*Widows once destitute now run thriving businesses
*Children of widows returned to school
*Communities that now embrace widows with dignity
By Victor Nwegede
When Mrs. Blessing Nneka Edeh, a native of Ehamufu in Isu Uzor Local Government Area of Enugu State, lost her husband on February 23, 2014, her world collapsed. Left with three children and an aged widowed mother to care for, she was thrust into a life of despair, poverty, and ridicule.
“Sometimes I went to public functions not to celebrate but to pack leftover food from the floor so my children would have something to eat,” Blessing recalled, tears pooling in her eyes.
But the tide turned when she encountered the Divine Favoured Jesus Bride Foundation (DFJBF), a faith-based humanitarian initiative founded by Sir Jasper Chris Umenweze and his wife, Lady Ifeoma Jasper Umenweze, popularly known as Ify Jasper.
“Today, my children are in school, we eat with dignity, and I even run a small shop opened for me through the foundation. Every third Sunday of the month, we gather with the founders for fellowship. Every Christmas, we are celebrated, clothed, and given rice, wrappers, fowls, and cash gifts. The foundation has changed my story and that of my family,” she testified.
Blessing’s story is not an isolated one. It mirrors the experiences of over 1,000 widows across Ebonyi, Enugu, and neighbouring states, whose lives have been touched by the foundation in the past two decades.
The origins of DFJBF trace back to 2004, when Lady Ifeoma had a dream.
“In that dream, I was hosting a party with widows — Jesus’ wives,” she narrated during an interview in Abakaliki.
“When I woke up, I told my husband, and he supported me. That year, at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Abakaliki, we distributed wrappers to just 13 widows. From that single act, a journey began," she revealed.
From those humble beginnings, the foundation grew steadily. By 2019, it hosted over 300 widows at the Umenwezes’ family compound in Enugu State. In December 2024, during its formal inauguration at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki, DFJBF gathered more than 1,000 widows in a colourful celebration marked by worship, empowerment talks, donations, and testimonies.
Though the foundation is best known for distributing food, clothing, and cash, Lady Ifeoma insisted its vision goes beyond handouts.
“It is not just about giving widows fish but teaching them how to catch fish.
“If I get more support, I want to establish skill centres in tailoring, soap-making, and petty trading so that widows can be self-reliant. They must stand with dignity, not just survive on charity," she added.
Already, several widows have opened shops with support from DFJBF. Others have received free medical treatment, while children once withdrawn from school are back in classrooms.
The testimonies are many, but some stand out for their poignancy.
One is that of Mrs. Ifoma Elias, a blind widow from Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. After her husband’s death, she and her three children squatted in an uncompleted building. One night, they were chased out and their belongings set ablaze.
“They told me they had spent nights in the bush. When I saw them, tattered and hungry, I broke down,. We had to feed them first before arranging a temporary shelter," she told journalists.
For widows like Mrs. Grace Ocheme, the Assistant Coordinator of DFJBF, the foundation has been a spiritual and emotional lifeline. Grace, who lost her husband young, narrated how a prophetic prayer at a DFJBF gathering in 2024 opened doors for her to travel abroad — something she never imagined.
“Widowhood is not a sweet experience; it is bitter. You cannot wish it even on your enemy. But through DFJBF, I received encouragement and a prophecy that came true. Today, I am abroad, and I know it was God working through the foundation," she said.
Similarly, Mrs. Eucheria Eneh shared how she used to pack leftover food at public gatherings after her husband’s death to feed her children. “Meeting DFJBF changed my life. I now run a shop and have enough clothes to wear. My children and I no longer live like beggars,” she said.
The strength of DFJBF lies not only in its outreach but in the partnership between its founders.
“Without my husband, I cannot do this,” Lady Ifeoma said, smiling. “Each time I share the vision with him, he says: ‘Mommy, no problem. As long as we are alive, we will do it together.’ He has been my backbone," she recalled.
The foundation is also unique in its philosophy of dignity. Lady Ifeoma insisted on calling beneficiaries “Jesus’ Brides” rather than widows.
“It gives them a sense of belonging. They are not forgotten; they are brides of Christ,” she explained.
This redefinition has reshaped how many widows view themselves not as discarded or stigmatized, but as valued and honoured.
Despite its successes, the foundation faces daunting challenges.
“Every day, widows come with requests ranging from school fees, rent, hospital bills, and housing,” Lady Ifeoma lamented.
“Some are homeless; some live in abandoned buildings. Our hands cannot carry this alone," she further pointed out.
She has appealed for urgent support from government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, as well as churches, traditional rulers, philanthropists, and corporate donors.
“If the rising population of widows is not addressed with real empowerment, it will weigh heavily on society,” she warned.
Experts agreed that foundations like DFJBF fill critical gaps in Nigeria’s fragile social safety nets.
“Widows are among the most vulnerable groups in our society, especially in rural areas,” said Chief Charles Ekpiri, a gender and social policy analyst.
“Without institutional support, many fall into extreme poverty, dragging their children along. Initiatives like DFJBF are critical, but they need government and private sector partnership to be sustainable," he also stated.
Over the years, DFJBF has become more than a charity - it has become a family. Every December, widows gather for what has become known as the “Widows’ Party.” They sing, pray, eat, and receive gifts ranging from clothes and food to cash support.
“The joy on their faces each year is priceless,” Sir Jasper observed.
From its office at No. 14 Waterworks Road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, the foundation continues to receive widows in need, regardless of their denomination or background.
“Our foundation has no boundary. Wherever we see a widow in distress, we try to help within our capacity," Lady Umenweze emphasized.
DFJBF is not resting on its past achievements. In the next five years, Lady Ifeoma Jasper Umenweze envisions establishing a multipurpose centre to serve as a shelter, skills hub, and fellowship space. She also hopes to attract international donors to scale up widow empowerment.
“Our dream is to expand our reach with skill centres, global partnerships, and sustainable empowerment. We want widows to live with dignity, not just depend on handouts,” she said.
From the tears of women like Blessing Nneka Edeh, Ifoma Elias, Grace Ocheme, and Eucheria Eneh, Mrs Felicia Onueke, among others, to the faith-driven compassion of Sir Jasper Chris Umenweze and Lady Ifeoma Jasper Umenweze, the story of DFJBF is one of resilience, hope, and transformation.
What began as a simple dream 20 years ago has blossomed into a movement that has restored dignity to over 1,000 widows. It is a testament to what vision, faith, and compassion can achieve, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
For many widows in Ebonyi, Enugu, and beyond, the Divine Favoured Jesus Bride Foundation has turned mourning into dancing, despair into hope, and rejection into belonging. And as widows gather each year to sing, share meals, and receive encouragement, one thing is certain:
The legacy of love and service that began in a dream is still unfolding — one widow at a time.
