No fewer than 2,000 widows have benefited from The Roses Ministry ‘s free health screening and donations of food items, clothing materials and drugs, at the 2017 Annual Widows Day programme, organised by The Roses Ministry, a faith-based non-governmental organisation aimed at alleviating the plights of widows, orphans and vulnerable persons in the society.
The programme, held at the Gymnastic Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, with the theme “Made for God’s Pleasure” , had in attendance, top personalities including, Sir. Nnamdi Obi, managing director, Embassy Pharmaceuticals, who was the chairman of the event; Hon. Justice Rose Udeme, retired chief judge of the Federal High Court, who was the keynote speaker among others.
Speaking on how she came up with the vision to start the ministry, the coordinator, Pharm. Regina Ezenwa said the ministry was the result of 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, out of whom six had graduated, saying the figure would have increased to ten by next year.
“We have made it a duty to provide assistance as well as restore the dignity of life, especially for vulnerable widows. So we have as part of our programmes to train at least a child per indigent widow. Presently, we have six graduates, with four of them awaiting NYSC, two awaiting results and several applications awaiting sponsors”.
On the reason for giving out free drugs to those who needed them, she said, “We don’t want anybody to die from lack of drugs. You can even ask those around if anybody paid for her drugs. No! Besides, all the pharmacists you see dispensing drugs here today are volunteers residing or running their stores in Surulere. They even came with free drugs to show solidarity and identify with the programme,” she noted.
She explained further that at the inception of the Widows Programme , some years back, about 50 widows were in attendance, saying in subsequent years, the number grew to about 100; but by 2016, the number had increased to 1000, which eventually has doubled by this year.
She said the number keeps rising because virtually all the women were coming along with fellow widows who had not heard of the ministry through ‘word of mouth.’
“We have empowered the youths through seminars and Bible counseling. Some orphanage homes have also benefited from the Foundation‘s largesse. The ministry will continue to work towards its goal of bringing succor and healing to the homes of these widows, while restoring broken marriages and relationships,” she said.
The programme featured praise and worship, drama, free medical attention, counseling and giving out of relief materials, ranging from Bibles, Ankara fabrics, bags of rice, drinks, to tomato pastes, loaves of bread, vegetable oil, toiletries and drugs to the widows.
Among the dignitaries who attended the event were Wole Olufon, international director, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI); Lady Olusola Fasanmi; Ven. Igien Isemede; Barr. (Mrs) Ijeoma Chuks-Okoye, trustee, The Roses Ministry; Engr Obidi Ezenwa, trustee, The Roses Ministry; Mrs. Stella Kragha, trustee, The Roses Ministry
Others were Engr. Chikwelu Ezenwa, a telecom expert; Lady Ann Okechukwu, staff, The Roses Ministry; Mrs Grace Oji, trustee, The Roses Ministry and Mr. Emeka Anyaegbuna, among others.
