By Patrick Ochei
For the past five years, June Visions Foundation has prominently engaged widows in Issele-Uku, giving them various empowerments to support them economically, including physical celebration with them every 24th of December with Christmas gifts.
This year’s edition is unique being the fifth anniversary and so, not surprising to be activity driven.
The Foundation, recognising the key role the Traditional Ruler of Issele-Uku Kingdom, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka has played in the past five years to strengthen it, honoured him with an award plaque for exemplary community leadership, polished royal image and development initiatives within the community and beyond.
At least in the past five years, Obi Nduka had graciously provided the Issele-Uku Royal Palace for the engagements of the widows as the NGO carries out her programmes.
Once again, in his usual characteristic disposition to releasing blessings to his subjects and their pet projects, Obi Nduka prayed that the June Visions Foundation would grow from strength to strength to the extent of achieving international reckoning for the impacts it is making in the life of widows in the community.
According to the visioneer and Chief Executive Officer of the June Visions Foundation, Evangelist June Odika, “We are waxing stronger by the day, week, month and year to the glory of God.
“This is a vision that God has committed into my hand, to reachout periodically and regularly to the widows in my community, without need to verify their places of origin.
“Widows For Christ (WFC) is an offshoot of the June Visions Foundation. When we started, it was like a joke, but with time we discovered it was no joke but divine mandate.
“Just like yesterday, we have done five years and everything is going on fine and perfect, with the grace of God strengthening our hand yearly.
“I don’t have any other thing to say but to show my gratitude to God for the marvelous works He is doing in the life of this vision that He committed into my hand.
“I feel elated and I commend my team of pastors, ordained workers and leaders of the various segments of the Widows For Christ, who are helping us to distribute our monthly and annual Empowerment packages to the widows in various catchment areas.
“We can’t thank God enough. Same goes to our King, our pride and most revered universally; we are indeed proud of your majestic achievements. You have brought regard to our community and the consequence are the numerous self-help projects springing up at diverse locations of the community. I say more grace to you, Your Majesty”, Odika said.
The occasion equally offered the platform to worship God for being the father and husband of widows in Issele-Uku kingdom; moreso, making His mercies available for the protection and progress of the community.
Meanwhile, the widows graciously smiled home with quarter sized bags of rice, tin tomatoes, handsets, pieces of wrapper and other items to go with. It was indeed a robust Christmas for these widows and, most of them would not forget such a show of love in a hurry. Of course, being an annual event is an indicator that they would gladly look forward to every 24th day of December for such a charity.