By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
As part of 2022 Christmas celebration amidst high inflation, raising food prices across the country, a Muslim woman Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani has commenced distribution of foodstuffs and wrappers to widows in Kaduna churches aimed at putting a smile on their faces .
According to Haj. Tijjani, her target is over 200 widows, saying the gesture is part efforts to boost peaceful coexistence among the adherence of different faith, as well as to enable widows celebrate the season with joy and happiness like any other Christian around the world.
Ramatu Tijjani made the donations at the Church of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha at the early hour of Sunday morning in Kaduna State.
She said that the basis of the donation derived mainly from the passion and need to impact on the lives of underprivileged widows who have gone through so much pain and discrimination and might have lost hope.
According to her, for the past 10 years, she has been donating bags of grains, wrappers and other beverages for Christian widow’s and orphans during Christmas, and Easter celebrations with the aim of strengthening Christians and Muslims relationship in the north.
The church members used to called me “mama” because of my outstanding kindness and good relationship that I’ve built with them which is to strengthening Christian and Muslims relationship in the state and the country at large
“One thing we should always remember is that, we are created by one God, and Adam eve are our original biological parents, and we all have holy books send from one God that guide us on ways to live in peace and harmony ,hence the need to assist the widows and orphans during a season like this irrespective of their tribe, culture, regions, language and historical background.
“Christmas provides Golden opportunity for Muslims to demonstrate to their Christian neighbours that Islam is a faith of peace, love and tolerance.
“I want to see widows, orphans and elderly person at yuletide season smiling and enjoying themselves like any other Christian family during a festive season like this”
“Indeed taking care of widows is considered a very high form of charity and that is why I always assist them, and I feels happy assisting them because there is a huge award by the almighty from any one helping or remembering the needy at any time, any where”, she said.
She said that, more wrappers and foodstuff will also be share to other churches in Kaduna and other neighbouring states with the aims of making widows smiles during the festive season with their orphans.
“I want to assure you that, with the support from almighty God, I enjoyed supporting underprivileged widows to have a positive outlook on life despite the problems they experience by losing their loved one, mostly the breadwinner of the family”
“This year Christmas season comes amidst of high cost of food prices, banditry, kidnapping and terrorism which has affected the entire life of both rural and urban dwellers .
Furthermore, she stressed that for the first 10 years, she usually distribute 10 Christmas trees to many pastors, reverend fathers each years for peace promotions across the north, adding that many people in the country has started imitating what she is doing to enhance togetherness peace and unity.
”I enjoy helping widows and elderly persons and their families at all times and it is my hope to see other people emulating me in helping the poor and other needy person as season like this approaches,” she said.
“I came to wish you merry Christmas and happy new year in advance’, she told the widows.
Responding, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, who is equally an interfaith specialist in Nigeria and the winner of United Nations World International Interfaith Week and Harmony 2023, expressed satisfaction with Tijjani’s gesture and called on wealthy individuals to be assisting the needy during a season of the birth of the Holy Christ and beyond .
The Christian clergy added that the church cannot forget the donation of the 50 Bible by Hajiya Ramatu which is to enable Christians study their Bible very well, and stressed that this is not the only church she usually visit to help widows and orphans during festivities.
Buru said, in last three years, the philanthropist distributed foodstuff to the widows for the Christmas and the Lenten season.
She used to bail-out christians at prisons with minor offences for the sole purpose of joining there friends, relative and family celebrating Christmas and Easter .
He called on Muslims and Christians to always live together in peace and harmony, while appealing to marketers to offer Christmas bonanza like it was done in developed countries.
One of the recipient of the gifts at the church name withheld says, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani has been coming to the church and distribute many things including promoting peace building and religious tolerance for peace and harmony.
