By Alex Enebeli

The Healing Hearts Widows Support Foundation (HHWSF), an international non-governmental charity organisation, has called for an end to the stigma and discrimination faced by widows in Nigeria.

Founder of HHWSF, Ms Gozie Udemezue, made the call on Saturday in Enugu during the 2025 International Widows’ Day (IWD) Conference, with the theme, “Uplifting Widows’ Voices.”

The event, organised in collaboration with Kunie Foundation, African Philanthropy Forum, House of Refuge, Volt TV, GoBlue Africa, Women Founders Collective, Wevolution Coaching, and others, brought together widows from different states across Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Widows’ Day is observed annually on June 23 to highlight the plight of more than 258 million widows and their children globally.

Speaking at the event, Udemezue described the conference as a call to dismantle stigma, challenge harmful cultural practices, and ensure that no widow was left unheard or unseen.

“The theme is a clarion call to amplify the often-ignored stories of courage, resilience, pain, and hope carried daily by widows in our communities,” she said.

She shared heartbreaking stories of widows evicted from their homes shortly after their husbands’ deaths and others discriminated against simply for wearing white, a traditional symbol of mourning.

“I’ve seen landlords issue quit notices to widows for fear that they bring bad luck.

“I know caterers who lost jobs because they were in mourning. The derogatory name ‘Ajadu’ often used for widows in Igboland further deepens the stigma,” Udemezue lamented.

She stressed that “Today is a bold reminder that the world must listen to the silenced, stand with the broken-hearted, and respond with compassion, justice, and dignity.”

According to her, the foundation is funded through support from organisations in the U.S. and U.K., families, individuals, and donors on social media, as well as its own members.

In his goodwill message, Mr Frank Nweke Jr., Chairman and Executive Director of the Kunie Foundation, noted that widowhood often marked the beginning of vulnerability for women in Nigeria—not due to personal weakness, but because of society’s harmful response.

Nweke Jr was represented by Ms Ozioma Egbo, Administrator of the Kunie Foundation.

He said: “The silence, suspicion, and shame widows face are embedded not just in poverty or loss, but in the very systems meant to protect them.”

He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to advocating for progressive policies, collaborating with government, and co-designing programmes that shift mindsets and restore dignity.

Also speaking, Dr Ken Adiele, Managing Director of Noblelife Consultant Clinic, Enugu, advised the widows on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular medical checkups, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking and alcohol consumption.

Highlights of the event included offering of free medical checkups and medications to widows, health talk, fashion parade, dance, panel discussions and others.

HHWSF was founded in 2008 to assist widows and their children to achieve economic self-sufficiency through empowerment skills and access to decent and affordable housing.

Other services rendered include, free health care services, support services, pro bono legal services, training, and interest-free loans. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa