The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has given widows across the state cash and food items in celebration of the 2024 International Widows Day.

The event took place on Friday at the office of the wife of the Oyo Governor in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

The distributed food packages which contained rice, beans and vegetable oil were given to widows from all 33 local government areas of the state and Widows Association across the state.

The Oyo Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, praised Mrs. Makinde’s generosity, saying, “This gesture is a testament to the government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens, especially the vulnerable. We encourage the widows to stay resilient and focused on their own personal development.”

The Head of Service of the State, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, also praised the gesture, emphasizing the state government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens, including widows.

“We recognize the important role that widows play in our society, and we are dedicated to supporting them in any way we can,” she said.

Representing the Oyo state Commissioner for Health, Mrs Omokehinde Oyebode, used the opportunity to remind the widows of the importance of personal hygiene and regular health checkups.

“We want to ensure that our widows are healthy and strong, so they can continue to care for their families and contribute to their communities,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Deborah Agboola from Ogbomoso North, expressed her gratitude and requested continued support for widows from the government. “This gift is a blessing to me and my family. I thank the Governor’s wife and the government for their kindness and support.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs. Funmilayo Adeyemi from Ibadan North, said, “I am so grateful for this support. It is not easy to care for my children alone, but this gift will help me to feed them and send them to school. Thank you to the Governor’s wife and the government for their kindness.”

The event was attended by various stakeholders, including government officials.