The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has called for increased societal support and empowerment for widows, urging Nigerians to regard widowhood as a cause for compassion and not a curse.

Mrs. Soludo, who is also the Convener of the Healthy Living Initiative, made the appeal in a statement issued on Monday to commemorate the 2025 International Widows’ Day, observed annually on June 23. This year’s theme is “Empower Her: From Loss to Leadership.”

Highlighting the plight of widows, she noted that many continue to face deep-rooted stigma, economic deprivation, and social exclusion due to harmful cultural practices, which she said have no place in a modern society.

“Widows are no less human than anyone else. They have the same rights as every other person,” she said. “We must treat these remarkable individuals with dignity, compassion and respect.”

Mrs. Soludo decried what she described as the “barbaric” treatment widows still suffer in parts of society, stressing that losing a spouse should not result in the loss of one’s dignity or basic human rights.

“A society where widows are still subjected to socio-cultural harms is living in complete barbarism. Losing one’s spouse is already enough harm. Being a widow should never equate to loss of dignity, respect and human rights,” she stated.

She called for collective action toward building an inclusive society where widows are supported to thrive, not condemned to suffer.

“Together, let us build a society that sees widowhood as a cause and not a curse. Empower that poor widow around you today,” she urged.

International Widows’ Day, established by the United Nations, serves to spotlight the challenges faced by widows globally and advocate for policies and actions that protect their rights and well-being.