As part of its commitment to foster empowerment in marginalised communities, Flame Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation under the CINTA Widows Empowerment Programme, have donated food items, funds, and other materials to widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The outreach carried out in Abuja, was in collaboration with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Lord?s Place, Abuja.

Speaking, the Lead Pastor of the RCCG, the Lord?s Place, Pastor Ola Omosebi, charged the Federal government to make concerted efforts to enhance the current economic situation facing the country, deploying urgent solutions without altering long-term policies.

Pastor Omosebi said the church is emulating how Christ fed 5,000 persons during famine while asking the government to act fast to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

?The major direction of this event is to have at least one day a year where widows are brought together and empowered with soft skills, business skills, enterprise skills, skills and encouragement. One of the things this program offers is hope. ?

He urged the government to support Widows through Sustainable Initiatives. Providing a dedicated secretariat advocating for women, particularly widows, with government representatives.

?People are struggling to make ends meet, and the prolonged hardship is leading to depression, despair, and even death. The government must prioritize quick-fix solutions alongside long-term plans to restore hope and confidence in the economy.?

Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat of the FCT Administration (FCTA), Dr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, expressed empathy for the resilient widows, noting that one cannot understand what it means to be in their shoes.

Laniyi, represented by her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Kemi Samuel, noted the fundamental role a husband/father plays, stating that loss can change lives and test the core of beings.

She celebrated the widows for their resilience and strength while acknowledging the challenges amidst the hardship and grief come the capacity to adapt.

She said: ?We are here to support one another. Let today be a reminder to encourage and uplift one another.

?It?s an honour to celebrate strength, resilience, and community.

She noted that the event is a testament to the extraordinary courage and unwavering determination of everyone who has navigated the challenges of widows.

Also, the President of Widows Organisation International FCT Chapter, Aisha Baba Ringo, advised widows to persevere and be hardworking.

According to her, ?Being a widow doesn?t mean all hope is lost, it?s also not a stigma?.

A beneficiary of the programme, Ms Oyeyemi Obende, said the programme has been educative, innovative and supportive. She advised widows not to give up even if the world looked down on them.

Flame Initiatives was established to provide the disadvantaged and mainly rural population with relief materials, motivation, and empowerment to improve their physical and social well-being. Their main objective is to drive social change in communities by facilitating development in the public and private sectors.

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