The Government of Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria, is taking steps to end the plight of widows in the state, especially with regard to inheriting their husbands’ property.

The state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio when the National President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office, Uyo.

Akpabio condemned the age-long practice in some societies in which family members of the deceased dispossess widows of the property of their husbands. He disclosed that a bill that would enable widows to enjoy all rights and privileges of their deceased husbands is presently before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

Governor Akpabio advocated greater partnership with FIDA in the dispensation of justice for less privileged Nigerians. He stressed the need for the body to liaise with his administration in improving and bringing justice to less fortune Nigerians especially women.

The governor observed that much as the body fights to protect women who are battered by men the body at the same time has to provide free services for husbands who are battered by their wives for the sake of equity.

He thanked FIDA for impacting the lives of women and children, commending it for spending their time in rendering humanitarian services to the public and calling on Nigerians to emulate them.

Akpabio thanked Shekarau and her delegation for their visit and disclosed that the state government has long stopped the stigmatization of children on witchcraft, saying that based on the law anyone caught doing so faces 10 years of imprisonment.

He governor explained that the introduction of free, compulsory education programme for every child of school age to be literate has led to massive intake of about 1.7 million Nigerian children in the state at both primary and secondary schools’ levels, saying that this has drastically reduced child mortality and abuse.

Chief Akpabio donated N10 million to the FIDA national body and a bus to the state chapter. He urged FIDA to work with both the state and federal governments to guarantee justice for all in the country.

In her remarks, Shekarau explained that FIDA’s the core mandate is to protect the rights of women and children, which, according to her, “translates to the well-being of the society.” She reasoned that when women and children are well protected, they will contribute to the development of the country.

The FIDA National President commended Akpabio’s wife Unoma for caring for widows, twins and orphans in the state. She also lauded the governor for the provision of free health-care delivery services for the pregnant and the elderly, appointment of women into key positions, granting of soft loans to women for small-scale and agricultural businesses as well as passage of Child’s Rights Bill into law. She pledged the support of organisation to the state government in the improvement of lives for women and children.

•Photo shows Governor Akpabio.

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