By Dickson Okafor
As Nigeria joins the world to mark this year’s International Widow’s Day, a non-governmental organisation, Diplomatic Tulazi Foundation (DTF), has put smiles on the faces of some widows in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, through its empowerment programme with the theme “Hope for widows.”
The programme is geared towards touching the lives of women who lost their husbands early.
The event, which held at Ojo Military Cantonment, was graced by the chairman of Oriade LCDA, Ramotalai Akinlola Hassan, represented by the senior special assistant on works and infrastructure, Ojewusi Mutair Adewale.
The large turnout of dignitaries, who came to commemorate June 23, set aside by the United Nations as Widow’s Day, was an indication that there is hope for widows. The widows could not withhold their joy as food items and cash were distributed to them as well as the less privileged in the area.
This year’s ceremony was the third edition of the foundation’s humanitarian programme.
In his welcome address, chairman of DTF, Mr. Amusa Babtunde, said the main reason for the establishment of the foundation was to inspire widows to take their destiny in their hands. He said they resolved to ensure that the welfare of widows and the less privileged was guaranteed.
Babatunde reiterated the need for total prohibition of harmful widowhood practices. He told the women that being a widow was not the end of life.
He outlined the challenges widows face, which, according him, have to do with barbaric cultures. He condemned a common practice whereby some relations force widows to drink water used to bathe their husbands to prove that she did not kill their brother. He called on government to prepare a special place for widows to live.
He said: “Looking at these widows, I see them as my mother and feel their pain, hence, I decided to form the foundation with God.”
He advised widows not to see themselves as being vulnerable to hardship, as they are not the only ones that need support. He said even the less privileged also need help and encouragement from those around them.
He urged the widows to engage in petty business to take care of themselves and their children. He cited himself as an example of one being in business partnership with God and God is using him to touch lives within his environment
In his speech, Adewale commended Babatunde for introducing the support programme, which normally coincided with Widow’s Day.
Adewale called on government and relevant authorities to do something to correct archaic traditions and cultures, which are inimical not only to widows, but to the society at large.
He said: “Widows need to be strengthened and encouraged by those around them.”
He expressed displeasure over how widows are treated by relatives of their late husbands immediately the husbands pass away.
He said Oriade LCDA has youth and women empowerment initiatives in order to support the less privileged in the area, which, according to him, are in line with what Diplomatic Tulazi Foundation is trying to replicate.
He said: “We created support for women who lost their husbands early in the council which is similar to what we are witnessing today”
He gave God glory for using Babatunde to touch the lives of widows and vulnerable people in the area. He appealed to the wealthy individuals to emulate DTF to put smiles on the faces of widows and the downtrodden in their neighborhoods. He advised them to mind the kind of words they use on their children because, according to him, bad utterance can affect the lives of children.
On her part, Mrs. Sheidu Rosemary, a marriage counselor, told her fellow women that service to humanity is the best service. She said since June 23 has been set aside as International Widow’s Day, it is important women who lost their husbands early should examine themselves. She said she saw her mother in those widows because the day is set aside to hear the voice of the widows hence it’s a day to celebrate them and to speak for them in order to help improve their lives.
She further informed the gathering that another reason the foundation choose the day set aside for widows is to let widows know that they have rights and information to asses to their inheritance and claim their rights and what belong to their late husbands, including funds of their late husband.
She said days had gone when widows were humiliated after the death of their husbands. She said the empowerment programme of DTF is aimed at improving the lives of widows and their families as well as the downtrodden.
“It is a day to make them understand that they have a home because God is the husband of the widows and father to the fatherless,” she said.
However, Sheidu appeal to Lagos State government to enforce a law that will protect the rights of widows and save them from intimidation by their late husband relations.
She said” “Let the widows be fully in charge of their husband’s property and anyone who trample on their rights should be punished by the law.”
In her words of appreciation on the behalf of her fellow widows, Mrs. Chika Okezie, thanked members of DTF for coming to their aid since 2020. She prayed that God will continue to prosper the foundation and its founder for helping to sustain them and the less privileged in Oriade.
According to her, God will never forsake them. She reminded her fellow widows that in their absence, God fights their battles hence there is hope for the widows.
Photo caption: pix 1-group pix of widows with guests and members of DTF
2nd pix, Mrs. Chika Okezie receiving her food item and cash from Amusa Babatunde