By Evelyn Usman

Mrs Ademola Saidat, a widow and mother of three, had been living in a one-room apartment at 20 Niyi street in Agodo, a Lagos suburb she called home with her husband, Ade. The small space held memories of happier times until life took a drastic turn following her husband’s demise, in December 2023.

While reeling from the devastating loss of her husband and the responsibility of caring for their three children alone, the weight of her grief was compounded by the harsh realities of her new circumstances, when she received a letter from her landlord, in January 2025 , revealing that the rent, initially a manageable N7,000 monthly, had skyrocketed to N12,000, with an additional N10,000 for electricity and cleaning, leaving her teetering on the brink of homelessness.

The final nail in the coffin was a quit notice from her landlord the following day, citing her inability to pay the increased rent – a cruel blow that threatened to leave her and her children homeless.

Widow’s lamentation

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard, she said, “ where do I get N18,000 every month to pay and at the same time cater for my three children who are now 17, 14 and 12 years old respectively? I was assisting a woman to grind pepper and I remitted N46,000 to her every month. The agreement was that she would give me the grinding machine after one year. But I ended up working for her for two years without the promise kept. At times I would have to borrow money from friends and co- traders to make up the monthly payment , just for my children to see. So when the rent increment came up, I was at a loss of what to do”.

New dawn

She said it took her desperate search for a new apartment around Agogo and Egbe area before she found an affordable one room apartment for N7,000 monthly and an additional N5,000 for electricity and cleaning , including agent and agreement fees which amounted to N175,000.

Just when all hope of paying for the new apartment seemed bleak, with two weekes to quit her house, the Complete New Basic Life Skills Advancement ,CNBA Initiative , burst into Sadiat’s ‘s life like a bolt of lightning on a stormy night, on Wednesday, March 26,2027, offering her N300,000 to pay for the new rent.

In an emotional laden tone, the widow said while receiving the cash incentive from one of the Directors, Mrs Josephine Omo-Gabriel , “ This is a huge surprise. It is too much for me because I never saw this coming”.

Omo-Gabriel explained that the gesture was in line with the organisation’s objectives of empowering individuals with new skills and knowledge.

She said : “ We rendered assistance to the widow and her children because we believe that everyone deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.When we learned about her plight, we knew we had to act. She had lost her husband, was struggling to make ends meet, and was facing eviction. It was clear that she needed a helping hand, and we were determined to provide it. By offering support, we hope to not only alleviate her immediate needs but also empower her to build a brighter future for herself and her children”

Celebrates Ramadan with over 500 Muslims

In addition to the assistance to the widow, Omo-Gabriel disclosed that CNBA also displayed an interfaith solidarity by embarking on a mission to provide food to Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan fast, in Igando Okokomaiko Igboelerin areas of Lagos.

She explained that : “This gesture aims to ease the fasting experience for many, while also fostering a sense of community and shared humanity”, she said.