Widows empowered in Kano

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Over 100 widows in Kano received economic empowerment through skills acquisition and mentoring organized by Praying Friends Network (PFN) at Holy Trinity Church, Igbo Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.

The programme was organized in commemoration of 2023 International Widows Day.

Apart from tutoring and mentoring the widows on self-reliance, self-confidence and economic empowerment, they were also trained on various skills implementation programmes to enable them to achieve financial independence and become breadwinners.

Speaking to journalists on the idea behind the programme, PFN President, Thompson I. Chukwurah, said it was to create innovative models that will empower widows economically.

According to him, “The theme of International Widows Day 2023 is ‘Innovation and technology for gender equality.’

“Our goal is to create Innovative models that will empower widows economically in Kano, Abuja and Lagos through strategic technologies that will pull 4000 Widows out of poverty.

“Models of Innovative source of income and management of finances, innovative ways on how widows can be empowered, self-employed, and entrepreneurs is our focus with technology that generates income and supports gender equality.

“Today, we aim to amplify the voices of widows that face injustice, discrimination, and poverty.

In his remarks, one of the resource persons, Pastor Kelvin Ekeke, a financial analyst, reminded the widows of the need to save and invest for rainy days.

According to him, “No matter what you ate yesterday, there is hunger today; and you have to save for tomorrow.”

One of the widows, Chief Rose Obalum expressed gratitude to the organizers of the programme for raising the hope of widows in Kano state.

Chief Obalum, a popular caterer in Kano known by the name Hajiya Salad,  said even though she lost her husband over for a long time now, she has remained strong and financially independent.

She encouraged her fellow widows to remain strong and engage in activities that will benefit them and society, instead of succumbing to the stigmatization of widowhood.