In some parts of Nigeria, widows are still being humiliated, dehumanised and abused via various degrading customs, rites and rituals.

As the world celebrates Widows Day, staff reporter, Abiodun Akinluwa examines the plights of widows.

International Widows Day is a global awareness day taking place annually on June 23rd.

It was launched by the United Nations in 2010 to call attention to the violation of human rights that widows suffer in many countries following the death of their husbands.

In some parts of the country, widows are still made to go through all manner of ill-treatments rooted in cultural and traditional practices that dehumanise them. 

They are treated with no respect, suffer social exclusion, hunger and poverty along with their children while some were driven to suicide.

Speaking on this, an Akure-based journalist, Mr Ayodeji Moradeyo and a human right activist, Mrs Olamide Mary Falana condemned the untoward attitude of Nigerians towards widows.

Religious leaders, Imam Abolaji Kazeem and Pastor Remi Adesonmoye described as ungodly the treatment being meted on widows.

An official of the Ministry of Justice in Ondo State, Mrs Bunmi Arajuwa said there were extant laws protecting the rights of widows.

The wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has however taken up advocacy and campaign to share information on the rights of widows and collate their data with a view to helping them.

It is expected that, members of the society can also make a difference in restoring the hope of widows after the demise of their husbands in line with this year’s International Widows Day theme which is “Invisible Women, Invisible problems”.

Abiodun Akinluwa