The Executive Director of Head High International Organisation, a widow -focused Non-Governmental organisation, Tinu Odugbemi, has advised widows to always put their trust in God and desist from wearing ‘sympathetic’ faces.

Mrs Odugbemi gave the advice at the 2025 Valentine Love Feast For Widows, organised by the organisation on Friday in Lagos.

 She said the essence of the event was to celebrate widows and put smiles on their faces.

Mrs Odugbemi, who lamented that in the African setting, most widows appeared subdued, urged widows to always lift their head high and put their trust in God.

 According to her, the organisation has been helping and celebrating widows and some other indigent members of society for the past 24 years.

She said, “In the course of doing some stories about “Who will not celebrate Christmas” in the Weekend Concord Newspaper years back as an Assistant Editor, I discovered that some widows will  not celebrate because they just lost their husbands. As God ministered to me, I decided to gather some women who had lost their husbands; I picked only about seven of them during the valentine period of the preceding year, we celebrated together and I gave them what I had. The next year, I told them to come along with their friends, and that was how we started. This marks the 20th edition. So, the objective is to celebrate the widows, give them that sense of belonging and put ‘smiles on their faces.”

A marriage counsellor, Florence Omokwemi, urged the widows to ensure they rendered proper home training to their children as directed by the spirit of God.

Ms Omokwemi urged the widows not to feel satisfied with always receiving from others, but should also strive to give to others too.

 According to her, widows should think of a way they can help others and contribute toward the growth of the organisation.

 “The death of your husband is not the end of life, you can still live to fulfill your potential in life. Ensure you raise your children in a Godly way because your responsibility is not just to train them in academics. All you need to do is to be honest and put your trust in God, who will direct your footsteps,” she said.

A pastor, Elizabeth Joseph, urged the widows to be more committed to serving God, while praying that the y would succeed in their endeavours.

 Ms Joseph, who described widows as “Jesus’ wives,” said that God would continually be their comforter.

 The event featured empowerment of two widows with two popcorn machines and a cash gift to enable them start up a business outfit.

 (NAN)