NEWS: Adamawa state celebrated International widows Day at Government House, Yola.

Widows Day, which is celebrated  on 23rd  of June , is not celebrated as at when due, Instead celebrated on 29th  September  due to security issues 

Widows Day is day set aside by the United nation ( UN) to commemorate with women who have lost  their heart- throb husbands, bread winners, helpers and indeed better halves. The celebration is intended to raise an action towards addressing the plight of widows as regards Injustices and denial of inheritance  rights, stigmatisation, isolation (where widows is accused of being responsible  for husbands death), poverty, unemployment and harmful traditional practices among others. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Never Alone” .

In his  welcome address, the Hon. Commissioner Ministry for Women Affairs, social development and integration. Alhaji Aliyu Bello Tola  commends the efforts of his Excellency, sen. Muhammad Umar Jibrilla  for uplifting the lives of widows and orphans  in the state in order to alleviate their sufferings.  He further applauds the efforts of security forces and development Partners  for touching the lives of women and children and ensuring that peace is restored in the state. 

In his remarks, the Adamawa state governor sen.  Muhammad Umar Jibrilla,   said his  administration  is doing its best in ensuring that, the women/widows and children are carried along.  He commends the efforts of Ministry for women Affairs and development partners   for taking care of women and children. 

In her speech, the president widows association council Mrs. Hilda Makanto, said “ Widows Day is an Action  Day  to call on government to formulate and deliberate policies towards ameliorating challenges of widows and their children, philantrophist , NGOS and other development partners  to equally support the plight of widows. She further stated that global statistics as at 2015 revealed that 259 million widows and 585 fatherless children abound in the universe, while Adamawa state alone has a fearful figure  of over 25,000 to show. She called on the government to take  concrete  measure as regards to reduction and stamping  out of maternal mortality ailments in the health sector, establishment of more  girls  boarding schools for quality girl child education in the state. She further called on  government to equip widows dilapidated office with necessary equipment and gadgets that befits an office for effective result. “Provision of monthly stipends  to enable us pay our  staff their due  welfare will be a welcome development.

Finally she pleads to government to provide them with vehicles to enable them transport sociology humanitarian services effectively to their teaming members in the rural areas.

In her remarks, the permanent secretary, ministry for women Affairs, Hajiya Maisaratu Bello, applauds the  efforts of the present government and development partners  for coming to the aid of women and children whenever the need arise.

There were goodwill messages by representatives, civil society organisations  NCWS, CAN, FOMWAN and NAWOJ. 

In her address, wife of the executive governor of Adamawa state Hajiya Maryam Muhammad Umar Jibrilla, said” the aim of this celebration is to further the cause of widows through sharing of realistic ideas that would launch our path to success. She promised to lay a solid foundation  for the betterment of the lives of widows in the state. 

In the same vain, the widows presents the level of generosity shown to them  by the present government  by exhibiting their talents to the Governor and his wife Hajiya Maryam Muhammad Umar Jibrilla, where each local government display their products. 

To add more, the widows association presents 50 bags of Rice, wrappers and other food items to be distributed among their fellow widows , and the sum of 5000 (five thousand naira ) to some orphans in the state.

There was presentation of gift to deserving participants  and orphans present by governor wife.

Those present at the occasion are; Secretary to the state government, Hon. Member representing Numan constituency, who is also chairperson House committee on women Affairs, Mrs. Sodom Tayide, Hon. Commissioner Ministry for Women Affairs, Permanent Secretary ADSEMA, Wives of Hon. Commissioners, Representative of UN Agencies and CSOs  NAWOJ, CAN, FOMWAN, UNICEF, UNFPA among others.

BY : AISHA SAAD 

Information Officer 

Ministry of women affairs