The Delta Government says the Widows Welfare Scheme, championed by the administration of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori, is increasingly being viewed as a practical response to vulnerability rather than a symbolic gesture.
Addressing journalists on Saturday in Asaba, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Social Investment Programmes, Mr Isioma Okonta, said the scheme has shown consistency in both funding and implementation.
He disclosed that 10,000 widows across the state had been paid their November stipends, providing steady financial support for women who often shoulder the full burden of family responsibilities alone.
Okonta explained that the monthly stipends were designed to stabilise the livelihoods of beneficiaries, particularly in the face of rising living costs.
According to him, the intervention acknowledges the economic shock widows frequently experience after the loss of their spouses and seeks to cushion its long-term effects.
He added that the programme also incorporated free medical care at accredited hospitals, thereby reducing healthcare expenses that often push vulnerable households deeper into poverty.
Okonta said the dual approach has helped many widows regain a sense of security and dignity.
Okonta said that rather than treating the scheme as a one-off relief effort, the Oborevwori administration has embedded it within a broader social investment framework.
He described the governor as deliberate and responsive, noting that sustained attention to widows’ welfare has become a defining feature of his leadership style.
He said the scheme is now regarded as one of the state’s most effective social interventions and a benchmark for inclusive governance.
Okonta noted that the continuation of the programme reflects the government’s broader commitment to ensuring that vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development agenda.
