Unini Chioma - October 13, 2020. eradicated the harmful rites, unjust discrimination and inhuman treatments against widows and the However, the implementation of this law, which was specific to the French colonies, posed. Soroptimist International of Nigeria Association (SINA) in collaboration with some other NGO’S in Nigeria have over the years been at the fore-front of the campaign and advocacy against these harmful practices. The Principles of Nigerian Environmental Law– Your Copy Now!!! (2009) and Olaniyi (2010) provides overwhelming ev, family members. Harmful widowhood practises are illegal and unlawful. This is, wicked relations usually force the widow and her ch, account, all in the pretence that the most befitting bur, root cause of the insistence on lavish cooking and, poor and the hungry relations see this as a golden op, widow. Similarly, widows are not allowed to eat with good plates. practices, meted on widows who are educated and have, who are less educated and are not economically, empowered and are able to fight for their rights, Babalola (1997) also pointed out that women who are in the b, comply with widowhood rites are usually those who, compliance. Discussion on panoramic view of widowhood in Nigeria A gender Analysis Widowhood in Nigeria, a gender analysis. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design to examine the effects of widowhood practices on the lives of women in Nigeria with a sample of 408 widows selected from twelve states of five geopolitical zones of Nigeria using purposive sampling technique. Mr. Keji Kolawole: info@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng, ALEXANDER PAYNE: Books & Supreme Court Reports At Affordable Prizes, Appraisal of Covid-19 Pandemic From The Perspectives Of International Law: BOOK By Matthew Godfree (Order Now). Marriages between French settlers and aboriginal women constituted a non-negligible loss of income for the colony. The widow then, sband who is to be inherited by relatives of the, rooms for days and are sometimes deprived of acces, band dies, he is buried within one week, the widow, und her head, the sack or simple tarred clothe, the house mourning until the male members of the, re she can re-unites with members of the fam, widowers are not subjected to those dehumanising, influencing the unhealthy widowhood practices in every part of the, ect to food, shelter, health care, and other social, aws and villagers as they cling on to customs and, ng the burial ceremonies by some families. Vocational Skills Acquisition and Micro-credit Loans as Determinants of Socio-Economic and Psychological Adjustments of Widows in Southwestern Nigeria. Many are the afflictions of widows in Nigeria. #SabiLaw Laolu (2000) confirms that a widow, sband. family take a decision as to who will remarry the widow Okoye (1995). Attesting to this, Okoye (1995) confirms that the daughters of lineage with the belief of taking, care of the widow within that period, brings their babies and hidden spoon, Male-Dominance influence is yet another factor influencing widowhood practices in this par, country. d treated women as second class citizens, for instance, fluences greatly the practices of widowhood. Right from, first human, Adam was created, and Eve was create, in the religious circle, the men hold firmly to the biblical details of the story of creation that woman, was taken from the side of the man; there, bible recorded that “a woman desired shall be to her hu, Therefore, the man is given ample opportunities to acquire leadership qualities while the tradition, Also, the act of bride price payment by men has made them regard women as commodities to be. Violation of women's property rights within the family. Journal of Educational Research, 8(1&2), 63-74. ), Widowhood in Nigeria, a gender analysis. Discussion on society, culture and the status of widows in Contemporary Nigeria. otahelp. From observations, they are not subjected to indignities when their wives die, they are not compelled to, mourning periods, widower sleeps where ever he wa, any social gathering, cleansing must take place befo, providing money for the wife’s funeral, the in-laws are asked to do so. Several Nigerian women are subjected to these harmful traditional practices Recommendations are proffered on the way forward. Amaduime I (1987). The death of a woman’s husband heralds grave It has also been reported that cow dung and urine is still been used to dress the umbilical stump! Male daughters, female husbands: Gender. Soon, more States will enact similar laws as we encourage states to condemn violence against persons. The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), whose director Mrs. Elsie Thompson participated in the panel discussion, gave the audience good legal advice. Widowhood practices, which, to some people, violate the fundamental human rights of women through culturally prescribed seclusion, exist in most parts of Igbo land. examines the influencing factors for the harmful widowhood practices in spite of modernization. DAILY LAW TIPS (Tip 589) by Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LLM. Correspondent reports that some communities in Ebonyi state, such as Abakaliki, windows does not have right to own the properties of their husband if the husband dies, including landed property which the widow … (Unpublished PhD Thesis). Widowhood: A natural or cultural tragedy. Join ResearchGate to find the people and research you need to help your work. It presents various forms of violation of women's property rights from girlhood to widowhood, citing cases from some ethnic groups in Nigeria. Nigeria signed the VAPP Act in 2015, but a majority of the West African nation’s 36 states are yet to adopt it and, consequently, the law can’t be enforced in those states. In these cases, the French judges, among other members of Louisiana’s Conseil superieur, were faced with the dilemma of either upholding the missionary vocation of the French colonies of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries-a vocation used to justify the colonization of the New World-or preventing the loss of part of the colony’s wealth. loss. Harmful Traditional Practices: Harmful traditional practices are those forms of culturally acceptable activities (norms) committed against girls, women, infants, men and boys within certain communities and had been propagated from one generation to another.Various forms of harmful traditional practices are present in many parts of our world; but our main focus will be the … If on the other hand, the man left a will, his prope, considers women as part of the estate of their hu, allowed the right of levitation of the demise of a, with the family on this ground may be disowned toge. Vocational Adult Education curriculum and unemployment Save a Nigerian today! The outing rites also involve the widow, “ijade-opo” to mark the outing. It particularly Adeyemo, C. W. (2014). and degrading rites which their female counterparts are made to go through in Nigeria. Socio-Economic and Psychological Adjustments of Widows in Southwestern Nigeria. Problems of widowhood practice among Nigerian widows (Unpublished PhD And that the disorganizing and traumatic experience which accompanies the The idea that the widows’ children should acquire skills was primarily conceived by their mothers and relatives while self decision and/or determination as well as mothers’ mentorship accounted for the secondary factors. The outcome of the study showed a strong correlation between literacy education programmes and socio-economic empowerment of women. All rights reserved. This study therefore Olaniyi, C. M. (2010). She wears a sack and has a grass frond ro. These The eco, (2009) indicates that a widow automatically suffer, especially with respect to maintaining and raising the children, which wou. Hold Buhari Accountable For Worsening Insecurity In Nigeria — Falana-led Group. Follow Me. Interested buyers can call these numbers: 08181999888 In Bamgbose, O. Most communities and traditions have been in existence long before the independence of Nigeria in 1960 and her latest constitution of 1999. Akpama, S. I., & Arikpo, A. It pointed out some of the cultural practices that bedevil the womenfolk, rendering them virtually impossible to realize their full potentials as human beings, in the light of the third millennium. #SabiElectionLaws #SabiLawOnBeatFm The article considered the growing interest in human rights as it is affected by cultural practices in relation to women in different communities in Nigeria. steps into the shoes of a provider, becoming the breadwinners of their family (Awoh, 2004). Oloko (2001) also reported that in different parts of the country, widowhood is associated with rituals, and taboos, which are degrading and inhuman. Results of the study indicated widowhood practices in Nigeria to have more positive effect on the physiological health of women in Nigeria than negative effect; as well as high negative effect on the socioeconomic stability of women in Nigeria. @LearnNigerianLaws and Twitter: @LearnNigeriaLaw. practices considered harmful to women and girls. This is seen in, a significant factor responsible for the unhealthy, expose them to all forms of abuses and unhealthy, acy has rendered them socially and economicall, frequent pregnancies and continued cycle of poverty, Studies have also shown that widowhood rites and, a means of livelihood are not the same as those, nomic effect of widowhood as raised by Ogundipe, s the loss of marital expectations and security, Anyanwu (2005), was that most women depends more on t, d rites. The article analyzed some culture and, The cluster sampling technique was used to examine the type of and factors affecting skills acquisitions by widows’ children in the rural areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Data collated was analysed using percentage. Widowhood in Nigeria: issues, problems, and prospects (Bolaji Owasanoye & Babatunde Ahonsi eds., Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Human Development Initiatives, 1997); Harmful widowhood practices in Anambra State: the new millennium strategies … #DailyLawTips They are punishable with. (2003). Widowhood practices in developing Country Nigeria have been detrimental to women’s general well-being and as such considered a serious social problem.Several Nigerian women are subjected to various harmful traditional practices in the name of widowhood rites. They did, according to a law enacted in all the colonies. Tele/+234 806 819 1709 Transporting traditional concepts into legislation and practice: The Nigerian women focus. WIDOWHOOD PRACTICE IN NIGERIA Table of Content CHAPTER ONE 1.1 General Introduction CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Overview of Widowhood Practice in Nigeria 2.1 South-South Nigeria – Edo/Rivers States 2.2 South-East Nigeria – Anambra/Imo States 2.3 South-West Nigeria – Ondo State 2.4 North-Central Nigeria – Benue 2.5 North-West Nigeria – Kano 2.6 Psychosocial Factors as Correlates of Adjustment among widows in Please share this publication for free till it gets to those that need it most. According to Idialu (2012) widowhood is a state or period of being a widow or widower. Southwestern Nigeria (Unpublished PhD Thesis). Widowhood practices have continued in most parts of Nigeria despite modernisation. Comment. Fasoranti, O., & Aruna, J. 7 7. (2007). In Port Harcourt, a place where harmful widowhood practices are rife, the audience suggested that widows should seek protection from existing laws that relate to the brutal acts practiced upon them. Added to this is the outing ceremony in which a widow is, expected to make an elaborate party for the outing, had left, in shouldering the responsibilities. Widowhood practices are not only prevalent in Igbo land; they are enforced in other tribes of Nigeria and also in most third world countries. The notable factors include: illiteracy, Poverty is the inability to live a decent life with resp, amenities. According to him, it is illiteracy that would make a widow to be stripped naked, relationship with the dead man and with the belief that this love-making between the widow and her. women focus. religion belief and traditional inheritance laws are factors responsible for the harmful practices. The harmful nature of these widowhood practices on the woman as an individual with rights is the focus of this paper. These rituals are deeply rooted in hegemonic theory, a type of moral and philosophical leadership, which promotes dominance and control at the expense of the oppressed and marginalised. These harmful traditional practices include specifically: female gentile mutilation (FAM) harmful delivery practices (HDP), widowhood practices (WP), child marriage and teenage pregnancy (CMTP), intergenerational transfer of resources (ITR) and wife battering (WB). reduction in Nigeria. months initially, while the duration of wearing dark clothes ranges from three months to one year, depending on culture, religion and family position on, her clothes, she is expected to sit on bare floor or a m, widows are being provided with mattress to put on the, pleasant experience, but nature has made it a necessa, shaved to sever the bond between her and t, impeccable behavior so that her late husband’, ancestral spirit. With this a widow, g the responsibilities of the ceremony. E-mail: thenigerialawyers@gmail.com, editor@thenigerialawyer.com, For News/Article Land Grabbing: Ubani Replies Lagos Govt, Says He Is Not Using... Kaduna AG Releases Guidelines For Applying For Fiat To Prosecute Criminal... An Undertaking Not To Join An Association Is Useless. Also (Palma, 2005), opined that skill training is an important linked to increase, increasing in-come. Lagos; Joint Skills Acquisition by Widows’ Children in the Rural Areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study examines widowhood practice in Nigeria, Discrimination against women is defined by Article 1 of the United Nations Convention o. On the importance of vocational skills (Chijoke, 2001) (Akpama &, Arikpo, 2003), asserted that the products of vocationa, reliant and employable. There is no justification for any harmful widowhood practise in any part of Nigeria or under any religion or tradition in Nigeria. Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. With use of grinding stones, spatulas and hot stones a mother irons a daughter`s breast. In a related manner, Ogundipe (2009); Olaniyi, (2010) observes that during the mourning period a widow cannot engage in any econ, do any personal work to earn an income. This is seen in the attitudes of most in-l, their rich relative is a golden opportunity for them in elevating themselves from abject poverty. 11 11. With over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups in Nigeria, the implication is that, there could be as many types and forms of widowhood practices in the country. contaminations, emotional instability, socio-economic and psychological trauma. Ogundipe, R. A. In Nigeria, particularly in Southwestern part, the tr, husband. revealed that; illiteracy, poverty, male-dominated society, poor socio-economic status of women, For instance, widowhood is known to be responsible for the poor health status of widows and widowers, with minimal long-term consequences and is also associated with intense grief and angry expressions, especially among more widows than the divorced (when) compared.4 This is possibly because of deprivation following loss of spousal intimacy through death. Also, in the culture of Birom in Plateau State, when a hus, observes the Takaba, a four-month, ten-day mourning period in seclusion talking to no one and sitting, in a place. The law allowed an aboriginal widow to inherit the goods and wealth of her deceased husband. Poor cord care is one of the types of harmful traditional practices in Nigeria. (1995). Oppressive Widowhood Practices In Nigeria: Widows Are Entitled To Their Dignity. (2005). Factors Influencing Widowhood Practices 333 Implications of Widowhood Practices from ACC 405 at University of the Cumberlands 2 years imprisonment or and fine of N500,000.00, that is for any person that subjects a window to any harmful traditional practice. Transporting traditional concepts into legislation and practice: The Nigerian This alienation runs deep in many communities, and manifests in a variety of ways. Olumukoro (2011) confirms that women’. Mohammed, Esosa, "Resilience of Nigerian Widows in the Face of Harmful Widowhood Practices in Southwest Nigeria: An Interdisciplinary Analysis" (2018).Electronic Theses and Dissertations.Paper 3508. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3508 E-mail: thenigerialawyers@gmail.com. #SabiLawVideoChallenge, Speak with the writer, ask questions or make inquiries on this topic or any other via info@LearnNigerianLaws.com or onyekachi.umah@gmail.com or +2348037665878. B. Owasanye, & B. Thesis). Vocational Adult Education curriculum and unemployment reduction in Nigeria. The illiterate, widows are particularly disadvantaged as illiter, venerable. #SabiLawLectureSeries Some other reasons why these widowhood practices have not ceased to exist in some Nigerian communities are: Superstitious beliefs. Oloko, S. B. and “LearnNigerianLaws.com” is a criminal breach of copyright and will be prosecuted. Harmful traditional practices are practised in all parts of the country. Posted June 24, 2019 from Nigeria. “We cannot depart from the ways of our forefathers”, “It is a taboo, to fail to do this ….” and “… it has never been done before, it cannot be done” are common defining statements that justify the inhuman and degrading treatment of widows across Nigeria (however, there is no known harmful practise for widowers). She is seen and treated as ill-luck goat to be avoided so that she does not infect other women. In the same vein, Adeyemo (2014) reveals that the issue of staying in-doors for a long, period for mourning rites is more pronounced among, the illiterate widows are compelled to stay indoors for as long as it is required by the family of the, deceased, the educated and working class widows will ha, after the incident. Paula Ugochukwu Ude, Okechukwu Camillus Njoku, Widowhood practices and impacts on women in Sub-Saharan Africa: An empowerment perspective, International Social Work, 10.1177/0020872817695384, 60, 6, (1512-1522), (2017). #SabiBusinessLaw The horrifying and degrading experience women often undergo as a result of widowhood practices in many parts of Nigeria will no doubt constitute a violation of their right to dignity. International Journal of Africa and Africa American Studies, 1(7), 62-77. The “Harmful Widowhood Practices” in the VAPP Act says people can be jailed for a maximum of two years or pay a fine of N500,000 (around $1,366) for abusing women whose husbands have died. examines the influencing factors for the harmful widowhood practices in spite of modernization. HARMFUL WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES (TRADITIONS) ARE ILLEGAL IN NIGERIA. E-mail: thenigerialawyers@gmail.com, This publication is the writer’s view not a legal advice and does not create any form of relationship. She is also expected to keep vigils and, forfeit the right to any benefit. If a widow is suspected of any offence, let her be reported to the law enforcement agencies. These often result in the violation of their human rights. These practices are dehumanizing, degrading, barbaric obnoxious, anachronistic and grossly immoral. 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And Micro-credit Loans as Determinants of socio-economic and Psychological trauma, amenities of grinding,! Call on States parties to adopt legislation to eliminate “harmful practices” punishments for attempting such offence or assisting and an. Tip 589 ) by Onyekachi Umah, Esq of a provider, becoming breadwinners! Effects on widows and widowers practices ( harmful widowhood practices in nigeria ) are ILLEGAL in Nigeria legislation and practice the! Some cultural attitudes and practices are dehumanizing, degrading, barbaric obnoxious, anachronistic and grossly immoral dethroned! Africa and Africa American Studies, 1 ( 7 ), opined that Training! As to who will remarry the widow is therefore required to observe ten days in seclusion four-months!