Christy Anyanwu
Saturday June 23 is a day of double celebrations day for Rose of Sharon Foundation (ROSF). The non-governmental organisation will be celebrating its 10th anniversary of giving succour to widows on that day. It would also join the world to mark the International Widows Day.
Last Saturday, the foundation held a walk to raise awareness on the plight of widows and orphans in the society. The walk, which kicked off at 7.am from the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos, involved hundreds of widows. They marched down Funsho Williams Avenue, Tejuosho and Sabo before having a brief rest and reception at the foundation’s sister company, ‘Digital Reality,’ on Oyadiran Estate, Onike Yaba.
It was a colourful sight with the convener, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, members of the Board of Trustees of the foundation and the widows, all attired in red Tee shirts and fez caps. They walked gallantly, accompanied with ambulance, a bus filled with bottles of water, glucose and of course, security personnel.
Mrs Alakija said the walk was against the discrimination of widows in the society. She pleaded with government to assist widows by giving them preferential treatment when employing, noting that widows were the sole breadwinners of the family.
“They are carrying the loads of two. Their breadwinners are gone, and they should be allowed to work so that they would be able to put food on the table of their children. God will help our government to look into their plight,” she said.
She also called upon well meaning Nigerians to render assistance to widows and orphans. Her words: “There are so many ways that you assist. You can use your talents to assist the widows. As a doctor, lawyer, render your service free of charge to the widows. Whatever talent God has given you, there are ways you could reach out to the widows around you.”
The foundation, which started with three widows on May 23, 2008, has empowered over 3000 widows through vocational skills acquisition. It has awarded scholarships to the children of 1,366 widows and 86 orphans.
At the press briefing to kick off the 10th anniversary programme, Alakija announced another intake of 350 beneficiaries before the year ends. “Out of this number, 100 will be empowered during our 10th year celebration on Saturday, and awards will be given out that day to all those who have been supporting us over the years. Our stakeholders and partners will be recognised that day. It’s a day for the widows to rejoice in the presence of God for all He has done for us, what He’s doing and what He is yet to do.”
Mrs Blessing Chikandu, one of the widows, lives at Agbado Ijaiye, Lagos. She told the reporter: “My daughter got a scholarship from JSS 3 and she’s now in 300 level at Imo State University, studying Marketing. The foundation pays her school fees and pays for her accommodation. I want to thank Mama for helping us. She provides us with different Tee shirts and Ankara clothes. I have almost six Ankara materials from our mama. God will keep her for us.”
Another widow, Taiwo Odeleye, said: “I started with ROSF 10 years ago. My son is in 300 level now. Mama turned my sorrow to joy. She’s paying my children’s school fees from secondary school to the university. She does Christmas party for us every year. I pray that God will promote her children and her husband.”
Mrs. Kehinde Aderati said the foundation had been sponsoring two of her children at the Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos respectively, while Funmi Ogunwo said the foundation had been paying the school fees of her son and daughter.
Folashade Olayiwola, another widow, said Mrs. Alakija visited her house after her husband’s death and assured her that her bills would be taken care of.
“The foundation is paying my daughter’s school fees. She’s in JSS2 in a private secondary school,” she said.
Mrs. Omodayo Kehinde said her daughter in SS1 was being catered for by the foundation. “Aside paying our children’s school fees, she organises empowerment programmes for us at intervals. Most of us are skilled in different vocations – hairdressing, hat making, bead making, catering, and make-up. Two days before this walk, there was another empowerment programme on how to make spaghetti and macaroni. She also brings experts to teach us how to save and multiply our income,” Kehinde said.