By Nwabueze Okonkwo

For Mrs. Grace Ekpo, a widow who hails from Oron Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, life has not been easy for her and her nine-year-old son since she lost her husband some years ago.

*Mrs Ekpo and her son with Head of Wazobia 93.7FM, Mr. Ugochukwu Enwereji

However, she has been struggling to survive with her only son, working assiduously to provide for him and to give him the best kind of education she can afford with her petty trading business of selling food and drinks.

However, on February 25, 2019 she encountered some hoodlums who set her back and almost sent her back to her village after robbing her of her capital and goods, leaving her with no other option than to relocate to her village.

However, succour came her way after a thoughtful move she made to Wazobia FM Onitsha where she went to narrate her ordeal and appeal for assistance from the general public to start life again, but ended up receiving N50,000 and other packages and a promise for more assistance.

Narrating her ordeal to newsmen, Mrs Ekpo said she was waylaid and robbed of all her belongings when she was returning from the market on Monday, February 25, 2019 in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“I have been struggling to survive with my nine-year-old son since I lost my husband some years ago, paying for my son’s school fees and other things for his upkeep has not been easy. The most important thing I want to give him is sound education, but those criminals wanted to send me home having collected all I have in this life.

However, my mind told me to go to Wazobia FM Onitsha to tell them my story to see if help can come from the public after relaying my story, because I did not have any other option than to go back to the village,

At Wazobia 93.7 FM, Onitsha, I spoke with Nancy Amadi and Akpors and later, the Head of station, Mr Ugochukwu Enwereji was informed about my presence and he made some calls probably to their head office and the next thing was presentation of the sum of N50,000 to me, to go back to my business and also send my son back to school.

Narrating her story to South-East Voice, Mrs Ekpo struggled to control her tears to no avail, however, she picked herself up and could not contain her joy as she said: “I can go back to my business and my son can also go back to school.”

Apart from the cash donation made to the woman, Wazobia Crew put her on air and appealed to the public to assist her. South-East Voice gathered that some people have started responding to her appeal.

Speaking with SEV, Head of Wazobia 93.7 FM, Mr. Ugochukwu Enwereji said the gesture is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, as directed by the management in every locality they are domiciled.

However, “I must thank our management for responding shortly after I drew their attention to the woman’s plight, through a call l made, while Mrs. Ekpo was still in our office.

“Some people have responded to Mrs. Ekpo’s appeal and whatever is collected would be given to her. We will still keep monitoring and further assist her to make sure she truly gets back on her feet.”

Mrs. Ekpo and her visibly happy son thanked the management of the radio station and the staff in Onitsha for not rebuffing them on arrival, adding that her family will always remain grateful to the company.