From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Through the Touch-A-Life Project, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) donated 10 sets of 2 bedroom bungalows to 10 indigent widows in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday.
The beneficiaries were handed over the keys to the fully furnished facilities worth N200million after their commissioning by wife of Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Karimatu Mohammed Ali Pate in company of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Speaker, State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze and other dignitaries.
Governor Soludo commended the benefactor for his benevolence, calling on other well-to-do individuals to emulate the gesture.
He pledged enforcement of laws against oppressive practices in Anambra burial laws, including forceful shaving of widows’ hair; just he promised to contribute to the widows’ upkeep through their cooperatives.
Vice President, SEOF and President, Touch-A-Life Housing Initiative, Dr. Adaora Offor said the project was born out of a deep awareness of injustices being meted on widows in the society.
She called on government at all levels to reconsider laws that dehumanize widows, enact legislation that would protect vulnerable women as well as make policies to ensure widows were treated as respectable persons with right to their properties.
The benefactor, Emeka Offor praised the wife and others who contributed towards realizing the project, promising continued support for subsequent phases.
Earlier, Chief of Staff to Emeka Offor, AIG Chris Ezike (rtd) said the beneficiaries were selected through rigorous process, revealing that the fully furnished facilities included Television set with a year DSTV subscription.
“We’re here to celebrate excellence and special accomplishments by a man and his wife on mission for God and philanthropic activities for over 30years. The concept is to give hope to the hopeless and to welcome them back from the journey of sadness.
“The bungalows were built from start to finish by the foundation. Phase one of the housing project is done, Phase 2 is dusted and today Phase three is fully accomplished,” he added.