DELTA’S COMPASSION-POWERED ECONOMY

 The state is rebuilding lives through widows’ welfare scheme, writes JAMES EDIVRI 

The atmosphere across Delta State changed subtly but powerfully in the third week of October. From rural fishing communities to bustling urban centres, thousands of widows felt a wave of relief sweep through their homes as the October stipends of the Delta State Widows Welfare Scheme hit their respective bank accounts. For many of these women, often the silent backbone of households, this monthly support is not just financial assistance; it is dignity restored, hope rekindled, and a reaffirmation that their government remembers them.

The scheme, which caters to 10,000 fully verified widows across the state, continues to stand out as one of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s most compassionate and impactful social interventions. Payments for the October cycle were made seamlessly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts between Wednesday and Friday, October 21, in strict compliance with the governor’s directive for uninterrupted monthly disbursement.

For Isioma Okonta, State Coordinator of the Widows Welfare Scheme, this consistency is more than administrative dutifulness, it is a testament to a leader who governs with heart.

“His Excellency’s compassion and exemplary leadership are evident in every aspect of this programme,” Okonta said. “The regular release of funds has put smiles on the faces of thousands of disadvantaged Deltans who went through proper verification before being enrolled.”

It has become common to hear widows speak openly about how this stipend allows them to feed their children, start micro-businesses, restock petty-trade shelves, purchase medication, or simply breathe easier in an economy that has not been kind to the vulnerable. Their gratitude is often emotional, sometimes expressed in whispered prayers, other times in visible relief as they check their mobile alerts with trembling hands.

While the stipends alone have been transformative, Governor Oborevwori has insisted that true social welfare must be multilayered. This is why he approved a Free Health Care Service Registration for all 10,000 widows, a major step toward ensuring that the most vulnerable do not face catastrophic health expenses.

According to Okonta, the registration is already in advanced stages, offering medical security and easing the fear that sickness often brings into low-income households. Once fully operational, the scheme will grant widows subsidised or free access to healthcare services—an invaluable support in a time of rising medical costs.

But for Oborevwori, the Widows Welfare Scheme is not a standalone programme. It is one part of a broader ecosystem of social support he has been building since taking office, anchored on his M.O.R.E Agenda : Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace & Security.

Across Delta State, Oborevwori has introduced or sustained several initiatives that demonstrate his commitment to inclusive governance and targeted empowerment.

Through programmes such as the Youth Agricultural Development Initiative, ICT training camps, and marketable vocational skills training, thousands of young Deltans have been equipped with tools to become self-reliant. Starter packs, from sewing machines to POS terminals, hairdressing kits, welding sets, computer equipment, and farm inputs, have been distributed to graduates of these programmes.

The governor has equally expanded grants and soft-loan opportunities for small business owners, especially women-led ventures. These interventions have helped traders recapitalize, artisans grow their services, and young entrepreneurs formalize their budding enterprises.

Education remains one of the governor’s priority areas. Under his administration, thousands of students across tertiary institutions have received state bursaries. Also, the state revived targeted scholarships for students in critical fields. Learning materials and infrastructure upgrades also continue in primary and secondary schools. These efforts, among several other well-conceived interventions, ensure that the cycle of poverty is broken at its foundation.

Beyond the widows’ free healthcare registration, the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme (DSCHS) has been strengthened, expanding coverage for pregnant women, children, and the elderly in underserved regions. Governor Oborevwori has also invested in overhauling hospitals, improving staffing, and upgrading diagnostic equipment.

In response to national economic pressures, the state has implemented multiple rounds of palliative distribution, ensuring that households receive essentials such as rice, beans, garri, and other staples. Market women, farmers, civil servants, and vulnerable groups have all benefited.

These efforts collectively signal an administration that sees social welfare not as charity, but as a policy pillar for economic stability and human dignity.

The widows enrolled in the scheme represent different ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some are elderly, others young mothers thrust into single parenthood by tragedy. Many are caretakers of entire extended families. The governor’s approach acknowledges this diversity.

By ensuring that payments are made directly to bank accounts, the administration maintains transparency, eliminates leakages, and upholds the dignity of the beneficiaries. No middlemen. No unnecessary queues. No favoritism.

Okonta emphasized that each widow underwent a rigorous verification process ensuring that only genuinely vulnerable women are included. With enrollment now fully complete, the scheme has reached the governor’s mandate of 10,000 beneficiaries, an achievement made possible by meticulous planning and transparent execution.

Across the state, the response has been the same: prayers, blessings, and heartfelt words for the governor. Videos and testimonies have flooded local community WhatsApp groups, churches, and marketplaces as widows celebrate the unexpected lifeline.

One widow in Sapele said, “Every month, this money gives me strength. It helps me feed my children. God will continue to bless the governor for remembering us.”

Another in Ndokwa East shared, “I used my stipend to start selling vegetables. Now I earn something daily. This programme changed my life.”

Their voices, often muted by hardship, are now amplified through renewed hope.

Perhaps the most defining element of Oborevwori’s governance style is his insistence that development must be people-centered. His administration is not merely constructing roads, schools, and hospitals; it is constructing pathways to dignity.

The Widows Welfare Scheme illustrates this philosophy in action: a monthly reminder that the state sees its most vulnerable and values them.

As Delta continues its development trajectory, one thing is clear: Governor Oborevwori is building a compassion-powered economy, one where governance is measured not only by infrastructure, but by the comfort it brings to the lives of ordinary people.

 Edivri writes from Asaba