FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat Says ‘NO’ To Widows Stigmatization

As part of activities to commemorate International Widows Day, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat has distributed food items to over 400 widows in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Distributing the items, Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat Dr Adedayo Benjamins- Laniyi reiterated the present administration’s commitment to alleviate poverty and enhance the welfare and wellbeing of widows .

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Accelerating the Achievement of Gender Equality”, Dr Benjamins Laniyi assured that some of the issues affecting widows will no longer be taken lightly, but to do everything possible to safeguard and advance their rights.

She also cautioned against stigmatization, violence, and discrimination against widows and stressed the need to empower them, including providing them with information and access to a fair share of their inheritance.

“Today, we rise with one voice to say “NO” to negligence, torture, and stigmatization of widows in the Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria at large.

“We assure that the current administration is committed to ending violence against widows and their children, and promoting poverty alleviation, education, and other support to widows.

“This includes providing them with information and access to a fair share of their inheritance. lt should be noted that empowering widows to support themselves and their families also means addressing social stigma that create exclusion, discrimination, or harmful practices.

“The FCT Administration under the watch of Barrister Nyesom Wike, is poised to identify with people in the vulnerable space of our society, to alleviate their sufferings in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady Of Nigeria, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, whose official trajectory is bent on giving hope to the hopeless, and putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable”, Benjamins-Laniyi said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Alhaji Adetoyi Kolawole who appreciated the widows for their resilience and strength, lamented the injustices, marginalization and denial of widows their inheritance, and warned that the trend of victimising widows will not be tolerated in the territory.

He also pledged the readiness of the Secretariat to back widows up in the case of land and property rights.

According to him, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, widows will continue to receive enormous support in the area of quality healthcare, empowerment, education, and their general wellbeing.

Some of the widows that benefited from the palliative thanked the FCTA for the gesture.

Items distributed are 10kg bag of rice, semovita, 4 litres of vegetable oil, spaghetti, and wrappers, among others.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji