The crusade for the improvement of the plight of the disadvantaged women, especially the Widows has been enlivened by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa –led -Administration since 2018 through various articulated Policies and programmes.
The administration has pledged to sustain its widows’ welfare scheme aimed at ameliorating the plights of the less privileged widows in the state.
It is heartwarming that Delta State widows welfare scheme is non-political,as the scheme also cuts across all religious divides.
Equally commendable is the fact that the names of widows enrolled in the programme were derived from the list collated and verified by the community leaders, religious leaders, civic leaders and traditional rulers and institutions. This shows there is transparency in the scheme as only verified poor and vulnerable widows residing in Delta State are eligible for enrollment into the scheme, while widows who are civil servants or financially stable are not eligible for the scheme.
Reliable reports indicate that there are currently 5,607 widows enrolled in the Delta State Widows Welfare Scheme. These widows, drawn from the 25 local government areas of the state and 270 wards across communities have been benefiting from the scheme since 2018.
The widows enrolled are predominantly aged, illiterate and have difficulties at financial independence. The widows receive N5,000 as monthly stipends and free healthcare services. For many years now widows have neither been assisted nor sympathised with.They are constantly subjected to inhuman treatment in traditional rituals and practices such as solitary confinement, long mourning period, shaving the hairs on the head, forced marriage, defacement, disinheritance, prohibition from bathing and markets and other social functions .
The problem of widows is further compounded by the attitude of our people who do not believe in writing a will as relations scramble for His properties The stress level of widows are high and finances, loneliness and depression are the utmost challenge of the widows.
In spite of consistent calls from well- meaning Nigerians for a Law to be enacted to protect widows from all forms of harmful, inhuman traditional practices, widows in many communities in the country are yet to get relief from the burden of wicked traditional rituals.
It is sad that in this 21st century those practices are still rampant in some communities.
Therefore there urgent need to abrogate the Law that are obnoxious to womanhood. Traditional Rulers in the state should collaborate with relevant government agencies to ensure proper enforcement of these laws. Intensive sensitization programmes should be embarked upon by the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with Media organizations to educate Deltans and other residents in the state on the negative impact of the wicked traditional practices against widows in the state.
Security agencies should spread their dragnet to apprehend and bring those who infringe On the rights of women.
