A religious group, Message of Salvation Women Ministry (MSWM ) on Tuesday 10th December distributed food items and clothes to hundreds of the needy widows in Ilorin, Kwara state to feed their families in the forthcoming Christmas and new year festivities.
Under the Ministry’s yearly GIVE THEM RELIEF PROGRAMME, the beneficiaries who were mostly aged widows and other women were given a package containing Rice, Beans, Gari and six yards of Adire cloths to celebrate the yuletide.
Most of the beneficiaries were also provided with transport fare to and from their destinations.
The founder of the group, Mrs Florence Ajagbe, a retiree, said that the Ministry was established in
“in May 2005 as a prayer group to care for the Widows and other women in the society. Other objectives include changing lives of women and their families, empowering them and caring for the Widows as directed by God", she said.
Ajagbe who said that the Ministry expended over N5m on the gift items disclosed that five beneficiaries were selected from each of the Churches in Ilorin as well as other towns and villages within Kwara state.
Mrs. Ajagbe Presenting Adire Cloth to a Widow
She urged the Widows to live a better life worthy of emulation advising them not to lose hope adding that they should engage in fervent prayers for their children.
"As Widows, you should be close to God. You should not lose hope because your partners have gone and no longer with you. Always devote your service to God and engage in prayers. Pray for your children wherever they are as they are the ones left to cater for you", she counseled.
In his sermon at the event, Reverend Moses BabatomiwaOwojaiye urged the Widows not to lose hope but to look unto the Lord who is capable of doing all things.
Owojaye, a senior Pastor with the Evangelical Winning All (ECWA) Church, Ilorin praised the ministry for providing succour for the Widows.
Revd. Owoyaiye During a Praying Session the Event
He said, "It is a sad development that we have many windows in the society but we are grateful that we have a group like MSWM caring for them as widows face a lot of emotional feelings when they lose their loved ones. They need our support, counsel and prayers to comfort them."
The Cleric while speaking in an interview with journalists noted that poor governance in the country had worsened the plight of widows in the society.
Owojaye urged government at all levels to be more strategic in the provision of amenities for senior citizens including the Widows in terms of medical care, insurance and social schemes, adding that they should come up with things that bring joy to humanity.
He also called on religious and private organizations as well as individuals to come to the aid of widows and widowers in the society.
Expressing appreciation to the Women Ministry, Mrs Elizabeth Titcombe who said that she lost her husband in 1982, stated that the pack given to them this year was better than that of the previous years as a six-yard Adire cloth was included.
The 91-year old woman who said that she joined the Message of Salvation Women Ministry about ten years ago said, "Although I'm not a member of the founder's Church as I attend St Joseph Catholic Church, Taiwo Road, Ilorin, I found the weekly prayer meetings enjoyable and very beneficial to my family. God will bless Mrs. Ajagbe, her husband and the Ministry."
Another beneficiary, Mrs Rachael Abatan who claimed to be worshipping at Victory Church, Offa garage area, Ilorin said she was satisfied with the words of God preached to them at the Tuesday weekly prayer meetings of the Ministry.
"We are very appreciative of what the Message of Salvation Women Ministry gave us as Christmas package. We are praying for Mrs. Ajagbe who is the founder of the ministry and her husband and children for long life, and also for the members and their families.I'm particularly happy about the food items and the cloth", she said.
One of the beneficiaries who identified herself as Mrs Idayat Amusa, said that her friend informed her about the event, observed that she was happy that the Ministry still gave her food items and transport fare despite the fact that her name was not originally on the list of beneficiaries.
By Tunde Oyekola
Date : 20th December 2024
