In commemoration of the 2024 International Widow’s Day, the wives of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Patience Umo Eno, and her Oyo State counterpart, Tamunominini Makinde, on Friday, celebrated and empowered select widows across their states

In Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Eno empowered widows drawn from 31 local council areas and non-governmental widow’s platforms in the state. 
   
The maiden Widows Enhancement Programme organised by the pet project of the governor’s wife, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), was held at the Banquet Hall, the Government House Uyo, where no fewer than 250 widows smiled home with cash and gift items. 
 
Mrs. Eno, who thanked her husband, the governor, for making it possible for every woman to be recognised in Akwa Ibom State, said that the event became expedient to “raise awareness of the violation of human rights that widows suffer in many countries, following the death of their spouses.” 
    
The first lady, who is the chairperson of the Akwa Ibom State Gender-Based Violence Management (GBV) Committee, frowned on various harmful widowhood practices, noting that the state had long domesticated the Widowhood Law of 2013 and the VAPP law of 2020.
   
She warned that the law would catch up with anyone troubling widows in the state with outdated traditional practices. 

ALSO, the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Makinde, at the weekend, uplifted over 300 widows across the state through donations of cash gifts and food items.
   
The items, according to the governor’s wife, would help the widows in cushioning the effect of the current economic hardship being experienced by them and put food on their tables.

Aside from the donations, the widows were also taught how to be self-reliant, financially independent, personal hygiene, and how to take care of themselves and their children.

Speaking in Ibadan at an event to mark the 2024 International Widows Day, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in the state, Toyin Balogun, who spoke on behalf of Mrs. Makinde, said that one of the major concerns of the government is the sustainability of all citizens, including the widows, children, the elderly and vulnerable in the society.