Forty-four widows in the commercial city of Onitsha were, on Tuesday, given startup capital by the wife of the first President of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Azikiwe.

This is coming after the completion of six months' training on bread and confectioneries, soap making, bread making, held and hat making.

The event, which took place on the Mother Benedette Anyaogu Memorial Technical and Vocational Institute premises in Onitsha comprised of both indigenes and non-indigenes as beneficiaries.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Prof. Azikiwe enjoined the widows to make proper use of the empowerment opportunity so as to actualuse its purpose.

She said: “Widows Lifeline (WILL) is a non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) started on Dec. 22, 2001, with widows, the girl child, orphans as their target.

“The training will enable you to be economically independent. The profit you will make from the business will help you to solve your basic needs.”

“Investing on a girl child is a wise investment. I urge you mothers to educate your girl child because when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.

“Empowering other people is a way of testifying to God’s abundant blessings in our lives, and I won’t stop doing it.”

While saying that the NGO is working towards becoming a strong platform for, addressing the plight of its target group, Late Zoo’s wife explained that her desire to help mankind through charity started after attending Women Conference organised by the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Awka, in 2001.

She urged the widows to be a source of support system to one another, and keep on strengthening themselves. She noted that empowering other people is a way of testifying to God’s abundant blessings in her life.

The coordinator of the school Rev. Sr. Mary Obasi, hailed the Widows Lifeline Director for partnering with the school where the training was done to ameliorate the plight of women.

One of the beneficiaries Nkemdilim Aniezue, a civil servant from Enugwu Agidi, said she needed the skills in addition to her salary to enable her train her children without depending on people.

She applauded Prof. Azikiwe for dedicating herself to caring for the widows and ensuring their well-being, promising to start off immediately.

On her part, Mrs. Victoria Azikiwe, a widow for 22 years expressed joy for the help rendered to her by Prof Azikiwe.

She revealed that she had made some sales from her handiwork during the training period.

The beneficiaries were also handed certificates for completing their six months' training.

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