Group Wants Dehumanising Practices Outlawed

Widows Organisation International (WOI), the umbrella organisation of widows in Nigeria has called for immediate end to obnoxious widowhood practices in the country.

National President of WOI, Mrs. Hajaratu Zegi, who made the call during the Third International Conference/Seminar held in Aba recently, urged the federal government to use its re-branding campaign to address age-long customs with negative impacts such as dehumanizing widowhood practices

Zegi also called on the National and State Houses of Assembly that have not passed laws prohibiting infringement on the rights and maltreatment of widows to do so to give the fight against dehumanising widowhood practices appropriate legal frame work.

“Of all age-long primitive and dehumanising practices, the ones against widows are existing till date,” she said, adding, “the re-branding project of the Federal government should translate into a transforming scheme that will address those social cankerworms which for long have permeated the fabrics of our psyche and caused untold hardship to many, especially, the widows.”

She said that WOI was creating awareness towards the plight of widows and its consequences while also helping them to solve some of their problems in order to give them a new lease of life. However, Zegi pointed out that widows needed to be self-reliant and therefore, requested for financial assistance to enable WOI float a micro-credit scheme for widows.   

She lamented that the society, various religions and corporate bodies were paying lip service to taking proper care of widows but expressed gratitude to God for individuals in society who have taken it upon themselves to lessen  the burden of widows, including Dr Alphosus  Udeigo who founded WOI in 1987.   

“Every woman is a potential widow just as death can come when God allows it. But a man’s exit should not rubbish all he laboured for, especially his wife and children. Now is the time to act,” she urged her guests.

Chairman of the occasion, Prince Tony Momoh, agreed with her that it was high time Nigeria did away with dehumanising practices against widows.

“Time is ripe to wage war against man’s inhumanity to women in general and widows in particular. A widow should be entitled to the dignity of her person,” Momoh said.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, represented by the National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Hajia Ramatu Usman, urged widows to strive to give their children good care and advised young widows to remarry where possible. The event which featured awards to those who have contributed to the welfare of widows left the Aba Sports Club hall venue of the ceremony glowing in the resplendent white lace blouses and multi-coloured head gears of the women who erupted in joy when 20 widows were given N10,000 each, courtesy of the First Lady.