To commemorate this year’s World Widows Day, Rose of Sharon Foundation provided free medical consultation, cancer screening and drugs to some widows in Lagos, Chinyere Elizabeth Okoroafor reports.
Over 1,000 widows received free medical consultation, cancer screening and drugs at the Multipurpose Hall of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, in commemoration of the World Widows Day.
Penultimate Saturday, June 22, was set aside by the United Nations to address challenges facing widows worldwide.
The Rose of Sharon organised the outreach to change the negative narratives about widows in the country.
Its theme was Upholding the human rights of widows – The law and cultural practices.
Africa’s richest woman, who is the founder of Rose of Sharon Foundation, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, said: “In Nigeria and many developing countries, the rights of widows were infringed upon because they were made to suffer many unhealthy customary practices. Once a woman loses her husband in some parts of the country, she is subjected to emotional, psychological and even physical torture to prove her innocence of in the death of her spouse.
“Nigeria’s constitution supported by international law emphasises equal rights for women but these rights are difficult to enforce. As a result, widows are constantly faced with poverty, neglect, exploitation and injustice.
“They struggle daily for their daily living, they have fewer rights and even suffer indignity.”
Alakija stated that in many parts of the country, widows are denied the right of inheritance as a result of customary practices entrenched over time.
She added that under customary or religious laws, right for inheritance was not granted to wives and female children by the family of the deceased in many communities.
She noted that “perpetrators of such acts were often never called to justice due to traditions which became accepted as the norm’’.
“However, Rose of Sharon Foundation is determined to change the narrative and not to allow these acts go unnoticed and will continue to fight for the rights of widows in the country,” she added.
Veteran musician, Onyeka Onwenu, advised widows against prostitution and begging, saying it is the worst thing a woman can do to her children and family.
The crooner of the song, One Love, keep us together said she was raised by a widow. She said: “You should learn to put your trust in God. You have two hands and two legs; therefore, you should learn to work for yourself.
“No matter what it is you’re doing, be proud of your work. If I was not a musician, I probably will be a market woman selling some perishable items.
“I was raised by a widow and she taught me the importance of hard work and putting my trust in God, which made me into what I am today.”
Onwenu also urged widows to be stern yet gentle in raising their children asking them not to let people disrespect them, which was common with single mother parenting.
“Do not let your children or people insult you because you are a widow. You do not deserve it and you can achieve this from the way you carry yourself.
“Treat yourself with respect and dignity and when people see you do this, they will respect you even though you are a widow.”
However, Mr Monday Ubani, a lawyer, said the law protects the rights of widows from cultural practices that are detrimental to them.
He stated that practices, such as drinking the bath water of deceased husband, sleeping in the same room with the deceased, among others, should be banished.
He added: “Some state governments have outlawed these cultural practices that we consider dangerous to women who lost their husbands. The International Widows Day is a day to recognise the rights of widows and ensure that they are protected from harmful cultural practices.”
Ubani, therefore, called for more male participation in subsequent editions of the programme in upholding the human rights of widows to enable men to understand the plight of the wives and children they left behind.
According to him, writing out a well-organised legal document on the disposal of property will go a long way to alleviating the unfortunate effects faced by widows at the demise of their breadwinners.
Leave a Reply