I.W.D 2021: HON OSAKWE-HIBBERT CALLS FOR FREE LEGAL AID FOR IMO WIDOWS. ….Collaborates with Albertiqs to host Widows

Oru Leonard

International Widows Day (I.W.D) is a global awareness day that takes place annually on 23rd June. This was officially launched by the United Nations in 2010 to raise awareness of the violation of human rights that widows suffer in many countries following the death of their spouses.The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Invisible Women, Invisible Problems’.

Councillor Celia Osakwe-Hibbert who is an elected Councillor in the United Kingdom collaborated with Albertiqs Extra Helping Hands Foundation to organise a seminar in Owerri, Imo State where several Widows were in attendance. This seminar consisted of free Medical Eye Check and distribution of both medical and edible palliatives. 

Speaking about the Widows Day event which took place on Wednesday the 23rd of June 2021, Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert who is also the Board Chair for Albertiqs Foundation, explained that  “traditional communities like the ones we have in Nigeria can present tough challenges for women especially when one’s husband dies”. In most circumstances these women find themselves denied inheritance and land rights, evicted from their homes, ostracised and abused.

“The children of widows will often find themselves affected, withdrawn from school and more vulnerable to abuse, especially in the case of girls”. This is why I’m using this occasion of International  Women’s Day to completely condemn the persistent mistreatment of Widows in Imo State and Nigeria as a whole. I make bold to also call for FREE Legal Aid for Widows in Imo State” 

The Former Special Adviser to Governor Uzodimma went further to state that “If this change can be achieved, I’m confident that it will be under this current Government because of how committed Governor Hope is in issues of fairness, equality and equal access”

Despite the fact that there are more than 258 million widows around the world, widows have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies.