By Sunny A. Ijomah
At the ongoing 2019 Local Government Tour of wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, where less-privileged persons, including widows from one hundred and eighty-nine Anambra communities benefit from the gifts of cash and food, no story would have been as sad as that of two widowed sisters who lost their husbands in the space of nine months.
Mrs. Nwakaego Nwachukwu, 41, is a mother of eight who lost her husband last year’s July after some odd circumstances, same as her younger sister, Mrs. Ngozi Ofulu, 37, whose husband passed away this April, leaving her behind with seven kids to carter for.
According to both mothers who are from Akili-Ogidi in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, the tasks of widowhood aggravated by the difficulty in raising as many children on their own have been a thorny experience.
The two widowed sisters said they found a bit of relief having been among the over one thousand less-privileged persons, the aged and disabled, who converged at the Ogbaru Local Government Headquarters in Atani to benefit from the largesse of Dr. Mrs. Obiano, donated through her NGO, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative, CAFE.
They appreciated the Governor’s wife for reaching out to them at a point in their lives when they needed help most, and said they would register for one of the free skills acquisition programmes run by CAFE to aid their living.
While addressing the gathering, Dr. Mrs. Obiano said the skills acquisition programmes was essential, especially for the indigent, including widows like Mrs. Nwachukwu and Mrs. Ofulu, and urged them to tap the opportunity as a means of financial independence and poverty eradication.
The Governor’s wife also spoke of the imperative of her visits in intermixing with the people at the grassroots, to appreciate their needs, see what is obtained in their domain and find a solution to their social and infrastructural needs.
She urged the people of Ogbaru to support contractors executing government contracts in the area to achieve adequate and effective results knowing how important the place is to the agricultural growth of Anambra State.
Dr. Mrs. Obiano also pledged to put in her best towards the immediate rehabilitation of the Primary Health Centers in Ogbaru, and also announced that Governor Willie Obiano has approved the free registration of all APGA female ward leaders into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme for one year.
The Member Representing Ogbaru One Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Honourable Chukwunonso Igwe, who talked about the blessings of being charitable, noted that Dr. Mrs. Obiano’s model of big-heartedness has earned her a place in God’s heart.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Comrade Arinze Awogu noted that the two widows at Osamala and Umnankwo of whom the Governor’s wife erected a two-room furnished bungalow for, with special emphasis on the story of the Umunakwo widow, interprets the depth of her belief in love for the ordinary people.
The President General of Umunakwo Community, Mr. Lazarus Uzoh, of whose community the Governor’s wife just completed and handed over a two-room bungalow to a poor widow barely three months ago, said he was elated he could point to the structure in his community as one of the visible evidences of Dr. Mrs. Obiano’s humanitarian work.
The Governor’s wife was joined at the event by the Member Representing Onitsha South Two at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Honourable Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra State on Farm Implements and Mechanization, Sir. Paul Nwosu, and the wife of Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs. Tina Okafor.
