By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
The former Senior Special Assistant to former ex David Umahi, Rev. Dr. Mrs. Jacinta Nwakaego Nworie has donated a brand new bungalow building to a homeless widow whose name was given as Cecilia Ujebe to alleviate her plight over the years.
According to Dr. Nworie, the widow in question has been homeless for over 25 years after the death of her husband, which has made her vulnerable to all manner of things, stating that her husband’s mud house was totally dilapidated which prompted her to start the new building project for her.
She further explained that her two sons died abandoning her with a surviving daughter who left the village with the widow’s grandchildren to Enugu State since the don’t have any shelter to place their heads, but after the new bungalow was erected, she has returned back with the children to be integrated with the family.
Reverend Nworie also added that as the President of Lions Club, and former SSA on Lagos Liaison office, she is always passionate to assist widows and the downtrodden to lead a good life, saying that she is instrumental to the return and rehabilitation of Ebonyians who were hawking in Lagos State, through former Governor Umahi.
“I have been a pastor for the past 25 years. When former Governor Umahi won election, he heard my story, how I used to repatriate some children they were using for hawking exploitation in Lagos. I am the one who let Umahi know about Ebonyians hawking in Lagos. I wrote to the governor and he did something about the hawkers in Lagos.
“Before now, I have been passionate about the dying souls in Nigeria.
“I am married here, this village is called Igwemini village, Okposi Umuohara in Ezza North LGA.
“This widow had her two sons and they all died mysteriously. One of them, who had psychiatric problem was taken to one pastor, where he was tied and he died there. So, the woman came to me and appealed for money to bury her dead son, but I heard her story that she has been homeless for 20 years. I told her that she needed shelter instead of money to bury the dead. She has been managing a dilapidated mud house.Infact, one woman was even mocking her that she will never live in a good house.
“Her husband died 25 years ago when her mud house collapsed and there was no hope. One politician around here moulded blocks and packed here, but never did anything until I started building for her. I made up my mind that I am going to give her a home, here is the bungalow. I added more rooms for her to occupy and rent others in order to generate income to feed herself.
“She has nothing doing, she is a vulnerable widow. She has no helper. Her only surviving daughter ran away with kids because they have no shelter, but one of the things I achieved in erecting this building is that, her only daughter that ran away with this widow’s grandchildren is back home after the building project was completed.
“They brought back the grandchildren and reconciled them with the family,” she narrated.
When asked whether she has intention of extending this kind gesture to others, Rev. Nworie said givers never lack, according to the scripture, because since she embarked on the building project to provide shelter for the widow, God has lifted her in a remarkable way because givers, never lack.
“Give and it shall be given on to you. Since I started building this house for this woman, I have no cause to regret. Since I Left office, I am better than when I was appointed because God has been sustaining me. Lions Club International and friends also supported me.It took me barely one year to build this house for her,” she disclosed.
Also speaking after commissioning the new bungalow building, the Parish Priest in charge of
St. Andrew’s Catholic church, Umuohara, Rev Fr. Mathew Isukpa applauded Rev. Mrs. Nworie for doing a good work to help the less privileged in line with the biblical injunction that said, the test of true faith or true religion is by doing good work’.
“Saint James says that the test of true faith or true religion is by doing good work. So, this woman has actually carried out the injunction and I congratulate her. Let this widow do her best to judiciously use the house. I want to advice other well-to-do individuals to emulate the gesture of this woman by always helping the poor,” Reverend Father Isukpa advised.
One of the family members, Mrs. Roselin Mgbada commended the efforts of Rev. Nworie who saw her condition and came for rescue, adding that after the death of the widow’s two sons, she has been engaging in menial jobs like weeding farms, among others.
“This woman gave birth to two sons and a girl, but the two sons all died except the lady. It’s Mrs. Nwakaego Nworie that saw her condition and decided to build for her. This widow is just doing a menial job by engaging in weeding farms. I am happy about what happened here because I didn’t expect it,” she said.
On her part, they beneficiary, Mrs. Cecilia Ujebe who was overwhelmed with joy, prayed God to bless and keep Rev. Jacintha Nworie who remembered her when she was homeless, noting that she has been passing through a lot of challenges until Mrs.Nworie located her.
The event featured formal presentation of gifts from the widow’s family members to Rev. Nworie for the good job she has done and dancing celebration by the friends and well wishers who came to celebrate with her.
