International Women’s Day: Humanitarian Ministry empowers 100 widows in FCT with N30,000 each
By Peter Usman://
As Nigeria join the world in commemorating this year International Women’s Day, IWD with the theme: “Digital Innovation and Technology for gender equality”
the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on Wednesday empowered one hundred widows in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja with N30, 000 each.
Widowhood practices have continued despite laws and customs put in place to mitigate such. Today in Nigeria, widows are still being humiliated, dehumanized and abused via wicked customs, rites and rituals that subjects’ widows to all forms of Inequality, stigmatizations, poverty and in some customs, widows are accused of witchcrafts who killed their husbands.
The Permanent Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo in a keynote address at the occasion, said widowhood practices have continued despite laws and customs put in place to mitigate such in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
He stated that widows are still being humiliated, dehumanized and abused via wicked customs, rites and rituals that subjects’ widows to all forms of inequality, stigmatizations, poverty and in some customs, adding that in some cases, widows are accused of witchcrafts, who killed their husbands.
Gwarzo asserted that with fewer women in legislative roles, the chances of presenting issues of widows at the forefront are fast dwindling especially, because the number of widows in political offices is negligible.
He said there is a need to recognise the plight of the widows who work tirelessly to stand for themselves, holding unto nothing as the best part of their lives has been compromised by the uncontrollable circumstances that caused the death of their love ones.
“The International Women’s Day is a global day for us to join voices with people around the world and shout our message of equal rights loud and clear: “women rights are human rights.”
“For many women around the world, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by a long-term fight for their basic rights and dignity, 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. Today, as armed conflicts, displacement and migration, and the COVID-19 pandemic leave tens of thousands of women newly widowed and many others whose partners are missing or disappeared, the unique experiences and needs of widows must be brought to the forefront, with their voices leading the way.” he said.
Earlier in a welcome address, Director, Social Development, Mr. Taiwo Bashorun, revealed that in an attempt to address challenges of widows in Nigeria, the Ministry in its humanitarian strides recently inaugurated the National Technical Working Group for Widows and Orphans in Nigeria, on the 31st January 2023.
He said the Technical Working Group was saddle with the responsibility of providing the needed structures and framework that can offer widows a durable solution for their social protection, inclusion and economic empowerment.
Bashorun noted that while joining the rest of the world to celebrate women, the Ministry is particularly concern about widows in all clusters and segment of Nigeria.
Speaking on decisive factor the Ministry used to select the widows for the empowerment, he said the women were selected by some NGOs partnering with the Ministry.
