The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti has appealed to the state government to enact laws that strongly protect the rights of widows and their children upon the demise of their spouses and as well get committed to the full implementation of the female inheritance law and the violence against persons prohibition laws in Abia to protect widows and vulnerable women.
Mrs Otti made the appeal recently in an event to commemorate the 2024 International Widows day celebration held at JAAC building Ogurube layout in Umuahia, the state capital.
Cross Section of Widows at the event
Speaking on the theme of this year’s event titled; “Land Rights For Windows” Mrs Otti represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, expressed plans to support indigent widows through micro finance loans, healthcare services, skill development and vocational training, computer literacy programs, adult education, cooperatives and legal assistance among others.
According to her, ” as a government, we shall be contributing our part in supporting about 500 indigent widows in the first instance through initiatives that shall be implemented to provide assistance and ameliorate poverty” she said.
The Governor’s wife also condemned all obnoxious widowhood practices, adding that her office is always open and ready to protect the right of widows under compulsion to engage in unwholesome practices to mourn their spouses.
However Mrs. Otti, distributed food items and empowered 51, indigent women drawn out from the 17 LGA of the state with cash to start their own businesses and others with food items.
In her address, the commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Felix encouraged widows not to lose hope adding that Abia state government will continue to build a future where all widows can live with dignity, security, and hope.
She explained that the international widows day celebration is a work to encourage action in achieving full rights for widows.
According to her, ” the ultimate goal of the day is to develop resources and policy to empower widows and allow them to have access to education, work, healthcare and lives free of violence and abuse following the death of their husband.
The keynote speaker, Barrister Chibuzo Ehiemere however advised women to understand the type of marriage they are contracted to and marry under the act of the law.
