Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has identified closeness to God and a resolve to succeed, as the only pathway for widows to live happily and surmount the challenges of widowhood.

She spoke on Saturday at the IWS Skills Acquisition Center, Lekki, where the International Women’s Society, had organized a New Year feast for one hundred widows.

Bolanle, who urged widows not to succumb to the many daunting challenges that accompany widowhood, advised them to hold on to God and face the future with determination, for a happy and fulfilled living.

She said,” At the point of marriage, our heart’s desire is to stay alive with our husbands forever, if possible. But alas! It is always never possible. Someday, later or soon, the dreaded must happen and the hard reality must dawn.

“After the grief, what should we do? To ask God for grace to cope with a situation we cannot change. It is only a candid acceptance of this bitter truth, that will assist us, to face the future with determination for ultimate success.”

She further advised the widows to ensure they had a regular means of livelihood, through work or vocational skills, to take care of sundry responsibilities.

She commended members of the Widows Trust Fund, for ensuring the success of the yearly feast, and prayed that God would greatly reward their kindness and generosity.

Earlier, the chairperson of widows’ trust fund, Mrs. Gbemi Shasore, disclosed that the IWS had been caring for widows’ plight since 1998.

She said that although widowhood was an extremely challenging condition, she urged them to turn the grief into hope.

Highlights of the event included the nomination of 10 widows for further skill acquisition sponsored by Mrs. Ambode, aside the donation of several items by her.