Mr Oghene Egoh, member Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), representing Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, in Lagos State, has empowered 300 widows in his constituency on special skills acquisition to improve their lives and well-being.

Egoh told the newsmen on Thursday, in Lagos, that the gesture was to alleviate the suffering of his constituency for them to be self-reliant also to live quality lives.

According to him, no fewer than 300 widows were trained in various skills such as; head-tie making, hair-styling, catering, fashion designing, beads, soap and shoe-making, as well as perfume production.

He added that the over 300 widows were drawn from the 11 wards of Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency in Lagos State.

The lawmaker said that he was elated to see many widows benefited from the programme, even as he noted that they had suffered the most in the society.

He commended the widows for being passionate, committed when it comes to feeding, caring for their children, ensuring that they go to school and comporting themselves in a noble manner.

The lawmaker explained that he was motivated to embark on the programme because of the many sufferings and challenges widows in this clime were facing.

He added that the gesture was due to the need to support them to start small-scale business that would enable them to fend for their families.

Egoh, said the one-day programme had afforded him the opportunity to interact and gain first-hand knowledge of various problems confronting widows, while assuring of making the programme a continuous one.

He commended the widows for their zeal and determination to succeed in life, and enjoined them to make good use of whatever they had learnt from the facilitators and start their own small business.

He said the gesture was to ensure that widows received sound vocational training, which would equip them with the skills to start their own business ventures.

The highlights of the event included; the distribution of cash and business equipment to the participants, who came from various religious backgrounds and other interest groups in the area.

“The whole idea is to enable widows to start their business without delay,’’ he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, a beneficiary, Mrs Jessica Johnson, commended the lawmaker for the initiative.

She said that widows in the country were often abandoned and left with the burden of catering for their children alone soon after the death of their husbands.

She expressed optimism that the initiative would serve as succour to the widows in Amuwo-Odofin constituency.

She said she was determined to make good use of skills she acquired to improve lives of her family.

She added that the skill acquisition would assist many widows to become self-employed also take care of their families.

Mrs Mercy Bamidele, another beneficiary, expressed appreciation for the gesture and promised to utilise the new skills to improve her financial status also train her children.

NAN reports that the beneficiaries were also trained how to plant yam and plantain in their compounds and how to also treat rice professionally for consumption.