Buea widows celebrate economic empowerment

Bringing development to the grassroots, aiding women in difficult widowhood and improving agricultural productivity, were the reasons to feast by the Nkong Hill Top Association for Development, NADEV, as it marked 20 years of activities recently in Buea.

The South West Regional Delegate of Women's Empowerment and the Family, Judith Moffah Lyengu, saluted strides in addressing the plight of women, especially widows in grassroots communities.

Women, mostly widows, who came from across the South West Region, recounted how NADEV facilitated their leap out of misery. Now, the women can generate income to assist their families and aspire for better livelihoods.

The commemoration came on the heels of the sixth International Widows' Day on June, 23, 2016. Acia Irene, a widow from Lewoh, Lebialem Division, narrated how she was assisted to begin pig farming.

Two piglets (male and female), a pigpen and feed were offered her. After eight months, she sold one of the pigs, while the other produced six piglets which she fattened.

Eko Bridget from Mautu in Buea Subdivision corroborated her companion, adding that widows in Mautu are no longer beggars. Sponsoring their offspring in school is now done with much ease; with others acquiring land and starting businesses, they testified.

The Coordinator of the programme, Vincent Anu, explained that they have so far supported over 4,000 women with micro-credits, 1,350 widows with livestock, thereby increasing their income and improving their livelihoods.

"We are very proud that in 20 years, we have been able to reach hundreds of communities in Cameroon. Our target is to extend our activities to other regions," he explained.