This year’s ‘International Widows Day’ presents Nigeria with another opportunity to confront the numerous challenges that hinder the potential of widows across the country. Since 2011, the United Nations has designated June 23 as a day to highlight the experiences of widows globally and to mobilize the support they need. The UN describes this day as an opportunity for action to secure the full rights and recognition of widows. Nigeria must actively embrace these noble objectives, both in words and actions.

The UN estimates there are 258 million widows worldwide, with nearly one in 10 living in extreme poverty. These women are often unseen, unsupported, and neglected by society. In 2015, the UK-based Loomba Foundation reported that Nigeria accounted for 3.5 million widows, while the International Women Society in 2019 estimated that 15 million Nigerian widows live in ‘abject poverty.’

Across Nigeria, harmful customs and traditions subject women to harsh treatment when their husbands die, even when the cause of death is medically clear. For example, in some parts of the South-East, widows are forced to shave their heads and remain indoors until their husband’s burial is concluded. Some are even made to stay with the corpse to “prove” they had no hand in their husband’s death. In Yorubaland, some widows are pressured to marry their deceased husband’s younger brother. These and other barbaric customs persist across various ethnic groups.

Widows often face property dispossession, with relatives of the deceased swooping in to claim assets, leaving the widow and her children struggling for survival. Many traditions involve humiliating and superstitious rituals, such as forcing widows to drink water used to bathe their husband’s corpse, based on the belief that they would die if they were responsible for his death.

Widows are frequently mistreated, marginalized, and deprived of opportunities. Many are forced into menial jobs to provide for their families, facing exploitation and sexual harassment. Last year, a widow in Ebonyi State suffered a brutal assault when a man broke her leg over an unpaid wage of N8,500.

In Nigeria, widows are not only victims of poverty but also of violence, health crises, and conflict. The rise of terrorism and herder violence in the North-East, North-West, and parts of North-Central has left countless women widowed, without adequate support from their respective state governments.

To address these issues, there must be a concerted effort to eliminate harmful cultural practices that traumatize widows further after the death of their husbands. Governments at all levels, alongside NGOs, should mobilize against these practices and provide emotional and material support to widows.

State ministries of women’s affairs, NGOs, and other stakeholders must push for the full enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015. This act aims to eliminate violence in both public and private spheres, providing protection for victims and punishment for perpetrators. There should also be a stronger effort to raise awareness of widow-related issues on social media and expose those who violate widows’ rights.

Another critical issue is the lack of wills. When husbands die without wills, the legal ambiguity exacerbates the struggles widows face, as greedy relatives often seize the deceased’s property. Advocacy efforts should promote will-writing as a necessary step for husbands to secure their families’ futures.

Mere token gestures are not enough. Widows need sustainable support, such as skills training in areas like catering, soap-making, tailoring, and small business start-ups, accompanied by seed capital to ensure financial independence. Public-spirited lawyers and NGOs should offer pro bono legal services to defend widows’ rights and help restore their dignity.

Widows, many of whom are tasked with raising children, must be protected from further confinement, disinheritance, and harmful cultural practices. Society stands to lose if these women are marginalized.

State and federal governments must legislate against outdated customary laws that deny widows their rights. For example, under some customary laws, women are treated as property and cannot inherit their husband’s assets, though their children may. In other cases, childless widows are thrown out of their homes and denied inheritance.

There is hope, however. Recent court rulings have overruled such discriminatory customs, citing constitutionally guaranteed rights for women. Some states have also enacted laws to address these injustices. However, more progress is needed.

Governments, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and women’s groups must work together to adopt the UN’s goals for widows and take sustained actions to uplift them. By doing so, Nigeria can ensure that widows are supported, recognized, and given the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity.