The International Widows Day was held on the 23rd of june at the United Nations Information Centre. This year the event was held in collaboration with the Citizens Mediation Centre and Hope For life Initiative. This year, the Secretary General emphasised that the 2030 sustainable development agenda with its pledge to leave no one behind has a particular resonance for widows, who are among the most marginalised and isolated.
Speaking, the Special Guest of Honour, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, decried the stigmatization of widows by the society, including their family members. “Widows must have means of livelihood as well as their dependence,” she added. Mrs Ambode promised to continue to support widows to ensure they live a worthy life.
In her remarks, the Executive Director, Hope for Life Initiative, Ms. Kendi Aig-Imoru explained that the essence of the observance of the Widows’ Day was to draw attention to the plight of widows all over the world and to chart a path
Ms Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, a renowned actress talked about her life as a widow and urged urged other widows to not lose hope but to be strong and back on their feet. She acted a monologue playlet to drive home the plight of widows after which the widows took the floor to express their pains and to share their success stories.
