The Kogi State Widows Program Coordinator, Chief Ojone Ojatah, has called on government officials, traditional rulers, faith leaders, and the private sector to rally behind widows across the state, ahead of the International Widows Day observed globally on June 23.
Speaking at a high-level press briefing in Lokoja on Saturday, Chief Ojatah described widowhood as “one of the most difficult life transitions a woman can face,” citing economic hardship, social isolation, disinheritance, and exclusion from policy frameworks as recurring challenges confronting widows in Nigerian society.
“The true greatness of any society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable,” she told journalists and civil society leaders gathered at the event.
A significant portion of the address drew from Islamic and Christian scriptures to frame widow welfare as a binding societal duty rather than an act of benevolence.
Chief Ojatah cited Surah Al-Baqarah (2:240), which she said mandates one full year of financial maintenance for widows and guarantees their right to remain in the marital home during bereavement. She also referenced Surah An-Nisa (4:8), Isaiah 1:17, and James 1:27 as shared scriptural foundations for the care of widows across faith traditions.
“Caring for widows is not an act of mere benevolence. It is a foundational, measurable, and enforceable obligation of any just and compassionate society,” she said.
Chief Ojatah also used the occasion to commend Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the First Lady, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo, for what she described as consistent support for widows since May 2025.
According to the coordinator, the administration has delivered quarterly food distributions to over 20,000 widows across the state, and has sponsored more than ten empowerment programs under the APC-led government’s welfare agenda.
She formally requested that Governor Ododo grace the official flag-off of activities marking International Widows Day 2026, scheduled for June 23, with his presence.
In a rallying message to close the briefing, Chief Ojatah urged a shift in public perception of widows, describing them as “builders of families, custodians of values, and symbols of resilience.”
“A widow is not a burden,” she said. “Let us commit to empowering and equipping widows for generations to come.”
The International Widows Day was established by the United Nations and is observed on June 23 each year to raise awareness of the poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependants worldwide.
