation and together, we will improve the quality of
life in our society,” said Maina.
June 23 is celebrated annually as the International Widows’ Day, set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to draw global attention to the plight of widows around the world with a view to ameliorating their conditions.
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