By Chizoba Okeke
As the world commemorates International Widows’ Day, the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, has issued a clarion call to legislative assemblies across the South-East to unite in enacting a common regional legal framework aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of widows.
In a statement marking the occasion, Udeze reaffirmed that Anambra’s law banning harmful widowhood practices remains active and enforceable. He urged traditional rulers across the region to abolish degrading cultural practices and discriminatory customs that continue to marginalise widows in various communities.
“Widows deserve full recognition as equal and valuable members of society. Their rights must be protected not only by law but by the collective conscience of our communities.”
Udeze lauded Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the First Lady, Dr (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, for their ongoing efforts to prioritize the welfare of women and widows in Anambra State, calling their commitment a model worthy of regional replication.
He appealed to fellow Speakers and lawmakers across the South-East to work collaboratively toward regional legislation that would standardize protections for widows and eliminate the social, legal, and economic injustices they face.
Beyond policy, the Speaker called on wealthy individuals and organizations to contribute meaningfully to the lives of widows, proposing the creation of a Widowhood Endowment Trust Fund to support their economic empowerment and well-being.
Udeze encouraged resilience, faith, and self-belief in the face of hardship, “You are not forgotten, you are not alone. The society must rise to rewrite the narrative of widowhood from one of sorrow and stigma to one of dignity and support”.
The International Widows’ Day, observed annually on June 23, serves as a global platform to draw attention to the plight of widows and advocate for policies that promote their inclusion and protection.
Chizoba is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
