No fewer than 800 widows on Monday received 50,000 cash gift from the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), in commemoration of the 2024 International Widows Day (IWD).
Mrs Bolaji Dada, the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, disclosed this at a media parley organised by the ministry to mark the day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the day is annually celebrated on June 23 across the globe to raise awareness about violation of human rights that widows suffer following the death of their spouses.
The theme of this year’s global observance is ”Widows for Peace through Democracy”.
The commissioner noted that the challenges faced by widows are enormous and grievous,
adding that it could only be rectified through access to decent living and justice for the oppressed, among others.
She reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government in advocating and protecting the rights of widows toward attaining best international human rights practices, which emphasises equality of all persons.
According to her, Lagos State as a centre of excellence, joined the developed world to make provisions for laws geared toward protecting widows from discrimination, stigmatisation and violence.
She added that “all agents of socialisation must, in fact, be effectively engaged to secure a society free from discrimination against widows.
“It is in recognition of this that WAPA has been strategic in ensuring that some of these laws that require states to educate their populace toward changing negative societal norms and cultural practices are promulgated.
“The agenda of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for social inclusion to leave no one behind has endeared him to graciously approve funds to support widows yearly with cash gifts for inclusive governance.”
Dada disclosed that widows accounted for 10 per cent of the more than 70,000 women empowered by the ministry through various skills in the state.
She explained that beneficiaries of the cash gifts were selected from various NGOs, faith-based groups, widows from Lagos State Social Register (LASSR), and vulnerable widows from the ministry’s register.
She urged individuals that maltreat and victimise widows to desist from such evil act.
Mrs Olufunke Shyllon, the Director of Women Affairs in the ministry, commended the Lagos State Government “for its unwavering support to vulnerable women in the state.”(NAN).
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