Annual Ramadan Lecture/ Iftar: WIC Supports Inmates, Widows, Vulnerable In Kaduna

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Women’s Interfaith Council,( WIC) also Known as Interfaith Forum of Muslim and Christian Women’s Association, has given support to widows and the vulnerable persons as part of activities to celebrate the 2024, annual Ramadan Lecture and Iftar.

The event which held recently in Kaduna. attracted several Women faithbased organizations among others.

Earlier the group visited the Kaduna correctional Service for an outreach to both Male and Female inmates and gifts of food items was donated.

In a statement by the Executive Director, WIC, Rev Sr. Veronica Ifeanyiwa Onyeanisi, OLA, on Tuesday, she further noted the unique nature of this year’s event, owing to the fact that Muslims and Christians were both fasting for Ramadan and Lent respectively.

” As it has been the tradition of the Interfaith Forum of Muslim and Christian Women’s Association a.k.a Women’s Interfaith Council (WIC) to organize annual Ramadan Programme.

” This year’s event, started with an outreach to the Correctional Service Kaduna where the male and female inmates were urged to be law abiding and some items were given to them.

” The WIC 8th Annual Ramadan
lecture/Iftar/Support for Widows and the vulnerable people in the society was held on Saturday 23rd March, 2024 at Ansarrudeen Society Hall, Abeokuta Street/Kano Road Kaduna.

” The participants of the Ramadan Lecture included different Women Faith Based Organizations in Kaduna State. The theme of the Ramadan lecture was “Women as Oasis of Hope and Reconciliation”.

” The Executive Director of the Women’s Interfaith Council (WIC), Rev. Sr. Veronica Onyeanisi, OLA in her opening remarks stated that WIC has created and is creating a platform for inter-religious dialogue for people of different faith to work together.

” The 2024 Holy Month of Ramadan was special because both the Christians and Muslims are observing this holy season of purification through almsgiving, penance and fasting. She stated that GOD has given us this opportunity to draw us closer to himself and deepen our relationship with one another as well as live in peace with our neighbours as people of faith.

” The programme started with Quran recitation and prayers. Goodwill messages from the invited guests emphasized how Muslims and Christians were living in peace in the same neighborhood, celebrating festive periods together, remembering how growing up was in the past. Together they pray that God will help us to see each other first as humans first before religion.

” As women of faith, all of us, leaders of different women’s faith based groups working together as mothers of a culture of peace, recognize the urgent need to have an adequate understanding of interfaith peace building processes and to know how we can apply these successfully in raising our children.

” The Facilitator Imam Muhammad Ashafa, the Co-Coordinator of Interfaith Mediation Centre presented a paper on the topic “The Rising Tide of Inflation and Insecurity: The Role of Women. He informed that mothers are the first teachers; they have the power to change the world. Parent need to start teaching their children when they are still small the sanctity of life, thereby changing the narrative.

” The Representative from the Interreligious Dialogue Kaduna read the message of Pope Francis calling for fasting in Ramadan to end pandemic and bring abundant fruits of peace, hope and joy.

“The Widows and vulnerable women were supported with some food items as Ramadan package and prayed for. About Seventy – nine (79) participants were present at the event.” the statement added.