Widows Day: NGO Train Women on Snacks, Empowerment

By Our Reporter

A Nigerian philanthropist and founder, Paradise Mission for Widows and Teenage Girls, Amb. Jane Egbo has trained over 200 widows on skills acquisition.

Collaborating with National Council for Women Society Organisation, the duo on Wednesday trained widows on snacks making and other domestic consumables.

The act was in commemoration of the 2021 International Widow’s Day, with the theme: “Empowering Widows Overcoming Economic Invisibility”.

Our correspondent reports that the International Widows Day, marked every June 23, is dedicated to women who suffer exploitation, deprivation, persecution as a result of their husbands’ demise.

Speaking during the event held in Jos Egbo reiterated the NGO’s zero-tolerance to all forms of violence against women, especially widows.

She noted that various forms of abuse on widows and their children was one of the major violation of human right.

“This day is set aside to focus on effective actions and advocacy on widows’ plight as well as their children around the world, who suffer from poverty, illiteracy, HIV/AIDS, conflict and socio-economic injustice.

“We decided to teach them how to make snacks rather than give them money all the time.

“Equipping them with skill will go along to stabilize them in the future”, she said.

On her part, the President National Council for Women Society, Mrs Felicia Bala said it became imperative to train the women on skills because when one is skilled it cannot be thrown away.

According to her: “All the various forms of abuse on widows and their children are as a result of the vulnerable situation they found themselves.

“From being subjected to gruesome funeral rites such as forced ‘purification’ through sexual violence, rape, being bequeathed to male relatives of their deceased husbands and many more are exerted inhumane treatment endured by widows.

“Today, as we celebrate Widows’ day, I want to reiterate the State’s zero-tolerance to all forms of violence against women and remind everyone that we will not relent on our efforts to protect the right of all categories of womenfolk, including the widows.

Our correspondent reports that the Plateau State government has put several measures in place to ensure the protection of women in the state through the Office of the Public Defender, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Citizen Mediation Centres and the Domestic Violence Unit of WAPA.