A retired judge complains that Nigerian society is not fair to widows

 

The Federal Government should create a “special ministry” or agency to take care of the needs of widows in Nigeria, Grace Eisape, a retired judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, advised on Saturday.

She also asked state governments to pay stipends to widows, while efforts should be made to give women access to lawyers who can defend them against unreasonable cultural practices.

One such practice involves forcing women to drink the water used to wash their husbands’ corpses, to prove their innocence.

Eisape, a proponent of feeding all nations through Jesus Christ, made these recommendations during a day-long prayer walk in the Chika community along Abuja Airport Road, Abuja, and during the emancipation of over 200 widows.

The programme aims to address the growing hunger crisis in Nigeria and educate the public about the marginalisation of widows.

The event, which has also taken place in several African nations, South America and the United States, has the theme “Jesus Christ: Liberating the Vulnerable Globally.”

The retired judge, who hails from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, said she was guided by the Holy Spirit to the ministry.

Judge Eisape, currently an educator in the United States of America, is also the president of Deborah Generation: The Fire Place, a prayer group in New Jersey. USA.

She said: “Widows are marginalized, they are not well cared for, their needs are not met adequately, they hardly receive help from their relatives.

“It is therefore important that the federal government create a special ministry or even an agency to take care of the needs of widows.

“We have targeted hundreds of widows around the world. This prayer walk is currently underway in African nations, South America and the United States of America.
I advise state governments to pay stipend to widows, it will go a long way in alleviating their suffering.

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“We educate women about their rights. For example, today we have legal workers in all the locations where this program is held to educate women about their rights.

“The government should take action and give women access to lawyers who can defend them against unreasonable cultural practices.”

During the event, Pastor Emmanuel Temitope Williams, the organization’s international coordinator, addressed the widows of the Chika community, urging them to remain resilient.

He said: “This program is designed to consistently meet your needs, whether it’s hunger, medical care or legal rights,” he reassured them.

Another coordinator, Mrs. Mabel Onyia, said that over 500 widows have benefited from the Feeding All Nations through Jesus Christ initiative under the FCT.

He said that the Prayer Walk Rally is being held in thirteen states across the country to inform widows about their rights and also to provide for their needs.

Lawyer Salamatu Yusuf also spoke to the widows, assuring them of the legal protection guaranteed by Nigerian law.

“There are laws to prevent the marginalization of widows and we are here to ensure that those rights are respected,” Yusuf said.

The event concluded with the distribution of cooked meals and raw foods to the widows.

Many women left the event with renewed hope, expressing gratitude and calling for similar initiatives to be organized regularly.

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