By Doris Obinna
Almanah Hope Foundation, organisers of African Widows Summit has called on governments at all levels to consider the plight of widows as they express worry over the unfair treatment melted on them.
They decried that African leaders have neglected the widows for far too long and emphasised the need for greater inclusion of widows in policy planning and implementation, particularly in areas related to economic development, land rights and allocation of resources.
While the United Nations estimates the global population of widows at 258 million with one in 10 of these widows living in extreme poverty, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa, the foundation, disclosed that there are no actual verifiable statistics in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists at the weekend in Lagos, Founder and President, The Union of African Widows, Hope Nwakwesi, reiterated the need for widows to be empowered economically to improve their livelihood and support their families to live in dignity.
She said the African Widows Summit (TAWS), the inaugural project of AWGaDi, the union of African Widows, an initiative of Almanah Hope Foundation, held in June from 20th to 22nd, 2024, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, set a new benchmark in addressing the critical issues surrounding widowhood in Africa.
Nwakwesi said the three-day conference, under the theme: “Women in Widowhood: Reforming the African Space,” brought together a diverse group of leaders, advocates, and widows to focus on widows inclusion, economic empowerment, and policy reform.
Her words: “We had delegates from over 10 countries of Africa who participated in the summit. The objectives of the summit were to deepen the understanding of widowhood issues and policy development.
“To improve access to knowledge and information related to widows’ rights and to provide political leadership to addressing widows issues and catalysing solutions that will improve the values of African widows.
“The First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, reiterated the need for all to work together for once to challenge the practices that marginalise widows and advocate for policies that provide widows access to quality education, economic opportunities and social support so they can live with dignity and independence.
“The summit also stated the need for the establishment of a dedicated fund to support widows, aiming to provide financial resources and opportunities for self-sufficiency, and for the donor policy and politics to begin the allocation of funds to widows empowerment.”
On action recommendations and summit resolution, which is being worked on, Nwakwesi added that a widow must be defined.