CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
It was indeed an emotional atmosphere in Isashi area, Ojo Local Government area of Lagos State, as widows and other less privileged people were remembered by the Deputy Commander, Vigilante Group in Nigeria, VGN, Ayede Santos Olusola, to mark Widows Day.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that not less than 150 widows and other less privileged in the society benefitted from the benevolent gesture by Santos, as he is popular known.
Some of the items shared included sewing machines, gas cooker, wrappers, deep freezers, grinding machines, food stuff and cash gifts.
Speaking on the event, Santos disclosed that it was a vow he made when he was 18 years that if God blesses him, he would be using part of his earnings to take care of widows as a way of assisting them because of his sad experience as his mother was a widow when he was growing up.
He said that his mother suffered when they were growing up because their father, who was the breadwinner, died early and it was difficult to raise him and other children and he witnessed those sufferings.
“Hence, I made a vow that when I grew up and started earning money, I will use part of my earning to support the widows” he said.
Santos said that he was happy that he started fulfilling the vow seven years ago with the little God had given him and stated that he will be marking Widows Day for the rest of his life.
He said he had gone beyond the widows alone and extended to other less privileged people who actually needed assistance. He however, expressed the challenges he usually faced raising the means as some feel reluctant to assist him for the programme and insisted that such challenges will not deter him from doing so in future.
He said that he has seen the benefits of giving and the blessing that follows such because God has been protecting and providing for him as he chose every December to mark Widows Day.
Some of the residents, who witnessed the event, commended Santos for the gesture for the less privileged in the society and urged other Nigerians to follow the step to assist those who actually needed assistance.