This was made known during the award
ceremony held in Lagos to mark this year’s International Widows Day themed:
Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.
The event was opportunity to recognize
Heritage Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) roles to widows, their
children and other less privileged within the society.
Speaking during the awards presentation,
Founder, Widows & Orphans Support Society of Nigeria (WOSSA), Ambassador
Tayo Thomas, said Heritage Bank is one of the group’s key partners and has for
years shown massive support to the widows.
He said: ” Basically, we are giving this
award to people and organizations that have been supporting the less privileged
widows. These are our partners, they have been doing great service to humanity,
especially service the less privileged widows in meeting their financial needs
and those of their children”.
Continuing, he said: “The United Nations
Humanitarian Award is to appreciate and acknowledge them for their support to
the less privileged widows. The United Nations Humanitarian Award is an award
we give every 24th of June to those who have really supported the widows. Those
who have joined us to fight against injustice against the widows. That is the
reason for today”.
Speaking at the event, Heritage Bank
Regional Head, Lagos Island 1, Olawale Osundele, said the bank has for years,
remained committed to improving people’s lives.
He said: “It has always been one of our
front liners to always improve the quality of people’s lives right from childhood.
And today that they are marking the International Widow’s Day, we are also part
of the support team to WOSSA in various aspects.”
“We have been supporting them in terms of
providing quality education for children of widows to ensure that life after
the death of their husband is still good to them and their children. We also
support the children and orphan and the less privileged in the society,” he
added.
According to Osundele, the bank’s support
to the widows has always been a source of joy to them. “It means that life still means a lot to
them. You can see the joy in their faces. Despite what they are going through,
they are still very happy and relevant in the society,” he said.
One of the widows at the event, Mrs.
Felicia Ugwunwanne thanked Heritage Bank and WOSSA for their continuous support
to the widows and less privileged.
She said that WOSSA is through the support
of partners such as Heritage Bank, making life better for the widows and their
children.
“The WOSSA has for years, been assisting so
many of us, including our children and orphanages. WOSSA gives us cash, help
some widows to pay their house rent, school fees for widows’ children, among
other things,” she said.
Ugwunwanne said the widows under WOSSA are
being trained for skills acquisition to improve the quality of their lives.
“I am aware that the WOSSA is working on
securing loan from Microfinance Bank, and we have completed forms to achieve
the purpose. Our members are prepared to access the loans. Some of the widows
have gone to learn some skills that will enable them to invest and succeeded in
whatever craft or business they are doing, so that they will not continue to
depend on people,” she said.