Star Ladies Initiative Empowers Widows, Farmers in Nigeria 

Chinyere Ndukwe, Abuja

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A group of businesswomen under the aegis of Star Ladies Widows Foundation and United Business Women Association of Nigeria and Diaspora (UBWA) Farmers Association has honoured patrons and stakeholders in an event held at the Green Mind Hotels, Utako, Abuja.

The event tagged “Widows and Farmers National Summit/Awards, 2024” had the beneficiaries drawn from philanthropists, heads of women-focused NGOs, and female farmers from all the states of Nigeria.

Expressing her gratitude to the members for their roles, the founder of the group and convener of the event, Chief Mrs. Nkiru Duru, noted that her vision was to assist fellow widows and extend support and empowerment to the less privileged, particularly widows and orphaned children in the society.

According to her, “The core focus is to provide support, resources and opportunities to enable women to achieve economic independence and social empowerment. We also engage youth through skill acquisition programs that empower them to be self-sufficient.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we recognise that our achievements are not solely our own. They are the result of collaborative efforts, unwavering support, and the collective passion of individuals like yourselves.”

While addressing the gathering, the National Public Relations Officer 1 of the Foundation, Hajia Aisha Labo applauded the convener, stating that the foundation had supported numerous widow farmers with farm materials to boost their food production.

UBWA vice president, Hajia Maryam Salihu, while supporting the position of the PRO1 added that the foundation while empowering women from all parts of the country, had done so much in less than four years of its establishment.

Some of the items donated to women across the nation beneficiaries, according to the vice president, included among other things, grinding machines, sewing machines, wrappers, and food items, all to encourage independence among the widows.

One of the beneficiaries based in Lagos, Virginia Benjamin attested to the life-transforming boosts she had received from the foundation. Another beneficiary from Abuja, Mrs. Ruth Njabo, recounted how the foundation sent her books, bags and other educational materials to support her children’s academic endeavours.

Yet another from Oyo State, Mrs Mojisola shared stories of how the foundations helped to subsidise the cost of farmland for her while numerous others heaped praises on the foundation for various other forms of assistance gained therefrom.

Dominica Nwabufo

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