An Islamic counselling centre,Baynakum Family Counselling centre has called on muslim faithfuls and Government at all levels to find lasting solutions to the plights of Widows in Nigeria.
The call was made by the Chairman,Baynakum Family Counselling Centre,Alh.Adio AbdulRazaq at the Widows Empowerment and Welfare scheme organized by the centre in Abuja on Saturday 28th August, 2021.
Adio in his opening speech at the event, also charged Muslim Ummah to assist the Widows through various empowerment schemes.
While delivering her lecture titled “A Invisible Woman,Invisible problems” Hajiya Kafayat Ibiyeye, described Widow as woman who became an invisible , after the demise of her husband, facing invisible problems only her can understand.
The Guest Lecturer who is also a family Coach, highlighted challenges facing Widows in the society. She advised Widows not be despair ,and be spiritual in tackling the problems facing the widowhood.
Ibiyeye therefore urged Muslim ummah to embrace widows and also shun stigmatization against widows.
In his remarks,The CEO, Baynakum Family Counseling Centre,Ustaz Dr Abdulfatah Adeyemi enjoined Muslim faithful to give Widows sense of belonging,and also empower them to be self sustained.
Adeyemi advised capable men who are Muslim to marry widows as ordained by the teachings of Islam.
“Our men should marry widows according to the shariah and also the teachings of the holy Prophet (SAW)”
“Shariah allows Muslim men to marry widows except those once left behind by the Holy prophet”
“Widows should dress well,look decent and also allow interested Muslim men who are willing to marry them”
Abdurasaq Olayode ,a.k.a Philosophy King ,Director of Operations of the centre said Baynakum Family Counselling Centre organized the empowerment scheme to mark the 2021 International Widow’s Day.He added that the scheme which started as Baynakum Welfare Scheme some years back has provided succour to the plights of the less privileged, he further stated that Baynakum injected Widows Empowerment Scheme to address challenges facing the widows in Nigeria.
“Allah (SWT) charged the husband/father with the responsibility of protecting and maintaining the family financially and morally, the husband/father is the bread winn er and Baynakum Family Counselling Centre has recognised the need to empower widows because they have lost their bread winner, and as a result of which they have become vulnerable and impoverished. Some of these women are unskilled and uneducated, therefore, they are unable to secure employment that would enable the m earn a decent living.
“In some of the cases we have reviewed, the families of the deceased husband and widow are unable to step in and alleviate the pitiable condition of the widow and the e orphan(s) because they are managing to survive on meager resources too. The w idow is left with no source of financial support for herself, children’s upkeep, shelte r, clothing, medicine, school fees and other essential needs of life. In response to these challenges, Baynakum Family Counselling Centre has decided to float a Wido w Empowerment Scheme as an enduring intervention to walk them out of these predicaments. This intervention will not only enable the widows to have continuous source of income; but it will guarantee their livelihood. The Needs Assessment for t he identified widows has been done and we came up with some equipments and tools that they can use to rendering services for immediate income that we take care of their needs
“There is Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) which reported Allah’s Messen ger (SAW) as saying; “Whoever treated an orphan with goodness and kindness, h e and I will be close to each other in heaven as these two fingers (the Prophet (S AW) made a gesture with his finger).”Abdurasaq Olayode said.
The highlight of the event was distribution of Grinding Machines, Tailoring Machines including cash to beneficiary widows.The beneficiaries of the scheme commended Baynakum family Centre for the gesture, they however charged other Muslim organizations to emulate the centre.
Recall that last year,Baynakum family empowered over Thirty Women through its annual empowerment and welfare scheme.
Baynakum Family Counseling Centre was established in 2011 and has been a sour ce of succour through various channels to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and abroa d through organising lectures, workshops, One-on-one Counseling, match-making eligible singles (the Baynakum Singledom platform), marriage counseling and con flict resolution, skills empowerment of the youth, training and certification of Counsellors and Coaches, and most recently introduction of the Widows empowerment scheme amongst other charitable works.
