As the world marks the International Widow’s Day (IWD), the Human Development Initiatives Foundation (HDI) has called on all private and public institutions to make rural women, especially widows, the minimum standard in designing and implementing programmes, innovations and technology.
In a statement yesterday, the Executive Director, HDI, Olufunso Owasanoye, said in the spirit of this year’s celebration, widows should be encouraged and supported to embrace technology and innovation to build an equitable society.
She revealed that as part of activities marking the day, HDI would be presenting a token to widows for their courage and resilience.
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In line with this year’s theme, ‘Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality’, Owasanoye called on the government at all levels to make policies that would enable internet network providers to make available internet network service in rural and remote places.
She also asked that internet services should be made affordable for everyone, as technology and innovations have changed the way people live and would continue to define human existence, including social and economic life.
“United Nations estimates that one in 10 widows live in extreme poverty globally. It further says that women are also much less likely to have access to pensions than men, so the death of their husbands can lead to destitution for these women.
“The trauma and grief, which often presents itself as a crisis, that these widows experience as a result of the death of their husbands cannot be overemphasised. Some of these crises include grief, depression, insomnia, loss of property and social crisis, among others,” she added.
She noted that innovation and technology could help widows cope despite the loss of their husbands, as technology could provide women, especially widows, with new economic opportunities such as online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms.
“These tech platforms can help the widows to sell their products and services to a wider audience, increasing their income and improving their financial stability thereby breaking the yoke of poverty.”
In a related development, the Federal Government, technology experts and widow organisations have been urged to collaborate and develop a comprehensive widows database, as the current information is inaccurate, thereby hampering efforts to provide targeted support to address their unique needs.
Founder, The Widow’s Might, Regina Chris-Ogbodo, in a statement, emphasised the need to utilise innovative data collection methods, such as mobile-based surveys and biometric registration to provide a reliable and up-to-date resource to understand the scale of widowhood in Nigeria.
She stated that such information is vital for designing effective policies, programmes and interventions to support widows across the country.
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Chris-Ogbodo noted that the call for legislation at the National Assembly to address the challenges faced by widows is a crucial step toward achieving gender equality.
“The proposed bill should encompass provisions for educational initiatives, technological infrastructure development and support systems tailored specifically for widows.
“Innovation and technology offer widows in Nigeria opportunities for economic independence and self-reliance. E-commerce platforms, digital marketplaces and online micro-enterprise solutions can provide widows with a platform to showcase their products, reach a wider customer base and generate income. Access to mobile banking and digital financial services can also empower widows to manage their finances effectively,” Chris-Ogbodo said.
Meanwhile, the Founder, Serendipity House Widows’ Foundation, Olori Ayo Jaiyeola, has urged widows to remove the stigmatisation the society has placed on them and take advantage of empowerment opportunities to eliminate poverty mentality.
Speaking at the foundation’s conference, themed, ‘Sustainable Solutions for Widows Financial Independence’, she called on Nigerians to support widows to go above the poverty line and create opportunities for others to benefit.
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