Rep. empowers 100 indigent Abia widows at Christmas

Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia, has donated empowerment items and cash to at least 100 indigent widows in the constituency, in the spirit of the Christmas season.
Speaking while giving out the items to the women at Isuochi, the headquarters of Umunneochi council area on Sunday, Onyejeocha said that the gesture was intended to make them economically self-reliant.
She advised them to strive to be less dependent on man but to “always look unto God for their sustenance,” assuring them that “the God of the widows will not forsake you.”
She further encouraged them to resist amorous advances from unscrupulous men, saying that they should shun acts that could debase their moral and spiritual life.
The lawmaker expressed concern over the wanton abuse and enslavement of children of unsuspecting widows, given out as house help and admonished widows to be circumspect while giving out their children.
“You should resist the persuasion to give out your children to people who promise to help you train them in the city.
“Most times, these people do not mean well. They come on the pretence that they would train them in better schools in the township.
“Rather than put the children in school, they either use them for child trafficking or deploy them in pitiable child labour.
“I encourage you to stay together with your children. Send them to community schools and not jeopardise their future by giving them out as house help.
“It is better you stay with your children and send them to community schools where they will be safe than give them away to those who will turn them to slaves in the city.
“Some of us also attended village schools, in spite of the obvious challenges and today those who were trained in private schools in the city are not better than us,” Onyejeocha said.
The empowerment items included sewing and grinding machines, freezers and motorcycles worth millions of naira, in addition to rice, wrappers and cash.
The legislator also extended similar Christmas largesse, including bags of rice and cash, to scores of traditional rulers and clergymen in her constituency.
She implored them to continue to pray for the All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and other political office holders in the country.
The Deputy Chief Whip further spoke on some of her achievements so far, including attracting the construction of 11.5 km Obilo-Nneato Road and Amiyi-Amigbo Road, renovation of some schools and supply of school desks.
She further said that she had helped to secure employment in some federal establishments for many youths in her constituency, among others.
Onyejeocha, who is doing her fourth term in the house, assured her constituents of more dividend of democracy and federal projects in the area in the coming years.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Presidents-General of Umuanyi Uturu, Ndiawa Isuochi and Nneato autonomous communities, Chief Celestine Orji, Chief Daberechi Ogbuagu and Chief Solomon Ihewu, respectively, expressed profound gratitude to the lawmaker for her kind gesture.
They extolled her spirit of philantropy and investment in human capital development and promised their unflinching support to her future political aspirations. (NAN)