NNAH DOUGLAS, Abuja
In societies where obnoxious widowhood practices are common, women who
lost their husbands are meant to suffer, especially where such a man was the
sole provider, before his death.
Such deaths have left many such families destitute, because their
economic power resides in the hands of their helpers.
Only few widows have tried to run an economic independence, perhaps
maintaining from where their husbands stopped before the cold hands of death
struck.
Those whose husbands’ relations blocked their access to their husbands’
properties and businesses, including bank accounts have not been able to carry
on their spouse's business and have been denied certain rights.
God be on your side, if you don’t have male child!
Few educated ones have been able to challenge conventional, gender
suppression and behaviours targeted at them in their societies.
These few ones also try to comply with the social customs of their
areas. Those who are younger and lacked basic education are at greatest risk
for economic hardship.
However, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women now ratified by 135 countries have made certain
types of discrimination and treatment of widows, such as violence and
withholding property rights illegal in the countries that have joined
CEDAwidohood.
It’s based on this platform that Rock of Ages and Empowerment (RAEF) its
consistency to provide alternative relief package to widows and orphans, who as
a result of their plight have suffered oppression, depression and neglect from
society.
It would be recalled that most Nigerian widows today, suffer
consequences of earlier death of their husbands due to some widowhood practices
meted to them by man’s inhumanity to man.
Fortunately, in an event of stigma and discrimination due to their
plight, this oppressed group may eventually fall back to organizations and
agencies empowered to seek redress on their behalf.
This is why the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Women
Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD), as well as the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC), have continued to
pour commendations on a non-governmental organization RAEF, for its
humanitarian assistance to widows in Nigeria.
RAEF programme in Abuja attracted widows, orphans, civil society
organizations, top government functionaries and members of the press to mark
the 5th edition of the International Widows day by the foundation.
Permanent Secretary, FMWASD, Dr. Ezekiel Oyeyomi, who commended RAEF for
their initiative, particularly in guaranteeing the financial independence of
the widows reiterated that such events was doesn’t only have the potential of
bringing to fore the challenges the women pass through but also identify and
empower them in order to enhance their living standard.
According to the Permanent Secretary, who was represented at the
programme by the Assistant Director, Women Education and Organisation in the
Ministry, Mr. Okpewum Egbe commend RAEF for their care and love for widows in
organising programmes for them.
“I wish to commend RAEF for their
lofty initiative in guaranteeing financial independence for widows through
programmes that assure greater self esteem and ease of socio-economic
integration”, Egbe stated.
“Your remarkable contribution especially in this era, when the
population of widows has steadily increased as a result of the recent spate of
terror attacks in some parts of the country. It is pertinent to point out that
these kinds of events have the potential of not just recognizing and bringing
to limelight challenges these women pass through, but also to identify,
sensitize, train and empower them in order to enhance their income.”
He explained that the Ministry was optimistic that the empowerment
programme by RAEF would go a long way to give widows a sense of belonging and
ameliorate the trauma of loneliness and neglect.
Thanking the foundation for
donating N200,000 in support of the ministry’s the activities marking the
event, he called on other NGO’S with similar vision and mission to partner with
the government with a view to alleviate the economic challenges faced by widows
in the country.
In a similar vein, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights
Commission, Professor Bem Angwe, who was represented at the occasion by
Director, Planning, Statistics and Documentation, Mrs. Emily Herbert said the
Commission is excited over the commitment and genuineness of RAEF’s empowerment
programmes and policies.
“I am so happy that the Rock of Ages Foundation has decided to give the
widows economic empowerment, my Boss (Prof Bem Angwe) will be very happy to
hear what happened here and we will see what we can do to contribute our quota
to the plight of the widows,” Herbert added.
“There are a lot of the violations of the right of widows before now
particularly in the South east and South west.”
Answering questions from Journalists, NHRC frowned at the violations of
the rights of widows by their kinsmen, which she said is prevalent in the South
East and South West regions of the country, adding that women were mostly
responsible for inflicting harmful practices on widows.
Aware of the persecutions the widows are subjected to on suspicion that
she was responsible for her husband’s demise, Angwe said, the Commission has
had series of enlightenment sessions and town hall meetings with the intention
to stop the barbaric act, pointing that some of the unaccepted acts are
gradually going extinct.
On his part, founder and executive director of RAEF, Evangelist Ignatius
Newman, revealed that the foundation in expanding its scope of preference had
procured lands in various locations across the country to be leased to
beneficiaries and crops supplied to them for planting.
“We are moving into agriculture, where we will be motivating the widows
to farm by getting land for them on lease so as to encourage them to invest in
agriculture.” Newman explained.
He disclosed that the foundation has moved to procure lands to build
quality academic institutions, where children of the widows would attend
without any cost attached, adding that, the Foundation has in the same vein
procured a land to build befitting houses for the widows even as the land purchased
currently awaits certification.
“We have bought land and we are waiting for government to certify it and
we will subsequently proceed for building and members of the Press will be
carried along when the building is set up”, he added.
As part of its vision to become a place of refuge to millions of
underprivileged women and children, who on daily basis face stigma and
discrimination, the Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation was set to give 85
pupils and 50 students’ scholarships. In this quarter alone, about 40 widows
were trained for catering, 95 graduated from bakery while 105 learned the art
of soap making.
“In addition, about 240 widows who graduated from different skill
acquisition programmes were handed the sum of N20, 000 totalling N4.8million
and also equipped them with all materials needed for initial take off of their
business.”
Newman also disbursed about N35, 000 to N40, 000 each to 10 elderly
while he gave over 1,200 bags of rice and wrappers to beneficiaries.
According to the organisation, since the foundation came into being,
about N70million had been spent on charity, while more than 3,000 widows had so
far been empowered since 2012.
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