“An empowered woman raises empowered children” -Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri

The plight of indigent widows came into focus once again when Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, a lawyer and social activist, took to her Facebook page to narrate a personal experience and advise women on the need to become empowered and pursue a career regardless of the status of their husbands. It is a poignant reminder of the need for women empowerment.

For too long societal norms have relegated the woman to the home front, practically consigning her to the status of sole home-keeper to the detriment of the development of skills which would help her earn a livelihood in the absence of a husband.

She wrote:

“I am a member of a religious group that offers free legal services to the public every Sunday. Last Sunday, all our clients were women aged between 45 and 60. Two of the women wanted legal assistance to recover their husband's pension and other work-related entitlements. The others wanted financial assistance to pay school fees or solve some other pressing family problems. In sum, all the four women were poor, unemployed and obviously dependent on their husbands.

If you look around, a lot of middle-aged/older women, are either broke or struggling to make ends meet. They have no skills, no savings, no assets, and no meaningful source of livelihood. At that age, their husbands have become old and probably out of job. With their husband's age/health failing and income cut off, the women have nothing to fall back on. Their kids are grown, in secondary schools or universities, and need educational support that their parents can no longer provide.

Most women spend their productive ages only on childbearing, childcare and active membership in church programmes. They are often discouraged from making bold career moves or doing anything meaningful, but instead urged to 'take care of their families and pray'. In display of 'motherly sacrifice', 'motherly love', and 'wife materialness', they give up careers, vocations and spend their productive age on domestic chores, care-giving and religiosity. At 45-60, it seems a bit too late for many of them to enter the labour market, or start life afresh. This is the story of many women. Old, broke, unhappy, and unable to meaningfully provide for the same children they sacrificed everything for. And the children repeat the cycle of hardship and struggle.

Empower your wife, daughter, and sister today! An empowered woman raises empowered children.”

Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri is also the Founder and Executive Director of Spaces For Change, an NGO which uses rigorous research, policy analysis, community engagements in youth and gender advocacy.