The Chief Executive Officer of Grace and Desire (G&D) for Widows Foundation, Grace Agura, has called for stronger partnerships and sustainable funding to expand humanitarian support for widows across Benue.

Ms Agura told journalists on Saturday that her foundation, established in 2020, was born out of a desire to address the plight of widows and underprivileged people.

She said the organisation had grown steadily from modest beginnings into a grassroots initiative that had reached more than 10,000 widows and vulnerable persons through cooperative mobilisation and empowerment programmes.

According to her, the foundation’s outreach activities have so far covered Tarkaa, Buruku, Gboko and Ushongo Local Government Areas.

Ms Agura, a businesswoman and grassroots politician from Mbachough in Tarkaa Local Government Area, said community engagement had remained central to the success of the foundation.

She explained that before embarking on any intervention, the foundation consulted local government coordinators, traditional leaders and community stakeholders to identify genuine beneficiaries and build trust.

She said the approach had helped the organisation overcome cultural barriers and encouraged community ownership of its programmes.

Ms Agura attributed her passion for humanitarian work to her childhood experiences of being raised by a single mother who struggled to provide for the family.

“I witnessed first-hand the hardship my mother endured. Those experiences inspired me to support widows and vulnerable people instead of watching them suffer,” she said.

The foundation’s CEO said she contested the Gboko/Tarkaa Federal Constituency seat under the APC in 2023 and later sought the Tarkaa Local Government chairmanship in 2024 but was unsuccessful.

She described politics as an extension of her humanitarian mission, saying it would provide a broader platform to advocate for policies that promote equity, social justice and improved welfare for vulnerable groups.

Ms Agura said inadequate funding remained the biggest challenge confronting humanitarian organisations, noting that many donors offered one-time support without sustained commitment.

She advised non-governmental organisations to diversify their funding sources by engaging multiple partners and local businesses and establishing monthly giving programmes.

She also identified poor road infrastructure, insecurity, community distrust and staff burnout as major operational challenges affecting humanitarian work.

According to her, the foundation addresses these challenges through advanced route planning, collaboration with local organisations, engagement with community leaders and structured work schedules to reduce staff fatigue.

Ms Agura expressed optimism that, with increased public- and private-sector support, the foundation would expand its impact and become a stronger platform for empowering widows and disadvantaged communities.

“My message is simple: kindness yields positive results. Together, we can build stronger communities by supporting those who need help the most,” she said. 

(NAN)