Okowa Approves Increase Of Stipend For 11,107 Widows In Delta, Empowers 565 Others

As part of ongoing efforts to reduce the plight of the vulner­able in the state, Delta Govern­ment on Sunday empowered 565 widows through its Widows Skill Acquisition and Empow­erment Programme.

The widows were empow­ered with starter packs after undergoing training in five different areas of vocational training hairdressing, fashion and design, make-up, soap mak­ing and baking.

Addressing the beneficiaries at the ceremony in Asaba at the event themed: “Sustainable Solutions for Widows Finan­cial Independence”, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said that the empowerment was part of mea­sures to tackle challenges faced by some vulnerable members of the society, especially wid­ows.

Okowa further ordered the increase in the number of ben­eficiaries of the scheme from 11,000 to 20,000 and the month­ly stipend from N5, 000 to N10, 000 monthly as he urged them to use the starter packs to fend for themselves and add to the improvement of the economy of the State.

Okowa said, ” We are here to fulfill part of our promise for a Stronger Delta as we tackle the challenges faced by some vul­nerable members of society through providing starter packs to 565 widows across the State.

“These widows have under­gone training in five different areas of vocational training, which consist of hairdressing, fashion and design, make-up, soap making and baking.

“This will go a long way in shoring up the economic suste­nance of these widows and by the grace of God, will position them in due course, to offer training and employment to other Deltans.
“At the commencement of the Widows’ Welfare Scheme, 5,607 widows were placed on a stipend of N5, 000 each.

After the enumeration of widows in the State, the number was increased to 11, 107,” adding “The women were drawn from the 270 federal wards in the 25 local government areas of the State.”

He explained that apart from the monthly stipend, the widows enjoyed free healthcare services through the state’s contributory health insurance scheme in accredited hospitals and primary healthcare centres in their localities.

While saying that the wid­ows’ welfare scheme was non-partisan, Okowa noted that it was for women resi­dents in the state irrespective of political affiliation, tribe and religion.

He urged the beneficiaries to build on the economic elevation to improve their living standard and that of their dependents.