The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Branch, has called on women in Ahoada West Local Government Area to unite against violence, discrimination and harmful traditional practices targeting widows.
The Chairperson of FIDA Rivers, Tamunoibuemi Life-George, made the call during the 2026 International Widows’ Day celebration held in Akinima, Ahoada West, where widows from Ahoada East and Ahoada West received economic empowerment training. The event was themed, “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows – The African Perspective.”
Life-George urged women to become agents of change rather than instruments used to enforce harmful cultural practices against fellow women. She said the programme was designed to promote unity among widows, build their confidence and provide them with practical skills to improve their livelihoods.
According to her, participants were trained in soap-making, bead-making, and other vocational skills, while starter packs and palliatives were distributed to enable them to establish small businesses.
She explained that the initiative was organised in partnership with the Mothers of Ahoada East and the Ahoada West Local Government Council to ensure beneficiaries acquired both skills and the resources needed to begin earning a living.
Life-George condemned widowhood discrimination, noting that women often become perpetrators of harmful traditional practices against fellow women in the name of culture. “There is no reason women should come together to dehumanise another woman because she has lost her husband. The law does not support such practices, and anyone found engaging in them will be prosecuted,” she said.
The Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Chita Epelle, represented by his Special Adviser on Administration and Strategic Planning, Engr. Magnus Okai, commended FIDA for its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of widows.
He described International Widows’ Day as a reminder of the need to support widows who often face social, economic and legal challenges following the death of their spouses.
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Okai reaffirmed the council’s commitment to policies and programmes that promote inclusion, social protection and economic empowerment for widows and other vulnerable groups. He also called on community leaders, families, religious institutions and other stakeholders to support widows by protecting their rights and creating opportunities for their social and economic advancement.
Speaking on behalf of the widows, the Special Adviser to the Chairman on Widows’ Affairs, Ijeoma Chikobi, urged governments at all levels to appoint widows into strategic positions to ensure their interests are represented. She lamented that widows are often excluded from political participation and decision-making because they no longer have spouses to advocate for them.
Chikobi, however, praised the Ahoada West Local Government Chairman for creating the office of Special Adviser on Widows’ Affairs, describing it as a step towards giving widows a voice in governance. She appealed to political leaders across the country to recognise widows as key stakeholders and include them in governance and community development initiatives to improve the welfare of vulnerable widows and their families.
