LAGOS – Lion Ayo Yemisi Jaiyeola, the founder and executive director of Serendipity House Widows’ Foundation, has lamented the plight of widows in Nigeria, saying that society and government have neglected them over the years.
Speaking with Daily Independent at the event to mark this year’s World Widows’ Day in Lagos recently, she said that the condition of widows is made worse by the insensitivity of the government and the attitude of members of their families.
The theme of the event was “Make Widows Matter”.
Jaiyeola, who is also the founder of Good Wives International Widows Ministry, stressed the need to make widows matter and argued that they should not be treated as second-class citizens and outcasts because they have lost their husbands.
“Widows in Nigeria are made to cry daily. Some of them lose their homes after their husbands’ demise and some have to fight over their husbands’ property. In some churches, they are treated as burdens.
Some women are even threatened when they see widows around. They are afraid the widows may take their husbands away. Widows are vulnerable and some take advantage of them.”
According to her, “We have an estimated four million widows in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the government does not have the statistics and is not even aware of their plight. When it is time for elections, they know how to rally them; they know the name of their wards and they sometimes reach out to widows because they want their votes. But as soon as they get to power, they are forgotten.”
Speaking of how to make the condition of widows better, she posited, “If the government is serious about the plight of widows in Nigeria and wants to improve it, it should collaborate with non-governmental organisations to reach out to them on a regular basis. It may not be practically possible to have government engage widows in every nook and cranny of the country but there are bodies that can work with the government so they could find a way of ameliorating their plight.”
Jaiyeola, who is the charter president of Maryland Lions Club, added that “Many women are made widows on a daily basis.
No woman prays to be a widow. But that is the reality facing us as a nation. Men die daily through sickness and accidents. Some die without any known reason. Some men have also lost their wives.
But the case of the woman is pronounced because they don’t really get to remarry in many instances.
“Widowhood is worse than Covid-19; the pandemic has come and gone but widowhood continues. It is an epidemic like cholera. Unfortunately, a widow can’t attend all programmes that married women attend. We cannot go to couples’ meetings to join husbands and wives in a dinner party.
She urged the widows to pray so that no evil will befall to their children “As you can see in this organization, we have Muslims and we have Christians. We are all together irrespective of religion. The reason you are alive is that you have to do something good for yourself and for the world at large,” said.
However, she disclosed that her organization has secured a piece of land where widows who do not have a place to stay can come and have shelter. She said many widows are victims of violence and need a place to stay.
She called on governments, corporate bodies organizations and people of goodwill to support the organization’s plan to build the shelter for widows in the country. “We are in it together we should establish and build the relationship. In a group like this, we need fun, fellowship, and friendship. Widows have no right to fight themselves. If they do that means they are adding to their burden. All over the world today, they are celebrating as we are celebrating here. Today is the day chosen for the widows. Celebrate and enjoy yourself. Do whatever you can to make yourself and your children happy,” she the woman.
The Widows’ Day, according to her was an opportunity for widows to celebrate. “It has been a yearly tradition for us to celebrate widows since we began this organisation.”
Jaiyeola urged widows to be involved in productive ventures that will put food on their tables.
Also speaking at the event Mrs. Francesca Nwanze, a retired director of Education, urged widows not to be lazy and idle, telling them to find something to do. She also urged them to love and encourage one another.
For Mrs. Mary Onabanjo, widows should matter in society and their rights should be respected nobody should discriminate against them.
Source: Independent Newspaper - https://independent.ng/jaiyeola-laments-plight-of-widows/
