Nigerian Army Officer launches foundation to cater for widows, youths

AKWA IBOM – A Nigerian Army Officer, Kingsley Edem Byron has rendered assistance to widows and youths in Akwa Ibom State through his newly launched foundation, called Kingsley Byron Foundation (KBF).

The foundation under its HOPE project recently distributed wrappers, toiletries and food items to aged widows in local church in Ikot Akpaetok community, Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, Akwa Ibom State.

The benefitting widows were selected from Assemblies of God; The Apostolic Church; Christ Faith (the Lord’s Kingdom Church) and Methodist Church, all in Ikot Akpaetok.

Members of the foundation also paid a visit to very old women in the community who are weak and confined to their the homes because of their age.
One of the such persons in this category visited by the foundation was Madam Arit Ben Essien, nee Eka Ukuak.

A director of the foundation, Mr. Aniekan Okon said the foundation’s president, Kingsley Edem Byron is keen about the welfare of widows and had directed members of the foundation to go communities and check on widows who have been confined to the homes and see how to assist them.

“This foundation has a unique approach to doing its humanitarian outreaches. We don’t only go out to make donations, we give moral and psychological support when we visit widows in their homes.”

Okon said their target was widows who are 65 years and above, whose children are not well-to-do .

He said 35 widows benefitted from the latest outreach.

During the outreach, Okon encouraged the widows to continue to help preserve the values that the community was known for, by passing same through teachings to their grand children.

He said Kingsley Byron Foundation is up-taking humanitarian services in different sectors including education, healthcare, capacity training for youths, and the hope project which targets the aged.

Okon recalled that in 2017 the foundation constructed a three classroom block, donated a computer lab and gave scholarship to students of Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Akpaetok/Ediam, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

Church leaders and indigenes of Ikot Akpaetok community including Pastor Leo Godwin of The Apostolic Church and Apostle U. R. Utorioh (JP) of Christ Faith, Ikot Akpaetok, have expressed appreciation to Mr. Kingsley Byron and members of the foundation for the sacrifice of love made to people of the community and society.

The foundation has sponsored 12 youths to begin training in different vocations.

Six of youths under the current batch of trainees are learning automobile works, five enrolled for aluminium windows fabrication, and enrolled for hairdressing.

During a meeting the trainees, Mr. Kingsley Byron represented by Aniekan Okon encouraged them to take their training seriously.

The foundation has also donated a wheelchair to a physically challenged person, Okon Asuquo Otu Nnsewo, in Ikot Akpaetok community.