The President of Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation (RAEF), Evang. Ignatius Newman, has urged the federal government to evolve a special scheme to empower widows in the country.

He made the call at the distribution of different food and non-food items to over 1,200 widows in Abuja as part of events to mark the 2024 International Widows Day Monday in Abuja.

Newman highlighted the resilience and importance of widows in the society and called for attention to their plights across the country.

The United Nations (UN) had declared June 23rd as International Widows Day to draw global attention to the voices and experiences of widows, and to galvanize the support that they might need for a better living.

Women from different faith and background across the FCT and beyond were part of the beneficiaries of the distribution of the food and non-food items as well as free medical outreaches.

He told them that the empowerment outreach for the women, particularly the widows started years ago in Maiduguri, Borno State, long before the UN designated a specific date to celebrate the widows.

One of the women from Keffi zone who simply identified herself as Christiana, said she has benefitted greatly from the Rock of Ages Foundation in terms of food items, drugs and several other interventions over the years.