The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Bulus Yohanna, has strongly condemned the practice of treating widows as property to be inherited by relatives of their deceased husbands.
Yohanna, who also serves as the Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, made these remarks on Monday in Minna during the 2025 International Widows' Day celebration organized by the Women Wing of CAN in the state. He was represented at the event by his deputy, Rev. Joshua Marcus.
"It saddens my heart when I hear of cases where relatives share not only the property of deceased individuals but also their wives," the CAN chairman stated. "Widows are not property to be shared by the relatives of their husbands but human beings who should be treated with dignity."
Call for Support Instead of Trauma
The religious leader urged family members of deceased individuals to desist from actions that further traumatize widows and instead find ways to support and uplift them during their period of grief.
He also encouraged widows to embrace self-reliance and focus on raising their children with purpose. "I urge our widows to be productive, self-reliant and to engage in meaningful businesses if they are not employed. They should focus on the children God has blessed them with," he added.
Empowering Widows
Earlier in her address, the State Chairperson of the CAN Women Wing, Mrs. Ladi Nuhu, called on widows to remain resilient and intentional about building better lives for themselves and their families.
Speaking on the theme, "Empowering Widows: Building Resilience, Restoring Dignity," Nuhu advised widows to anchor their hope in God and embrace self-reliance.
"We understand that you need support for your children, but this is the time to stand strong and not give up. I appeal to you to draw strength from Isaiah 54:5–6, which reminds us that widows have a special place in the heart of God," she said.
The International Widows' Day celebration in Niger State highlights the ongoing challenges faced by widows in Nigeria, where traditional practices in some communities still subject them to dehumanizing inheritance customs despite legal protections.
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