Retired Judge Empowers 200 Widows In Abuja, Calls For Dedicated Ministry For Widows
Grace Eisape, a retired judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, has called on the Federal Government to establish a dedicated ministry or agency to address the specific needs of widows in Nigeria. She also urged state governments to provide stipends to widows and ensure they have access to legal representation to protect them from harmful cultural practices.
Eisape, who is the Visioner of the “Feeding All Nations Through Jesus Christ” initiative, made these remarks during a one-day prayer walk in the Chika community along Abuja Airport Road, where she empowered over 200 widows. The event aimed to highlight the challenges faced by widows and address the growing hunger crisis in Nigeria.
The prayer walk, themed “Jesus Christ: Liberating the Vulnerable Globally,” took place simultaneously in several African countries, South America, and the United States. Eisape, who is also an educator in the U.S. and the President of Deborah Generation: The Fire Place, a prayer group in New Jersey, USA, stated that she was led by the Holy Spirit to start this ministry.
“Widows are often marginalised, their needs are not adequately met, and they receive little support from their families,” Eisape said. “It is crucial that the Federal Government creates a specific ministry or agency to care for the needs of widows. State governments should also consider paying stipends to widows, which would significantly alleviate their suffering.”
She emphasized the importance of educating women about their rights, with legal practitioners present at the event to inform widows of their legal protections. Eisape also condemned harmful cultural practices, such as forcing widows to drink the water used to clean their deceased husbands’ bodies to prove their innocence.
Pastor Emmanuel Temitope Williams, the International Coordinator of the organization, encouraged the widows in the Chika community to stay resilient, assuring them that the program is designed to meet their needs continuously, including hunger relief, medical care, and legal rights.
Ms. Mabel Onyia, another coordinator, highlighted that over 500 widows have benefited from the “Feeding All Nations Through Jesus Christ” initiative in the FCT. She added that the Prayer Walk Rally was being held in thirteen states across Nigeria to educate widows on their rights and provide essential support.
Legal practitioner Salamatu Yusuf also addressed the widows, affirming that Nigerian law protects them from marginalisation and that their rights would be upheld.
The event concluded with the distribution of cooked meals and raw food items to the widows, many of whom left with renewed hope and expressed gratitude for the support, calling for more such initiatives in the future.
