All arrangements have been concluded for commencement of first batch of Sardaunan Badarawa Foundation’s sponsored weddings for widows, particularly the less privileged across Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone who could not afford requirements of a decent wedding but are desirous to settle down in matrimony.

Explaining to newsmen in Kaduna criteria that must be met before a widow could be a beneficiary of the wedding and empowerment packages, Chairman and CEO of the foundation, Usman Ibrahim popularly known as Sardaunan Badarawa said a trustworthy female coordinator had been carefully selected for each of the seven Local Government Areas that make up Zone Two, also called Kaduna Central Zone.

The Local Government Areas are, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Igabi, Birnin-Gwari, Kajuru and Giwa.

According to him, responsibilities of the women coordinators would include searching, vetting and selection of genuine and qualified widows who would benefit from the programme he hinted to be a continuous process aimed at reducing alarming number of unmarried women in the society.

The 2019 Kaduna Central Senatorial aspirant under APC lamented high percentage of divorced women he noted had taken solace in drug and substance abuse due to depression arising from broken marriages, adding that if the menace was allowed to degenerate, it would have a negative ripple effect on overall moral upbringing of the young generation whom he dubbed future leaders that must be of high moral values.

The Kaduna based Philanthropist who was an interim Chairman of Kaduna North revealed that 100 widows would be selected from each Local Government, making the total number for first batch 700, stating that the ambitious but decent figure was arrived at after realistic feasibilities were carried out to ensure that available resources earmarked for seamless takeoff of the project were adequate to cover expenses for 700 decent weddings and also provide post marriage empowerment package for each of the beneficiary.

According to him, common mattress and other little things can hinder most of the divorcees from remarrying.

Mr Ibrahim who holds the title of San Turakin Hausa from Katsina Emirate further disclosed that in no distant time youth empowerment package aimed to provide vocations for teeming number of unemployed young men in his constituency would be rolled out.

“I assure my constituents that it is going to be an organized process that will ensure transparency, fairness and make sure only those who truly need it benefit from it.

“Forms will be issued out to be filled by would be beneficiaries for records , vetting and approval after thorough screening has been carried out.

“This process will be sustained over time until intended goal of the programme is achieved; to reduce number of widows and divorcees in Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone, empower women to be self-reliant, fight the menace of prostitution, drug abuse and other anti-social acts among others.

“A society which only pays lip service to plights of its downtrodden and less privileged, particularly widows and orphans whose supplications are crucial for progress and development of the people, will find it difficult to live in peace and harmony.

“It is imperative we pay true and sustained attention to the needy in our midst, listen to their cries, attend to their needs and pamper them with gifts and love so that God will as well be happy with us and shower His blessings on everything we do for the good of the society” he admonished.

He also added that, traditional and both religious leaders would be involved in the process for effective commencement of the program.

Available phone numbers for more information are as follows:-
08036259911, 08023582322

count | 45

Sardaunan Badarawa Foundation Commences Wedding Sponsorship, Empowerment Of 700 Widows Across Kaduna Central Zone