The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has reaffirmed her commitment to empowering widows and other vulnerable groups through targeted interventions spanning healthcare, economic empowerment and social protection.
Lady Obareki made the pledge on Wednesday at a widows’ empowerment programme organised by the Mary Slessor-Akan Glo Foundation in Akwa Ibom, themed “Empowering Widows: From Resilience to Leadership.” She described the theme as a call not only to survival but to transformation, noting that widows continue to demonstrate remarkable strength despite economic hardship, social exclusion and limited opportunities.
According to her, the resilience exhibited by widows positions them as emerging leaders within their families and communities. She stressed that leadership transcends titles, encompassing influence, confidence, self-reliance and the capacity to drive meaningful change.
“When we empower widows, we are not just supporting individuals; we are strengthening families, stabilising communities and building a more inclusive society,” she said, adding that the Office of the First Lady, through the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All, remains committed to ensuring that no woman is left behind.
She recalled that in 2025, as part of activities marking International Widows’ Day, 150 widows aged between 25 and 40 were trained in snail and mushroom farming. The initiative, she said, has yielded encouraging results, with several beneficiaries now running successful enterprises and mentoring others.
Lady Obareki also commended Governor Umo Eno for plans to establish ARISE cooperatives across the state’s 369 wards, describing the initiative as a strategic step towards enhancing financial inclusion and collective empowerment, particularly for women and widows.
She urged beneficiaries of the MASLAG programme to take full advantage of available training and resources, encouraging them to remain confident and purposeful in rebuilding their lives.
“Your story has not ended with loss. It continues in strength and can rise into leadership,” she said.
The Coordinator further lauded MASLAG and its leadership for investing resources in uplifting widows and other vulnerable groups, noting that the foundation’s interventions are both immediate and far-reaching.
In her address, the foundation’s Founder and President, Glory Edet, said the organisation was established out of compassion for the less privileged and in honour of Mary Slessor, renowned for ending the killing of twins in the region.
She disclosed that the foundation has grown to over 7,000 registered members, providing a strong support network for vulnerable persons across the state. More than 600 widows, she added, have benefitted from vocational training and start-up support to achieve financial independence, while the organisation also offers scholarships and pays tuition for tertiary students.
Edet highlighted additional interventions targeting multiple-birth families, the elderly and persons with disabilities, and commended the state government for sustaining a peaceful environment conducive to humanitarian efforts.
Also speaking, the Party Lead of the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme, represented by its Chief Technical Officer, Asuquo Etuk, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for women and adolescents. The group presented cheques of ₦30,000 each to 20 widows and pledged continued assistance.
Delivering the keynote address, Eno Etudor-Eyo urged participants to embrace leadership defined by responsibility, accountability and care for others, encouraging them to make meaningful contributions within their communities.
The event also featured the presentation of cash support for widows’ start-up businesses by the First Lady’s Office, alongside distribution of wrappers to beneficiaries.
