Weak implementation of widows’ rights, major challenge in Nigeria — FIDA, NAS

Weak enforcement of rights of widows in Nigeria has been identified as a major challenge to achieving legal protection against their reported discrimination and disinheritance.

Speaking at an event marking International Widows Day organized by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) Ruwanzafi Deck in Ilorin at the weekend, the guest lecturer at the occasion, Chairperson, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kwara state branch, Barrister Gloria Okodua, said that Nigeria has laws that theoretically protect women’s rights, including widows.

Okoduwa, in her lecture, titled, PROTECTING WIDOWS’ RIGHTS IN NIGERIA, however, added that, “enforcement can be weak, especially in rural areas where customary practices are often presumed to take precedence over statutory law”.

She said that efforts had been made to reform laws to better protect widows’ rights, but implementation had remained a challenge, “This is especially more so as most of these women are unaware of their rights in this regard”.

“From abuse to discrimination and to disinheritance, most women at the death of their husbands have been stripped “naked” physically, financially, socially, and otherwise in the name of culture”, she said.

The guest lecturer also said that a multi-faceted approach is required to improve widows’ rights in Nigeria, adding that such would address legal, cultural, economic, and social factors.

“This involves not only reforming laws and policies but also challenging harmful cultural norms and providing support and empowerment opportunities for widows themselves.

“Importantly, affected widows should be willing and ready to ventilate their grievance and not be held back by lack of funds or invisible cultural strings which are tools employed to handicap women in the pursuit of their rights”.

Talking on the theme of the programme, Widows and Widows Opportunities, the wife of the state governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who was represented by the state commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs.) Afolashade Oluwakemi said that all hands must be on deck to create awareness in protecting widows’ rights and plights so that the views are accorded legal recognition through state byelaws and edicts: Nigeria being a federal system.

Ambassador Abdulrazaq, who commended the organisers of the event, the National Association of Seadogs (which serves Kwara, Kogi, Osun, and part of Niger), said that the state government under the present administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has inculcated varieties of widow packages in its programmes and projects while some are already ongoing.

The leader of the association, Mr. Gbolahan Balogun, urged Nigerians to extend the Widows Day celebrations beyond a single day to address the ongoing plights of widows.

Balogun, who said that the event was not just a commemoration but a call to action, added, “It is a testament to our commitment to building a society where widows are treated with dignity, respect, and equality. Let us all take this opportunity to reflect on our collective responsibility and take concrete steps towards making a positive difference in the lives of widows.

“Our association, the National Association of Seadogs (aka Pyrates Confraternity), is a community-focused advocacy organization with 60 branches spread across Nigeria, South Africa, Europe, Asia, America, and Canada. We remain steadfast in our dedication to social advocacy, humanitarian, and charitable endeavours within and outside Nigeria, contributing positively wherever our members find themselves”.

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