–As over 3000 beneficiaries smile home with gifts
It was a harvest of encomiums for the Roses Ministry, a faith-based non-governmental organisation, focusing on alleviating the plights of widows, orphans and vulnerable persons in the society, at its Annual Widows’ Day Programme, held recently at the Oraukwu Hall, Surulere, Lagos, which had over 3000 widows spread across the length and breadth of the state.
Speaking at the 2023 edition of the programme, with the theme “Bringing in the sheaves”, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, executive vice-chairman, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, and immediate past president of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), commended the leadership of the NGO, for sustaining the initiative despite the economic challenges it had encountered, especially this year.
The respected pharmacist, who is also the chairman of Board of Trustees, The Roses Ministry, lauded the doggedness of the coordinator of the ministry, Pharm. (Mrs) Regina Ezenwa, in sustaining the programme, adding that she is a woman of God who has a call and has responded to it.
On the personality of Pharm. Ezenwa, Ohuabunwa remarked, “This is the true religion that Jesus Christ requested of us, and just like the bible says ‘those who embrace the true religion are those who visit the widows, orphans, those in prison and the very poor ones. So what has happened here today is practical Christianity, showing love, sharing love and giving hope to the hopeless, and it is part of the fulfilment of our profession, as pharmacists”, he said.
In his speech, the Chairman of the event, Chief Simeon Eyisi, chief executive officer of SIMS Nigeria Limited, noted that the programme was historic in his life and that of his wife, Barr (Mrs) Berna Eyisi, adding that both of them have learnt a real practical way of showing love to the needy, admonishing the Roses Ministry to keep doing the good work and be rest assured that God who has called them will see them through.
On the reason for donating a sum of 5 million naira at the event, the Chairman said he was moved by what he saw inside the hall, adding that the number of people he saw was overwhelming and the quantity of the materials and food items meant to be distributed was huge.
Speaking in the same vein, Pharm. Ernest Okafor, managing director, Nemitt Pharmaceuticals, described Pharm. Ezenwa as an exemplary figure, who is beautiful inside and outside, adding that the dream of her Ministry is huge and it is scriptural in fulfilment of Christians obligations.
The guest speaker of the event, Lady Gwen Ike-Nwachukwu, while commending the Roses Ministry for the kind gesture, took some time to comfort and advise the widows present at the event on the need for perseverance and good character, adding that the two virtues are more important in the journey of life.
Speaking on how she came up with the vision to start the Ministry, the coordinator, Pharm. Ezenwa, said the Roses Ministry was a divine call she received, adding that, since inception, it had indeed come a long way as the initiative now has several children on scholarship.
Speaking on the annual programme, she said the annual event is organised to show love to widows who are helpless and vulnerable, by celebrating them and assisting them to at least put food on their tables by providing them with foodstuff, wrappers, bread, and other items, adding that people have been coming every year to register irrespective of their tribes, race, colour, denomination and religion, saying the concern of the Ministry is to ensure they are all taken care of, as well as given the message of hope.
The respected pharmacist disclosed that at the inception of the Widows Programme, some years back, only a few widows were in attendance, saying in subsequent years, the number grew, which eventually increased to over 3000 this year. She added that the number kept rising because virtually all the women were coming along with fellow widows.
In her appreciation to The Roses’ Ministry, one of the widows, Mrs Taiwo Ajala, a businesswoman who lost her husband in 2014, and joined The Roses Ministry in 2015, said she has no regret joining the Ministry despite coming from a Muslim background, adding that since she became a member, the Ministry has been catering for her and her family, including her daughter, Oluwadamilola Ajala, who got a scholarship from The Roses Ministry and recently graduated at OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Also speaking in the same vein, another beneficiary, Mrs Victoria Adatang, said she lost her husband in 2004, with two kids, a boy and a girl, adding that life was difficult for her until she got in contact with the Roses Ministry. “Since I joined Roses Ministry, God has been faithful to my family, to the extent that one of my children, a girl was given a scholarship by Roses and today, she is through with her National Diploma, with the hope that she will continue her Higher National Diploma next year.
She continued, “Not only that, apart from numerous gifts and support, including spiritual support, I was given a sum of 100,000 to start a business, so I am indebted to Roses Ministry and I pray that God will continue to bless and uplift the ministry”.
While speaking, the duo of Mrs Ugochi Roland-Opara, coordinator of the widows’ department, and Pharm. Amaka Ofomata, ACPN, Surulere Zone, noted that the programme was able to hold this year due to divine providence, adding that at the beginning of this year, they were not sure it would hold at all not to talk of having the number of beneficiaries it recorded due to economic challenges in the country.
The programme featured praise and worship, free medical care, counselling and giving out of relief materials, ranging from Bibles, Ankara fabrics, bags of rice, drinks, loaves of bread, vegetable oil, toiletries and drugs to the widows.
How has Roses Ministry contributed to raising awareness about the needs and rights of widows in the broader discourse, as noted by Ohuabunwa and Okafor?