A Police Widow Appeals to Benue State Government and Nigerians to Save Her Daughter’s Medical Dream

By Paul Orude, Bauchi

Since Mrs. Rejoice Agye lost her husband, a police corporal, life has been an unending struggle.

Rejoice was married in 2007 to Corporal Augustine Agye, an indigene of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, who was then serving at the Bauchi State Police Command. Their marriage was peaceful and fulfilling and Rejoice was housewife.

According to her, when she became pregnant, her husband insisted that the child should be named Gift, whether male or female. On May 5, 2008, their daughter, Gift, was born, bringing immense joy to the young family.

Corporal Augustine Agye was killed by suspected armed robbers at Uzoro

However, that joy was tragically short-lived.

Barely three weeks after the birth of their daughter, Corporal Augustine Agye was killed by suspected armed robbers at Uzoro in Delta State on Monday, July 1, 2008. The incident shattered Rejoice’s world.

“I was at home in Bauchi when the news came,” she recalled tearfully.

“I was nursing Gift, who was just three weeks old. It was as if the earth should open and swallow me.”

Overwhelmed by grief and shock, Rejoice returned to Benue State to stay with her parents for one year to mourn the sudden death of her husband. After a year, she returned to Bauchi to face the harsh realities of life as a widow and single mother.

Following her husband’s death, the family reportedly received ₦1.6 million in benefits. The police paid her ₦500,000 also. With this money, Rejoice started a small foodstuff business around Sabon Gida in Bauchi to support herself and her child.

“The business was moving well at first,” she said, “but as time went on, it started declining because we were feeding from it and paying my daughter’s school fees.”

Later, when one of her kinswomen relocated to Makurdi, Rejoice took over her space at the then Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where she began frying bean cake (akara). The business flourished for about eight years until hospital management asked all petty traders to vacate the area.

From that point, her means of livelihood steadily collapsed.

With little or no support from her late husband’s family, his only elder brother being a retired civil servant, Rejoice has been solely responsible for raising her daughter.

“It has not been easy,” she said quietly. “It is only God.”

Rejoice explained that Gift showed signs of brilliance from an early age.

“She didn’t like playing too much. She kept to herself and was very studious and creative. From primary two, she kept telling me she wanted to be a medical doctor.”

Gift’s interest in medicine, she said, was inspired by seeing doctors while her mother fried akara at the hospital. A market leader who once saw her school results predicted she would become a doctor and began calling her “Doctor,” a nickname that stuck, and  Gift’s mother  “Mama Doctor”

When Gift’s WAEC results, who graduated from Immaculate Conception Secondary school (ICSS) Bauchi, were released, they were excellent: She got A1 in mathematics, B3 in English,A1 in Biology,A1 in Chemistry,A1 in Physics,A1 in Animal husbandry ,A1 in Civic education and A1 in Christian Religious Study

Gift scored 245 in JAMB and aspired to study medicine and surgery.

“When I become a medical doctor, I’ll like to help people and also be someone that can be called upon to give people talks on their health and other related issues,” Gift stated.

“My mom is a business woman but her business crashed recently and she doesn’t have the financial capacity for it but I’m hoping and praying that God will make a way,” the teenager said.

“My mother has been of great support to me because I lost my dad few  days after my birth so I grew up with just my mum. I feel happy about my good results because I feel like I have started making my her proud.

“My father’s absence has affected me so much because growing up without a father is not easy. Because all the burdens, loads and needs are on my mother and she doesn’t have enough so most times we just have to struggle but it hasn’t been easy growing up without my dad”

She applied for admission to Benue State University (BSU) and was offered admission. That was when Rejoice realized she needed help.

“I didn’t have the money for registration and school fees,” she said. “I kept praying. God used two people to help me, and I managed to pay her first-semester 100-level fees so she would not stay at home.”

Currently, Rejoice says her situation has worsened. Her business is no longer viable, and she struggles to meet even basic needs.

“I was only able to raise ₦200,000. There is no money for feeding. I could not pay the hostel fee of ₦70,000, excluding textbooks and daily upkeep.”

Rejoice has been evicted again from her current trading location near a high-tension area.

Despite the hardships, Rejoice remains determined not to let anything truncate her daughter’s education.

“My daughter is brilliant and very focused. I don’t want anything to stop her dream of becoming a medical doctor,” she said.

Gift’s mother is now appealing to the Benue State Government, particularly the Governor, and well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid so her daughter can continue her education and fulfill her dream.

Gift also joined in the appeal:

“Please, I’m begging the Benue State Government and kind Nigerians to help me achieve my dreams. My mother is no longer financially capable, and I don’t want my dreams to crumble.”

She expressed gratitude to her teachers, especially her Mathematics teacher, Miss Lawal, her biology teacher, Mr. Bartholomew, and her English teacher, Miss Ann, for molding her academically.

As the new academic session progresses, time is running out. For Rejoice Agye and her daughter, support from compassionate Nigerians could mean the difference between a shattered dream and the birth of a future lifesaver.

The widow can be reached on 08060280386.

Her bank details are as follow:  2661076959

Account name: Rejoice M. Agyeorngu, Ecobank

 A Police Widow Appeals to Benue State Government and Nigerians to Save Her Daughter’s Medical Dream

By Paul Orude, Bauchi

Since Mrs. Rejoice Agye lost her husband, a police corporal, life has been an unending struggle.

Rejoice was married in 2007 to Corporal Augustine Agye, an indigene of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, who was then serving at the Bauchi State Police Command. Their marriage was peaceful and fulfilling and Rejoice was housewife.

According to her, when she became pregnant, her husband insisted that the child should be named Gift, whether male or female. On May 5, 2008, their daughter, Gift, was born, bringing immense joy to the young family.

However, that joy was tragically short-lived.

Barely three weeks after the birth of their daughter, Corporal Augustine Agye was killed by suspected armed robbers at Uzoro in Delta State on Monday, July 1, 2008. The incident shattered Rejoice’s world.

“I was at home in Bauchi when the news came,” she recalled tearfully.

“I was nursing Gift, who was just three weeks old. It was as if the earth should open and swallow me.”

Overwhelmed by grief and shock, Rejoice returned to Benue State to stay with her parents for one year to mourn the sudden death of her husband. After a year, she returned to Bauchi to face the harsh realities of life as a widow and single mother.

Following her husband’s death, the family reportedly received ₦1.6 million in benefits. The police paid her ₦500,000 also. With this money, Rejoice started a small foodstuff business around Sabon Gida in Bauchi to support herself and her child.

“The business was moving well at first,” she said, “but as time went on, it started declining because we were feeding from it and paying my daughter’s school fees.”

Later, when one of her kinswomen relocated to Makurdi, Rejoice took over her space at the then Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where she began frying bean cake (akara). The business flourished for about eight years until hospital management asked all petty traders to vacate the area.

From that point, her means of livelihood steadily collapsed.

With little or no support from her late husband’s family, his only elder brother being a retired civil servant, Rejoice has been solely responsible for raising her daughter.

“It has not been easy,” she said quietly. “It is only God.”

Rejoice explained that Gift showed signs of brilliance from an early age.

“She didn’t like playing too much. She kept to herself and was very studious and creative. From primary two, she kept telling me she wanted to be a medical doctor.”

Gift’s interest in medicine, she said, was inspired by seeing doctors while her mother fried akara at the hospital. A market leader who once saw her school results predicted she would become a doctor and began calling her “Doctor,” a nickname that stuck, and  Gift’s mother  “Mama Doctor”

When Gift’s WAEC results, who graduated from Immaculate Conception Secondary school (ICSS) Bauchi, were released, they were excellent: She got A1 in mathematics, B3 in English,A1 in Biology,A1 in Chemistry,A1 in Physics,A1 in Animal husbandry ,A1 in Civic education and A1 in Christian Religious Study

Gift scored 245 in JAMB and aspired to study medicine and surgery.

“When I become a medical doctor, I’ll like to help people and also be someone that can be called upon to give people talks on their health and other related issues,” Gift stated.

“My mom is a business woman but her business crashed recently and she doesn’t have the financial capacity for it but I’m hoping and praying that God will make a way,” the teenager said.

“My mother has been of great support to me because I lost my dad few  days after my birth so I grew up with just my mum. I feel happy about my good results because I feel like I have started making my her proud.

“My father’s absence has affected me so much because growing up without a father is not easy. Because all the burdens, loads and needs are on my mother and she doesn’t have enough so most times we just have to struggle but it hasn’t been easy growing up without my dad”

She applied for admission to Benue State University (BSU) and was offered admission. That was when Rejoice realized she needed help.

“I didn’t have the money for registration and school fees,” she said. “I kept praying. God used two people to help me, and I managed to pay her first-semester 100-level fees so she would not stay at home.”

Currently, Rejoice says her situation has worsened. Her business is no longer viable, and she struggles to meet even basic needs.

“I was only able to raise ₦200,000. There is no money for feeding. I could not pay the hostel fee of ₦70,000, excluding textbooks and daily upkeep.”

Rejoice has been evicted again from her current trading location near a high-tension area.

Despite the hardships, Rejoice remains determined not to let anything truncate her daughter’s education.

“My daughter is brilliant and very focused. I don’t want anything to stop her dream of becoming a medical doctor,” she said.

Gift’s mother is now appealing to the Benue State Government, particularly the Governor, and well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid so her daughter can continue her education and fulfill her dream.

Gift also joined in the appeal:

“Please, I’m begging the Benue State Government and kind Nigerians to help me achieve my dreams. My mother is no longer financially capable, and I don’t want my dreams to crumble.”

She expressed gratitude to her teachers, especially her Mathematics teacher, Miss Lawal, her biology teacher, Mr. Bartholomew, and her English teacher, Miss Ann, for molding her academically.

As the new academic session progresses, time is running out. For Rejoice Agye and her daughter, support from compassionate Nigerians could mean the difference between a shattered dream and the birth of a future lifesaver.

The widow can be reached on 08060280386.

Her bank details are as follow:  2661076959

Account name: Rejoice M. Agyeorngu, Ecobank