Benin Widow Begs FG, Edo Govt: Make Provisions For Widows, Monitor Them”

Benin Widow Begs FG, Edo Govt: “Make Provisions For Widows, Monitor Them”

A Benin-based widow, Mrs. Rita Aghaghowa Chiedu, has called on the Federal and Edo State Governments to make special provisions for widows across the country.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City on Thursday ,Mrs. Chiedu, popularly known as “Ebony Black Rita“, said she lost her husband a few years ago and has since been struggling to cater for her three children – two girls and a boy alone.

Despite her pain, Mrs. Chiedu urged fellow widows not to lose hope.
“My advice to fellow widows is to trust God Almighty as the only hope. Trust in man will abysmally worsen and dash your hopes,” she said.

She said losing her husband so early has been her greatest pain, but her faith and her work in computer services have kept her and her children going.

She described the condition of widows, especially young widows, as “pathetic and full of total neglect” by both family members and government.

“Widows suffer untold neglect either by relations of their late husbands or family members who have no godly hearts,” she said.

The computer professional and devout Christian, urged government at all levels to create and monitor welfare programmes for widows to ensure they are adequately cared for.

She also advised fellow widows to put their trust in God Almighty, saying “trust in man will abysmally worsen and dash your hopes.”