Ini Billie, Uyo
About 350 multiple-birth parents with triplets and two or more sets of twins have received financial support and other items for small businesses across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The Mary Slessor-Akan Glo Foundation (MASLAG) donated the empowerment packages to beneficiaries, in line with its core mandate of caring for multiple-birth parents, children and the less-privileged.
Speaking during the donation on Thursday in Uyo, the President/Founder of the Foundation, Dr Glory Edet, said the project was designed to promote the works of a Scottish Missionary to Nigeria, Mary Slessor, who stopped the killing of multiple birth children, and her great impacts to humanity and society.
Edet said the Foundation aims to support the multiple birth parents and children, the less privileged, widows, persons with disabilities, and women and restore hope to the hopeless and the oppressed through counselling, and skills acquisition among other things.
She urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors and make judicious use of the cash the foundation has given to them to improve their lives.
“Irrespective of where you find yourselves, always give thanks to God for making you multiple-birth parents and be hopeful for better days”, she said.
While speaking, the Coordinator, Mary Slessor-Akan Glo Foundation, Mrs Jane Mike stated that the programme was in line with the legacies of Mary Slessor who was not only renowned for stopping the killing of twins but also for her huge impact on the less-privileged and others in need.
In their separate goodwill messages, The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Margaret Edem and Mrs Precious Lazarus appreciated Dr Edet for her good heart and encouraged the women to make good use of the financial assistance they have received.
Giving a talk on “Earning a Living”, Mrs Edima Ndaobong encouraged the women to be business-oriented and invest in what has been given to them.