They are one of the most vulnerable in the society, they are exposed to indiscriminate abuses in all aspects of their lives, and they bear the scars of their stigmatisation in a society whose sensibility has been lost to a jaded conscience.” Such anonymous oddity captures the plight of widowhood in Nigeria. Nigerian widows like other widows across the world, belong to the downtrodden class, whose voices are mostly represented by Non-Governmental Organisations, civil society and human rights groups, who raise concern over the sordid conditions to which widows are subjected.

Nigerian widows recently joined their counterparts the world over to celebrate the 2013 edition of the International Widows Day.

In Rivers Sate, a cross section of widows in the state gathered at the Ministry of Women Affairs to celebrate their international day of recognition at the instance of the ministry.

The widows filed up in their numbers bearing the brunts and telltale signs of their individual experiences, and typifying the classification of those confined to a perpetual injunction of poverty and deprivations.

Addressing the highly emotional section of participants at the event, the Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Joeba West, raised concern over the plight of widowhood. The commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Belema Mangibo, said “there were an estimated 24.5 million widows in the world, out of which 115 million live in poverty and suffer social stigmatisation.”

She pointed out that “81 million of widows have also been subjected to physical abuses. The commissioner said the theme of the 2013 edition of the event, “zero tolerance, women and men unite to end cultural discrimination against widows” was apt, and urged the widows to be steadfast and strive to know their rights; especially in terms of inheritance of the husband’s property.

The commissioner also called for concerted effort in raising concern for the betterment of widows and save them from cultural and institutional stigmatisation. The commissioner emphasised the need for legislative expediency in the country to protect the interest of widows.

In her keynote address Barr. Florence Amiesimaka, noted that widows in Nigeria have suffered grave indignity through unconscionable cultural practices and other social inbalances and restructions that debases their sense of existence. She decried the traumatic experiences which widows go through in their daily lives, which are mostly recounted during counselling as a legal practitioner. She lamented that “most widows live in hellish conditions due to lack of access to the legal interventions,” and advocated for policies that would place widows on a social obligation by the society. The legal practitioner called on the widows, to always fight for their right by accessing the interventionist offer of concerned bodies like, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) among other NGOs who has passion for their welfare. Mrs. Amiesimaka also urged the widows to be discreet in their economic live, by “investing wisely to cater for the interest of the family.”

Also speaking at the event the chairman of the occasion, Patricia Wali, encourage the widows not to lose hope in live, but always life a cautious live that will protest them. From unpleasant situations. Musing over the plight of widows, the founder of Rose of Sharon Foundation, Folorunsho Alakija, during the launching of her book recently, was reported to have said that; “African widows were among one of the most humiliated peasantries in the world.”

Alakija said; the book “The cry of widows and orphans” chronicles the plight of widows and suggest policies that would help to promote the course of widows. The author was reported to have said during the book launch at the Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, that ‘widowhood which is created by natural occurrence of death, need deserving attention “and if those left behind are not catered for, it comes back to the society. She said, Nigerian widows represented the social inequality in the society and advocated for policies that would promote the course of widowhood. Beyond the advocacy for gender equality, the author said “There was need for special intervention through sustainable policies for widows in terms of rights and other issues that would enhance their physical well-being. In comparative terms, there are the obvious certainties that the growing number of widows in the society, are created by the monster of insecurity which leads to the depletion of male population. In the Niger Delta for instance, reports shows that most male population lost their lives at the peak of the militancy resulting in the expanse of filial fold of widowhood. There are indications that more widows will be created from the murderous campaign ravaging the northern part of the country through the blood tasty reign of the Boko Haram sect. Commenting on the plight of widows, the President of the Niger Coalition Against Violence, (NDCAV), Comrade Lekia Christian said the plight of widows in Nigeria should be given legislative consideration to give them a sense of belonging and raise their derogating sense of existence.”

Comrade Christian also advocated for zero tolerance to violence “to save our male population from depletion and reduce the potentiality of widowhood.” He said the (NDCAV) was committed to raising the awareness against violence in the society. Also commenting on the plight of widowhood, the chairperson of the Port Harcourt City Council, Nwonwereoma Akarolo, charged politicians to channel their resources toward the elevation of the living standards of widows and other less -privilege in the society.

The chairperson who spoke with The Tide while presenting some items to the Port Harcourt children home and the compassion centre, said; “politicians rather than waste their resources on needless political bickering and flaunting of excessive wealth should contribute to charity, and impact on the lives of widows, orphans and the physically challenged.”

The years ahead would decide whether the Nigerian society would yield to the clarionc all of passion and institutional concern towards alleviating the scourge of widowhood.