Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru.
By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Twenty-six (26) indigent widows across Ebonyi State who once lived in shacks and mud houses now have fully furnished homes, thanks to the wife of the governor and Founder of Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), Chief (Mrs.) Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru.
The commissioning ceremony, which marked the grand finale of the Widows Housing Project at Onyirigbo Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area, brought together government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders and beneficiaries.
Speaking during the handover, Mrs. Nwifuru said the project was driven by compassion for women who had borne the weight of life’s challenges in silence.
“This is not just about handing over houses; it is about handing over hope, dignity, and security to women who have carried the heavy burden of life with courage,” she declared.
“These homes represent peace—places where widows can rest their heads without fear, where children can grow up with hope, and where dignity is restored. Each local government received two homes to ensure fairness and inclusiveness across the 13 LGAs.”
The First Lady, who expressed gratitude to her husband, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, noted that the project was in line with the People’s Charter of Needs agenda of the state government. She commended commissioners, local government chairmen, partners, and humanitarian agencies for supporting the initiative.
The State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Francis Orji, described the intervention as a landmark humanitarian project.
“From the hills of Afikpo to the swamps of Uburu and Izzi, you have gone about building homes for widows and indigent families. Mommy, we thank you so much for your love for humanity. It is only God that will reward you,” Orji said.
“As we commission this last building, we pray for more projects like Oliver Twist—we still need more.”
Mrs. Nwankwoeke Ekoyo of Ikwo LGA, who had lived in a makeshift shelter since her husband’s death, said:
“I never believed I would live in such a beautiful house. Life has been unbearable, but today, I am living in a good home. May God bless Her Excellency for remembering us.”
Similarly, Mrs. Beatrice Okohu of Ishielu LGA recounted: “When construction workers came, I thought they wanted to take my land. I was shocked to hear a house was being built for me. Today, I live in a beautiful home instead of a collapsing mud structure.”
Widows Mary Chinaza Otah of Izzi LGA and Theresa Nwedoga of Ebonyi LGA jointly prayed for the First Lady’s successful tenure, praising her for “investing heavily in the welfare of the less privileged.”
The Chairman of Ikwo LGA, Hon. Sunday Nwankwo, said the homes were “symbols of hope and dignity.”
“These are more than shelters; they are testimonies that widows are not forgotten.”
Executive Chairman of Izzi LGA, Barr. Steve Emenike Nwankpa, added: “Her Excellency is proactive. All her programs are aligned with the governor’s vision of lifting the vulnerable. From scholarships abroad to entrepreneurship training and massive infrastructure, the administration has created over 1.5 million jobs directly and indirectly. We are proud of what this government is doing.”
Coordinator of Igbeagu Development Center, Hon. Obinna Nwedu, also thanked the First Lady but appealed that widowers should be considered in subsequent phases.
His Royal Highness, Ezeogo John Nwenyi (De Onyibe II of Ndubia, Izzi LGA), praised the initiative, describing it as a rescue for families in dire need.
“This case is special—where a man died young, leaving his family homeless. It is not every widow that needs such intervention, but those who do must be supported. Even individuals can emulate this by offering seasonal assistance to widows in their communities,” he noted.
Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu, said the project was “touching the lives of those who had lost hope.”
The event climaxed with the formal commissioning of the last of the 26 houses, each a three-bedroom bungalow, fully furnished, and spread two per local government across Ebonyi’s 13 LGAs.
For Ebonyi widows, it was a day of joy, relief, and restored dignity—proof that government and compassion can work hand in hand.
