In a compelling message during the African Women Lawyers Association’s special thanksgiving and outreach service held on Sunday, June 23, Dr. Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs, chairman of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, has called for urgent action to support widows worldwide.
Highlighting the dire conditions faced by an estimated 258 million widows globally, including 15 million in Nigeria, Dr. Lulu-Briggs emphasised the critical need for collective efforts to achieve gender equality.
“Today presents another important opportunity to draw attention to the plight of widows and their children. One in ten widows lives in extreme poverty, demanding our immediate action,” stated Dr. Lulu-Briggs.
Dr. Lulu-Briggs decried the marginalisation of women despite their invaluable contributions to the economy. According to her, women continue to face significant legal, cultural, and social barriers, preventing them from owning or inheriting land and property.
“Without secure land rights, women are vulnerable to discrimination, poverty, exploitation, and displacement. They lack the collateral to access credit, invest in their futures, and care for their families,” she explained.
Reflecting on her personal experience as a widow for the past six years, Dr. Lulu-Briggs shared how it has reinvigorated her commitment to challenging the norms that marginalise the underserved, vulnerable, elderly, and poor.
“More than ever, I am convinced that we must all stand up and contribute to the fight for more just, equitable, caring, transformative, and inclusive policies and practices in our communities,” she asserted.
Extending her solidarity to widows, Dr. Lulu-Briggs assured that they were neither forgotten nor invisible. “There are millions of people, like me, who work tirelessly, not just on International Widows’ Day, but every day, to improve your situation and empower you,” she declared.
Concluding with a message of hope, Dr. Lulu-Briggs affirmed that, “Together, we will accelerate the achievement of gender equality and create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.”
Earlier, Gloria Ohia, the Rivers State coordinator of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), expressed her gratitude to High Chief Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs and the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation for the support they have consistently extended to AWLA over the years to vigorously defend the rights of widows.
Ohia passionately called on all widows to actively pursue their legal rights and reassured them of AWLA’s support, in partnership with the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, to provide free legal aid.
Among groups who participated in the event were widows of fallen heroes of the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Airforce through their respective Officers Wives Associations.
The International Widows’ Day is observed globally on the June 23. This year’s theme: ‘Accelerating the achievement of gender equality’, underscores the necessity of advocating for gender equality, particularly by enhancing land and property rights across Nigeria.
The highlight of the event was a special outreach organised by the African Women’s Lawyers Association and the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, which saw the distribution of food and gift items to widows and a medical outreach for women organised in partnership with the Rivers State chapter of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria.