By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
No fewer than 110 widows from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have received cash and material gifts from First Lady-designate Helen Eno Obareki to aid their celebration of Christmas and New Year.
As part of the Yuletide tradition of her office, Obareki also presented gift packs and cash to a Christmas baby girl born to Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Ukoh of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area in the early hours of Christmas Day.
The brief ceremony, which brought together 10 widows from each of the 11 political wards in Nsit Ubium, was held at Governor Umo Eno’s country home in Ikot Ekpene Udo Village. During the event, the First Lady-designate distributed rice, wrappers, and cash gifts to the widows.
In her remarks, Obareki emphasized the importance of supporting the community, reaffirming Governor Eno’s commitment to providing care for the less privileged.
“I know His Excellency already sent rice to all the villages in Akwa Ibom State, but this is an additional effort because I understand the burden you bear as the heads of your homes, now that your husbands are no more,” she said.
Obareki acknowledged the governor’s compassionate leadership, which is reflected in various humanitarian initiatives, and expressed hope that her gesture would help address the unique challenges widows face in providing for their families.
In a separate ceremony, Obareki welcomed the Christmas baby, a girl named Elise, who was born at one minute past midnight at Immanuel Hospital, Eket Local Government Area. Elise, weighing 3.1kg at birth, was the first of four babies delivered at the hospital on Christmas Day, with eight more born during the week.
“It is a very merry event. Obviously, it’s Christmas Day, and it’s an absolute pleasure to join female stakeholders in welcoming this year’s Christmas baby,” Obareki said. “For me, I’m very excited because it’s a baby girl.
“We also saw other babies born today and those born earlier in the week. It was wonderful to share in the joy of the season, and we pray that God, who has blessed these families with children, will keep them and make them a source of happiness and pride,” she added.
