Twenty-six widows are to receive a three-bedroom bungalow from the Ebonyi State Government under its Widows’ Housing Project.

The gesture is through the governor’s wife, Uzoamaka Nwifuru’s foundation, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO).

The projects provided the new homes to two widows in each of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

Two of the widows, Josephine Ekoyo from Ndiegu Azu Echara in Ikwo and Cecilia Ogbuinya from Amagu Onicha village in Abakaliki LGAs on Saturday during inauguration, lauded the programme.

Mrs Ekoyo, who received a key to the newly built home, told journalists she had lived in a shanty for several years.

“For years now, the old house fell and was rebuilt by friends and family members, until today,” Mrs Ekoyo said.

She thanked Mrs Nwifuru and the state government for their unconditional love towards vulnerable people in the state.

Another widow, Ogbuinya who lived in a shelter, lost six of her children.

Mrs Ogbuinya, also a new homeowner, could not hide her joy and thanked the governor’s wife for championing and rebuilding the lives of vulnerable women in the state.

Speaking during the event, the wife of the governor described the projects as a “dream come true” and a fulfilment of her pet project’s objective.

She expressed satisfaction towards the completion of the projects and reaffirmed her commitment to restoring hope and security to the widows.

Mrs Nwifuru said, “This is in fulfilment of BERWO objective to uplift the lives of widows in the society. I am happy it’s achieved.’’

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Housing, Francis Ori, said that the project is a three-bedroom bungalow, two per the 13 local government areas of the state.

Mr Ori added that the project was targeted at the most vulnerable groups in society.

He lauded the governor’s wife for her people-centred interventions and vision towards alleviating the plight of the downtrodden.

The Council Chairman of Ikwo, Sunday Nwankwo, and the Commissioner for Education, Donatus Ilang, described the intervention as a commitment to uplift the living standards of underprivileged individuals in society.

Ishielu and Ohaukwu councils were chosen for the inauguration, while other councils would be inaugurated soon.

(NAN)