No fewer than twenty-six indigent widows, two each, from
the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State who had no homes are now proud owners of a befeating 3bedroom bungalow, built by the wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, through her pet project, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and internally displaced Foundation (BERWO)
The beneficiaries, who are mostly aged widows, were selected for the Ebonyi First Lady’s housing project following their pathetic conditions. The governor’s wife selected two widows from each of the 13 local government areas for the housing project which started last year and completed this year.
Most of the widows were living in makeshift structures that were in deplorable conditions before succour came their way. It was tears of joy and thanksgiving for Mrs. Nwankwoeke Ekoyo and Mrs. Ophoke Cecilia Ogbinya in Ndiegu Azu Echara, Ikwo local government area and Amegu Onicha in Abakaliki local govermment area last week when their houses were handed to them by Mrs. Nwifuru.
The two widows said they have been living in makeshift shelters, enduring the harsh realities of widowhood and the uncertainty of unsafe housing. They lauded the Ebonyi first lady for the gesture.
Mrs. Ekoyo, who lamented her condition since her husband died years ago, told Daily Sun that she didn’t expect to live in a beautiful house like the one that was handed over to her by Mrs. Nwifuru.
“I didn’t expect this kind gesture. I have never seen this type of thing before, somebody handing over house key to someone .
“When you look at where I am living, you will discover that I don’t deserve this type of befitting house. Since my husband died, things have not been easy for me. I have been finding it very difficult to feed my child and I never believed I will be remembered this way.
“Today, I am now among those living in good houses and I owe wife of our dear governor great gratitude,” she said.
Inaugurating the houses for the two widows, Mrs. Nwifuru described the project as part of her mission to wipe away the tears of widows and ensure they live with dignity.
“Every widow deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected. A roof over one’s head is not a luxury; it is a necessity. These homes are a reminder that widows are not forgotten, they are part of our family, our community, and our future,” she said.
She described the widows’ housing project as an integral component of her mission to eradicate the struggles of widows and ensure they live with dignity.
The Chairman of Ikwo local government area, Sunday Nwankwo, commended the governor’s wife for her generosity towards the less privileged and expressed gratitude for the construction of houses for the two widows in his council.
“We deeply appreciate your benevolence and display of maternal affection and care for the less privileged. Providing relief remains the foremost objective of BERWO.
“We also commend Governor Francis Nwifuru for continually providing a conducive environment for our endeavors to flourish,” he said.
Community leaders and women’s groups present at the ceremonies lauded the initiative as a beacon of compassionate leadership. They noted that the First lady’s widows’ housing project was not just building houses but rebuilding lives, one widow at a time.
Other houses built by Mrs. Nwifuru for the select widows in Ikwo local government area is at Ndieguazu Ndiegu Echara and Effiemgbabu Inyimage village for Mrs Josephine Ekoyo Nwanchor and
Mrs Onueyim Elizabeth, while Mrs Elom Mbam Ogodo in Amegu Onicha village, Edda community in Abakaliki local government also benefited.
The event was attended by community leaders, government officials, traditional rulers, women’s groups, and youths.
Mrs Nwifuru had, on September 19, inaugurated two fully completed 3-bedroom bungalows for widows in Ishielu and Ohaukwu local government areas of the state.
The widows who benefited from the gesture are Mrs. Beatrice Okohu of Ugbodo Agba and Mrs. Igwe Lillian. They had endured years of hardship and lived in unsafe conditions until Mrs. Nwifuru’s intervention .
Speaking at the commissioning ceremonies, the governor’s wife reaffirmed that the housing project was borne out of her resolve to restore dignity, hope and security to widows who often bear the brunt of economic and social challenges.
She emphasized that access to safe housing is not a privilege but a basic right that every woman deserves, especially those who continue to raise families against all odds.
“Our widows are the silent strength of our communities. By giving them a roof over their heads, we are giving them stability, safety, and a renewed sense of belonging. These homes are symbols of compassion, love, and our collective duty to uplift one another,” she said
The Commissioner for Housing, Francis Ori, commended the First lady for her tireless advocacy and people-centered interventions. He described the initiative as a legacy project that is changing lives at the grassroots and setting Ebonyi State as a model for compassionate governance.
Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu said Mrs. Nwifuru also constructed a 3-bedroom bungalow for a widow in Umuhuali community in Ishielu Local Government Area and commended her for touching the lives of indigent widows across the state.
“I feel so happy for Mrs Nwifuru’s gesture. This is a dream come through and we are seeing it live.
“Even in my own village, I have one like this constructed by the governor’s wife for a widow who had no hope, a widow who had no where to sleep.
“This one has mud house, my own didn’t have any and wife of our dear governor constructed house for her in Ezza Umuhu-ali and we are all happy,” she said.
Obichukwu urged widows to be on their own by engaging in meaningful ventures to maintain their dignity rather than sleeping with men.
Mrs. Beatrice Okohu from Agba community, who was full of joy and praises when her own bungalow was inaugurated by Mrs. Nwifuri last Friday, described her as a succour giver. She said she didn’t expect the gesture and prayed God to bless the First Lady.
The widow said when some persons came into her compound last December, she was afraid and started running away when they started measuring her compound. She said she thought that they came to takeover the compound until those people calmed her down and told her that they came to erect a house for her.
“I was afraid when people came into my compound with a car and started measuring my land. I immediately started running away. They called me back and told me that I should not run, that they were planning to build a house for me.
“After few weeks, I started seeing vehicles carrying sand, cement, block and other building materials into my compound. I was so surprised and started asking how they got to know me and my compound.
“I discovered that it was Mrs. Chinwe Okah from our place that recommended me for the house and I was speechless because I didn’t know I will be remembered this way.
“I thank Mrs. Chinwe Okah for attracting this house for me. I thank wife of our governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, whom God used to erect a befitting shelter for me. You can see makeshift structure I was living before the construction of this beautiful house for me by wife of the governor. Part of it as you can see has collapsed.
“I give God the glory for using wife of our governor to give me a befitting place as a house,” she stated.
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