Nigerian men have been admonished to prepare their wills in case of eventualities like sudden death.
At an event commemorating International Widow’s Day in Abuja on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Monilola Udoh, said a will would ensure that the deceased’s wives and children are well catered for to avoid inhuman actions from relatives.
She also called for the abolishment of inhuman treatments meted on widows all in the name of tradition.
“Violence against widows is a negative norm that makes life unbearable for them. Practices such as shaving the hair or swearing with the husband’s corpse among others should not be allowed,” Mrs. Udoh noted.
“I will also like to call the men to please have their wills prepared in case of sudden death to ensure that spouses and children are cared for even long after their departure as oftentimes family members dispossess widows of their husband’s properties.”
The event marked the renaming of the National Centre for Women Development to the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development.
The Director General of the Centre, Asabe Bashir, called on all stakeholders to address the plights and concerns of widows.
She said the ministry was poised toward addressing the issues and concerns of widows by “harmonizing all stakeholders to take a positive stand in addressing their issues.”
International Widow’s Day is celebrated every 23 June and this year’s theme is: “Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
