𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀'𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮

 

Life may not be fully defined until certain inputs are strategically placed to bring about great results. Some results come out as expected while others beat our imaginations because some natural causes have indirectly influenced the making. Anyway, the most beautiful thing to do in life is to contribute immensely towards the betterment of humanity. Whatever goes into the development of humanity certainly produces greater results that baffle our sense of reasoning due to its multiplier effects. 

Widowhood is what average married couples abhor especially in prime ages even when a statement "𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀" is pronounced  at the place of solemnizing the union, it was not expected to take effect at young ages. But reverse has been the case in many situations around the world. Life has another definition and prepares individuals as fate has its way. Widowhood has brought about mixed experiences in different quarters and lives of the victims. In general terms, it comes with harrowing experiences. How do we describe a situation where the bread winner of a family is suddenly taken away by the cold hands of death or where the demise of a partner causes a psychological effects on the living partner and so on.

To this effect, the United Nations organisation has set aside 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 for commemoration of this and this year is no different as it comes with the theme 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗪'𝗦 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘"

This is putting every widow in perspective of whatever financial challenges they are going through, help could be sought. 

It is not gainsaying that widows need help in so many ways and that they need to be treated fairly in order to systematically activate them back into the streams of livelihood. The celebration majorly gives them sense of belonging and that they should not look down on themselves as they continue life with hope that the death of a partner is never the end of both. 

Tabitha New Life Foundation specifically was established for this course hence the supposed gloomy perspective can be made blossom again. This is the motive behind various regenerative programs organized on monthly basis to cater for widows and ameliorate their despicable state to revive their indigent situations for better lives. 

This year, as we celebrate the International widow's day tagged: 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, the widows should bear in mind that the world has a lot to offer them in the journey where no one knows the end. The most important thing is to be up and doing by making the best use of every opportunities. 

Tabitha New Life Foundation's mandate is to reach out to Widows &Widowers, empower them with some of our programs to dislodge them from the state of idleness and despondency, thereby giving them hope to rise above poverty, chart a new course,  change their pattern of life and hopefully embrace various entrepreneurial opportunities to brighten their horizon. 

Our commitment is to give them a better livelihood and ensuring they benefit from other benefits of life. 

This is in line with our motto: Hope & Service

We have been able to empower several men and women in their chosen businesses since inception, we regularly conduct operation feed a widow/widower in order to chase starvation away. We have branches outside Lagos, in other states where our monthly empowerment and skills acquisition programmes come up on monthly basis. Through this intervention programmes, many people have been liberated from shackles of poverty and are able to live as desired. This is not to say we are there already but a constant reminder we need to roll up our sleeves and do more as others are still languishing in some horrible situations.

This is  another opportunity to bless some trained widows as they get engaged in their chosen businesses, We are reaching out  to 𝟰𝟱𝟬 of our widows across all our chapters today to mark the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀'𝗗𝗮𝘆

We have taken it upon ourselves to do this often. God help us.

This is a call unto service and to awaken from your slumber, this gesture can also be reproduced and settle others in this horrible situation if you really do well and prosper in your works. 

We urge everyone to take up the challenge of seeing yourself as champions and bread winners. 

Shed every weight that pulls you down and discourage hard work, do not entertain pity parties and encourage mourning association, it is in doing this you can go far and be who God destined you to be. 

Together we rise from the ashes changing the narrative.

𝗡𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲

𝗡𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 

𝗡𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱

𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗯𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀.

𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆

We never planned, it is not a sweet taste in our mouths but out of the jaw bone we've learnt to extract the honey.

We will come forth as gold and beautiful bridges for other to cross over without hurdles again.

I urge you all to be courageous and not be physically and emotionally exhausted by their griefs, I promise,  TNLF will not relent in protecting their rights.

Once again, we want to appreciate everyone who has contributed towards the success of today's programme. 

Happy International Widow's Day.

God bless and make you flourish in all endeavours. 

Thank you.

Adunke Olatunji

President, Tabitha New Life Foundation