Foundation empowers 100 widows, pay children’s schl fees on Plateau ON December 27, 2017

By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos —ABOUT 100 widows in Plateau State have heaved a sigh of relief as the Decent Danjuma Foundation, DDF, provided school fees for their children and gave them financial assistance to set up small businesses for their upkeep.
The Foundation owned by the Vice-Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Professor Danjuma Sheni, also gave out sewing machines, computers, clothes and Bibles to the beneficiaries.
Recalling what he went through as a child, who grew up in abject poverty, ate once a day and had to be sent out of school due torn uniform, the founder, Professor Sheni said the gesture was to alleviate the sufferings of the widows.
Apart from his experience, the VC added that he was obeying the Biblical injunction which urges help for orphans and widows stressing: "We grew up very poor to the extent that we were kicked out of primary school at Dadur, Langtang because of lack of school uniform.
"I was wearing the only uniform I had for both school and at home and it got torn and exposed my back side. I had to go to Zinni market to meet our mother, who was a petty trader, she sold the pig we had and used the proceeds to buy uniform for us."
The Decent Danjuma Foundation, is designed to cater for the needs of widows in the society. Since its establishment four years ago, it has empowered no fewer than 100 widows through grants to set-up businesses, provision of sewing machines and computers.
Other assistance rendered include payment of widows children's school fees, providing financial assistance and wrappers annually, in addition to Bibles and building and roofing of widows' houses.