By Erhuvwu Apumami
A non- governmental organisation (NGO), Restoring the Wounded Outreach, has distributed packs of rice and brand new clothing materials to scores of widows in Ughelli, Delta State.
The distribution project tagged, “Let the widow smile”, was part of the yearly activities of the organization.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the distribution, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Dr Charity Atoma, harped on the need to make positive impacts in people’s lives, especially the wounded
Atoma disclosed that the organisation was founded to make positive impacts in people’s lives, describing the wounded as the widows, orphans, less privileged, homeless and other vulnerable persons, helplessly passing through one form of pain or the other.
She said, “I was once a widow and got married again to a widower. Sometimes, I and my husband talk about what we went through and how God saw us through.
“A particular day, it dawned on me to begin to have a forum where young and old widows can come together, rub minds with them, encourage them and give little assistance financially’
“I discussed it with my husband and he welcomed the idea and since then, we would always remove a particular percent from our salaries to fund the organissation,” she revealed.
On further explanation as to how she has been funding the organisation, the CEO, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro said “as a matter of fact, God told us to dedicate 10 percent of our salaries every month for the yearly programme.
“The previous year we met like this, we were able to empower about 20 widows with cash gifts to enable them start up something. We have been doing this and we do it from our salaries. ‘
She commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his support for widows in the state through the widows welfare scheme which she described as laudable.
She, however, appealed for more support from the state government, corporate organisations, philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians to enable her NGO do more for widows.