As the world celebrates International Widow’s Day, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh, Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, has lamented the challenges women face in society, stating that widows face various forms of intimidation, pressure, and abuse following the death of their husbands.
Widowhood continues to be the most hidden and veiled area of human rights violation. Widowhood is becoming more vulnerable to multi-level poverty, discrimination, violence, stigma, and depression. These ill-treatments have harmed Widows’ mental health, citing her biological mother’s struggle to provide for them after her father’s death.
Hon. (Princess) Benedicta, who spoke to widows at the Etsako East Local Government Council secretariat today as part of a one-day free medical health outreach for widows, advocated for women’s right to inherit property from their biological fathers even if they are married.
The practice of denial of inheritance rights has caused untold hardship for women, particularly widows. When a husband dies, his family members make life unbearable for the widows, she expressed concerned when women will be liberated from such mistreatment.
The Etsako East Council Boss, who is also the founder of DreamWorld Leadership Initiative for Girls, expressed concern about the language of the Nigerian Constitution as it relates to attacks on women in various forms. She identified harmful practices such as widowhood practices, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and others as threats to women’s lives in Nigeria.
She however, encouraged widows to face life with courage by training their children to care for them in the future. Women bear the burden, which is not easy, especially now that the nation’s hardship has worsened. The death of a husband has always been difficult for women, but we will continue to support widows in our small capacity as a council.
The free medical outreach featured drug distribution, blood pressure (BP) and sugar level testing by Dr. John Damisa and Akowe Patricia, as well as two community health officers, a lab technician, and others from the council’s Primary Health Care Centre.
Benjamin Atu
Chief press Secretary to Chairman
Etsako East local Government.