We Don’t Pray For Women's Husbands To Die—Pastor Igoh
Pastor Benjamin Igoh (JP) is the founder of Wazobia Widows Foundation of Nigeria(WWFN) and one of the dedicated Ministers of Glorious Christ Evangelical Ministry International and two-time winner of Mindset Media Limited Excellence Awards in 2011 and 2012.
Last two years, he travelled to Jerusalem for Holy Pilgrimage through Hon Fatai Ajidagba (Ajifat), the present Chairman of Ifelodun LCDA. He is known as the father of Nigerian widows. He has featured in several television programmes like Inside-Out with Agatha Amata and others. In this Exclusive interview with Godday Odidi he elucidated the secrets of widows' ministry empowerment and other sundry issues facing Nigerian widows.
Excerpts:
Let's meet you sir?
I am Pastor Benjamin Igoh and the founder of Wazobia Widows Foundation of Nigeria (WWFN). I started this widow's ministry since October 2005.
What motivated you into widow's ministry instead of full-time ministry?
It was a passion of helping widows in Nigeria. My mother was a widow before she died. My father died when we were very young and my mother catered for all my siblings. I started this widow ministry with a widow whose name was Mrs. Rose Bodu in her house. As we were progressing, 6 widows joined us and today, we now have about 60 widows from different regions of Nigeria. Honesty and transparency has helped us to grow in this widow ministry in all ramifications.
How did you travel to Jerusalem two years ago?
It was a divine arrangement from God through the present Ifelodun LCDA chairman Hon.Fatai Ajidagba who gave me a slot to travel to Jerusalem. I never dreamt of living Nigeria one day. He has been part and parcel of growing my widows' ministry through cash and kind. On my return from Jerusalem, I met a man with God's heart of giving, High Chief Michael Orobosa Ubogu, Managing Director of Micura Services Limited who also empowered my widows with cash and kind. He has been a blessing to my widows at all levels.
Last year we organised a Micura Soccer Championship which was single-handedly sponsored by High Chief Michael Ubogu to encourage young talents to grow in football. He travelled on the behalf of these Ajegunle talented footballers to Germany to negotiate for clubs to assist these talented players that won the Micura Soccer Championship. Out of the 16 teams that participated in the last year competition, only three teams succeeded. Some players were also rewarded. High Chief Michael Ubogu has also provided scholarship to one of my widows to University of Benin to study Industrial chemistry, though many of the widows' children that applied for admission last year, only one got the cut-off mark of UNIBEN.
Many people are coming to tap into the blessing of my widows in prayers. We constitute the habit of praying on Tuesdays and Thursdays to intercede for our sponsors. One Pokan Energy Limited, Chief Anayo recently supported my widows' ministry in cash and kind too. Every October of the year is our widows' day and Chief Michael Ubogu,Odion Jude Ighalo of Spain, Hon LMD, Ifelodun LCDA majority leader and others have greatly supported us to the core. Agatha Amata has also exposed me to the electronic media through Pastor Godday Odidi of Mindset Media Limited and empowered my widows' with different gift items and cash.
What is the major role of your spiritual father has played in your life?
Rev. Macaulay Ejoh is a father of fathers. He speaks positively into my destiny. If we have 10 of my pastor, then Nigeria would be a country to reckon with. He is a man of God with integrity. He is an established minister of God with a difference.
What is your major challenge in carrying on the widows' ministry in Ajegunle?
Every challenge in life prepares someone for success. I see challenge as a victory to my life.
Tell us about your success?
Success is not about the physical cash but how many people impacted. I have able to affect people in my immediate environment. Jesus Christ is my success.
In years to come, how do you see Wazobia Widows Foundation of Nigeria?
My widows are not liabilities to anybody. I train them to give too. I want to see that in years to come, all my widows' will receive monthly salaries to alleviate their sufferings and also provide an avenue to generate income to the ministry. Wazobia Widows' Foundation will also have a conducive office to attend to our sponsors and others. The venue we are using today is temporary and not conducive for our members. In time to come, government will also support my widows' ministry too. Wazobia Widows' Foundation is a registered non-governmental organisation with a website. We are gradually going higher.
What is the difference between Niger-Delta Widows' Association and Wazobia Widows' Foundation of Nigeria?
Niger Delta Widows' Association belongs to Super Prince Comrade Joseph Angodeme Evah while Wazobia Widows' Foundation of Nigeria belongs to me. I was formally with Niger-Delta Widows' Association but the scope and operation was narrowed down to Niger-Delta affairs which prompted me to form WWFN to carry other tribes along. Comrade Joseph Evah supported the widows to the core.
Wazobia Widows Foundation of Nigeria is a praying ministry and nothing else. It is a platform to be blessed and empowered. I have pastors that work with me too.
The way forward
God hates stagnation. Every child of God must move forward by fire. You must not give to expect from a man but God only.