Excitement filled Ado New Nyanya in Nasarawa State as the Nikki Udezue Foundation empowered 40 widows with cash grants, food items and other essential materials under The Udoh’s Widow Empowerment Programme (TUWEP).
The event, themed “Turning Small Business into Sustainable Income,” was organised by the Udoh family in collaboration with the Nikki Udezue Foundation to honour the enduring legacy of Mrs Patience Friday Udoh, who passed away on June 16, 2022.
At the event yesterday, Miss Mary Udoh, on behalf of the Udoh family, said the initiative was conceived to preserve the memory of their late mother, who was widely known for her compassion, generosity and unwavering commitment to helping the underprivileged.
The programme was sponsored by the Udoh to commemorate the fourth memorial anniversary of her passing.
She said the family considered supporting widows the most fitting way to celebrate her life and expressed hope that the intervention would improve the beneficiaries’ living conditions and strengthen their resilience.
The beneficiaries received ₦30,000 each, alongside shoes , cartons of noodles, detergents, clothing and other household supplies aimed at improving their livelihoods, strengthening their small businesses and promoting economic self-reliance.
“She noted that our mother was a woman of great faith, love and kindness. Although she is no longer with us physically, her legacy lives on. By supporting widows, we are continuing the compassion she showed during her lifetime,” she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to remain hardworking, hopeful and prayerful despite the challenges confronting them.
The programme also featured motivational sessions where participants were encouraged to invest wisely, embrace self-reliance and use the support as a foundation for achieving financial independence.
Also, Founder of the Nikki Udezue Foundation, Mrs. Nkeiruka Udezue, said the initiative reflects the foundation’s commitment to restoring hope to widows and vulnerable women facing economic hardship.
She noted that the prevailing economic situation in the country has left many families struggling, making humanitarian interventions even more necessary.
“So many people in this country are going through difficult times. Being able to put smiles on the faces of widows and vulnerable Nigerians is something we always look forward to. Seeing them move from tears and pain to joy and hope is truly inspiring for our team,” she said.
Mrs. Udezue explained that TUWEP was established to provide practical assistance to widows who lost their husbands unexpectedly and have little or no means of livelihood.
According to her, beneficiaries are identified through community-based assessments rather than open registration to ensure support reaches those most in need.
“We don’t just invite everyone. We go into communities to identify widows who genuinely need support, especially those raising young children without any stable source of income. We want this support to help them rebuild their lives,” she said.
She encouraged the widows to invest the cash grants in income-generating ventures to enable them become financially independent and eventually support others in similar circumstances.
“The idea is not just to receive assistance but to grow to the point where you can also become a giver. We want to see these businesses succeed so that other donors will be encouraged to continue supporting similar initiatives,” she added.
Mrs. Udezue called on the governments, corporate organisations and public-spirited Nigerians to partner with the foundation in expanding its humanitarian interventions across the country.
She disclosed that although the foundation has largely been self-funded for nearly four years, its commitment to transparency and accountability has continued to attract support from individuals and families.
“This programme was made possible by the generosity of the Udoh family. We remain transparent in all our operations because transparency builds trust. We call on governments, multinational companies and other Nigerians to support initiatives like this because no single person can meet all the needs in our communities,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Margaret Osita expressed appreciation to the Nikki Udezue Foundation and the Udoh family, describing the intervention as timely and impactful.
She said the programme had brought relief to widows grappling with economic hardship.
“The programme was wonderful and it put smiles on the faces of widows. We are grateful that the foundation remembered us again. Each of us received food items, including noodles and other essentials, as well as ₦30,000. We sincerely appreciate the foundation for bringing joy into our lives,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Blessing Kenneth, recounted how she had struggled to provide food and meet her children’s school expenses before receiving the assistance.
She said the support had renewed her hope and prayed for God’s blessings upon the Nikki Udezue Foundation and the Udoh family for remembering widows during their time of need.
The beneficiaries described the intervention as a timely lifeline amid the prevailing economic hardship and called on individuals, families, corporate organisations and philanthropists to emulate the foundation’s commitment to empowering vulnerable members of society through sustainable livelihood support materials under its The Udoh’s Widow Empowerment Programme (TUWEP).
