Joyce Onwuka
Pa Philip Akintoye Development Foundation (PAPADEF), non-governmental organisation, has challenged the Federal Government to review and amend laws that continue to harm widows across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PAPADEF, Mr Akintoye Festus, made the call in a statement on Sunday, to commemorate the International Widows’ Day 2025.
The day, observed by the United Nations since 2011, is celebrated annually on June 23, to raise awareness about the challenges widows face and to push for their rights to be respected and protected.
Festus said that the theme for year 2025 commemoration is, “Beyond Grief: Rebuilding Lives, Strengthening Communities, and Challenging Stigma”.
According to Festus, the theme calls for urgent attention to the many challenges widows face every day—especially in rural areas where harmful traditional practices remain common.
The PAPADEF CEO noted that many widows in Nigeria were suffering in silence due to outdated laws and cultural practices that denied them inheritance rights, economic opportunities, and protection.
Festus said that it was time to include widows in national development plans and policy-making processes.
“Widows are part of our society — they are mothers, caregivers, and contributors to the economy but many are treated unfairly and pushed aside.
“Many widows are treated unfairly after losing their husbands. Some are denied access to property, forced into harmful rituals, blamed for their husbands’ deaths, and pushed into poverty,” he said.
Festus noted that thousands of widows were left homeless, jobless, and in deep emotional distress after losing their husbands, with little or no legal support.
“Some widows are still being forced to undergo harmful traditional practices or blamed for their husbands’ deaths. These things must stop,” he said.
He described the situation as a hidden crisis, with millions of women suffering in silence.
Festus said that although there are between 15 and 21 million widows in Nigeria, many of them remained invisible in national planning, data collection, and public discourse.
He urged lawmakers to harmonise civil and customary laws, particularly around inheritance and property rights, to stop the cycle of abuse and neglect.
The PAPADEF CEO said that real change could only happen when widows were protected by law and empowered to rebuild their lives.
He stressed: “Widows are not weak or helpless—they are mothers, caregivers, farmers, teachers, and entrepreneurs who just need support to live in dignity.
“Widows are not looking for pity. They want the right to live freely, to earn a living, and to raise their children in peace”.
Festus also encouraged the government to include widows in poverty alleviation programmes, job creation schemes, and health and social services.
He said: “No widow should be invisible in our development plans. Their voices matter, their lives matter.”
He explained that widows often faced serious problems like loss of property, no access to healthcare or education, and are sometimes victims of violence or forced remarriage.
Festus said that many widows were hardworking mothers, businesswomen, and caregivers but are often treated as if they do not exist.
“Widows are not invisible, and their pain should not be ignored. We must see them, hear them, and support them,” he added.
Festus advised that widows should be given economic help, such as business support and job training.
He called for the provision of mental health support, grief counseling and legal services, especially in rural areas.
He also recommended the inclusion of widows in leadership and policy-making roles.
The PAPADEF CEO also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to speak out against dehumanising widowhood practices and help build a more compassionate culture.
“Ending stigma starts with changing how we think and talk about widows. We need to listen to their stories and support their journeys,” Festus said.
He said that the foundation would continue to fight for widows and ensure no woman was left behind.
“Let this International Widows’ Day be more than a ceremony.
“Let it spark real change. We want a Nigeria where widows are not shamed or ignored, but respected and empowered,” he said.
PAPADEF is an NGO working for women, children, and community development, and has supported over 500 widows in Nigeria through legal help, business training, health services, and mental health support