By Abiemwense Moru
In recognition of the challenges of widowhood, the United Nations set aside June 23 as the International Widows’ Day. Through resolution A/RES/65/189 the UN, since 2011, has celebrated widows in appreciated of the obstacles and challenges they face.
“Despite the fact that there are more than 258 million widows around the world, widows have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies’’, the UN said in a report to mark 2024 edition of the Day.
Widows in Africa are faced with heavy burdens placed on their shoulder after the demise of their husbands.
These burdens do not only come as the trauma of losing their spouses but include those imposed on them by some relatives of the deceased resulting in maltreatment and lack of care.
Following the demise of their husbands, most widows abruptly become the bread winners, a task which many of them find excruciatingly difficult to cope with.
Some even become poor because they are deprived of inheriting property left behind by the departed husbands.
Because they have lost their breadwinners, it becomes important to equip the widows with life skills that can help them earn some money as they try to fill the gap left behind by their late husbands.
Whether in rural or in urban areas the challenges faced by widows are enormous, and require concerted efforts by stakeholders to address. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been in the forefront in that regard.
For instance Rasaq Okulaja Empowerment Initiative and Helpline Social Support Initiative, according to reports, have empowered 60 widows with self-sustaining skills in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The widows were trained on tie and dye, soap, turban and snacks making among other skills, during a second memorial empowerment and exhibition programme by the NGOs in Abuja.
The President of Helpline Social Support Initiative, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, said the empowerment is also to give the widows and young girls an opportunity to be a better version of themselves.
She advised the beneficiaries not to be ashamed of what they were doing to support themselves financially.
To get the full benefits of the acquired skills, Ahmadu advised the widows to group themselves into clusters to enable them share facilities, access financial support and organise step down trainings to other vulnerable groups.
“Try to be a better version of yourself and improve yourself at all times and form clusters so that you can work as a team and easily connect with customers.
“I promise that next year, we will expand this exhibition and take it to the Old Parade Ground, Garki to accommodate more participants,” she said.
Similarly, another NGO, Women at the Well of Living Water Foundation, Adamawa chapter, empowered 10 widows and struggling families with foodstuff to alleviate hunger.
Jessica Edmund, the Founder of the NGO said during the distribution of the items in Yola, that the move was to alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries, following the current inflation in prices of food items.
Edmund, who was represented by Kate Ransom-Stephen, the Adamawa Coordinator of the Foundation, said: “today, we are here to help people with foodstuff and teach them how to catch fish to succeed in life.
“Knowing that the situation is hard that is why we are here to cushion the effects of hunger among our people.”
In Borno, Gov. Babagana Zulum supervised the distribution of N250 million to no fewer than 25,000 widows and vulnerable women through the Borno Renaissance Microfinance Bank in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.
The distribution took place in four centres, including the Central Stadium, Mega Primary School, Government Secondary School and Government Day Secondary School, all in Gwoza town.
Zulum said that the distribution was to support women who were victims of the Boko Haram insurgents, some of whom had lost their husbands due to the crisis.
“No fewer than 25,000 women benefited from today’s distribution exercise; each of them received N10,000 through the microfinance Bank; we have facilitated the opening of Bank accounts to them to drive financial inclusion.
”Gradually, we intend to cover all the 27 Local Government Areas and ensure that a sizable number of the population have bank accounts,” Zulum said.
Also, to address the plight of widows in Ebonyi, Gov. Francis Nwifuru reiterated that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of the elderly people and widows in the state.
Nwifuru gave the assurance at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, during the elders and widows party in Abakaliki.
The governor reiterated his stance to better the lots of people, especially the elders, widows and other less privileged ones.
The governor acknowledged the current economic realities, its effects on the widows and elderly and pledged an upward review of their welfare.
“I assure you that I am with you, I am for you and I will work for you.”
However, the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Ogun 1 Command Chapter, has under taken steps to address the immediate needs of some widows in the state.
Mrs Grace Ogunnesan, the Acting Chairperson of COWA, said during the distribution of food items Idiroko, Ogun, that association was committed to ameliorating the plight of widows in their midst.
Faith-based organisations are also central in mitigating the plight of widows.
Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan, advises that rather than put widows in difficult situations through socio-cultural practices, the society should seeks ways of mitigating their daily challenges.
Obinyan, the Parish Priest of St. Francis Catholic Church, Ekewan road, Benin, spoke during the distribution of money, cloths and food items to widows and indigent parishioners.
Addressing the problems of widows and issues surrounding widowhood requires more than handouts to those affected.
It requires efforts that aimed at removing violation of rights of widows such as right to the assets of their late husband and in some instances, lack of access to their children.
This calls for the enactment and implementation of the laws that guarantees the rights of widows.
In the meantime Obinyan urges politicians to intensify efforts to provide social welfare programmes that would directly impact on the citizens and guarantee a decent standard of living in the state.
He advised leaders and governments at all levels not to focus only on physical infrastructure, but to ensure a corresponding investment in poverty reduction and youth empowerment.
“Government needs to build and revamp ailing industries in agriculture, textile, health, housing, recreation, waste management and recycling to boost job opportunities.
“Good governance also encompasses policies that promote food security and farmers interest,” he said.
It is believed that such actions would properly equip women with the required skills and wealth to meet the challenges of widowhood in the face of odds that test their resilience. (NANFeatures)
