Metro
Treatment of In-Laws Against Widows, Man’s Inhumanity to Man at Its Worst – CBA Foundation
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By Ony Kachi
After Mrs kumbaya (name changed to protect her identity) lost her husband at work in 2005, she was accused of killing him. The accusation did not come from her husband’s brothers but his sister, who had earlier lost her own husband. It took the combined hard work of the brothers to get their sister off the back of her fellow widow. They told their sister pointedly that she too could face the same accusation she was levelling against their sister-in-law, since her husband was deceased too.
This real incident underlines one of the greatest puzzles of the twenty-first century: How people who themselves or their mother or children or relatives are victims or could be victims of the dehumanising treatment of widows condone, live with, encourage and perpetuate the horrendous denigration inflicted on widows by their in-laws. The continued existence of this kind of situation of dog eat dog, or rather man’s inhumanity to man, makes one wonder if Aristotle also considered (Nigerian) in-laws when he asserted that man is a rational animal. There is absolutely nothing rational about the dehumanisation widows are subjected to by their in-laws in this clime.
A man, who through marriage has become one with the woman he marries, dies, leaving behind his wife and five children (three boys and two girls – this fact is only being added to show that the gender of the children may not even be a factor in how the widow is treated). Almost immediately his siblings and other blood relatives swoop on whatever assets of his they can lay their hands on. If a family meeting is convened, it is not to discuss the welfare of their late brother’s wife and children, who all bear the family name as part of their extended family. No, that is an agenda item for meetings convened by angels, not in-laws of widows. What in-laws of widows convene family meetings for is to make sure they have not missed out any of the assets their late brother could have had. That is how kind in-laws are to a widow.
If Mrs Kumbaya thought her case was going to be different because her brothers-in-law defended and protected her from their sister, then she apparently may have ascribed angelic virtues to her husband’s brothers. For, as it turned out, that act of defence and protection from their sister was the only kindness the brothers of Mrs Kumbaya’s late husband extended to her. They never helped or asked after her and her children’s welfare after that. Not even when things became so difficult that she could no longer pay her house rent and ended up on the street.
Maybe Mrs Kumbaya should even count herself lucky. Stories abound of widows who had been abused, molested, raped or “shared” by in-laws as part of the property left behind by their late brother. There are stories of widows, falsely accused of killing their husbands, being locked up by in-laws in police cells and the keys thrown into the sea, as it were. What about widows forced to drink the water used to wash the corpse of their husband as proof that they had no hand in their husband’s death. Or the ones forced to spend days and nights in the same room with the corpse of their husband.
Nigeria is not exactly a safe haven for women. What with the prevalence of harmful cultural orientations and practices against the female gender, such as preference of the male child to the female child, female circumcision, FGM (female genital mutilation), forced marriage and denial of inheritance, succession and other rights the male gender takes for granted. Generally, Nigeria is not a friendly environment for women, least of all widows considered to be a highly vulnerable group. In fact, Nigeria is said to be one of the least safe places for women in the world with a survey by the Thomson Reuters Foundation conducted in 2018 ranking Nigeria as the ninth most dangerous country in the world for women.
The dehumanising treatment of widows is part of what the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, passed in 2015, was intended to stop. The Act, more commonly referred to as the VAPP Act or law,
categorises emotional, verbal and psychological abuse as offences and is considered by many legal experts and advocacy groups to be a comprehensive tool for addressing all forms of violence and abuse against all persons. The law seeks to do so by providing maximum protection from violence of various forms against all persons irrespective of tribe, socio-economic class, religion and gender and offering effective remedies (financial compensation) for victims of violence and appropriate punishment (globally acceptable deterrents) for offenders.
It is not known how much of the general population, including in-laws who routinely dehumanise widows, is aware of the VAPP law. While ignorance of the law offers no excuse in a court of law, it is imperative that more enlightenment be created on the existence of the VAPP Act and all its provisions against many of the inimical practices that in-laws perpetrate against widows in the name of culture. Maybe, just maybe, some in-laws, who are themselves uncomfortable with those practices but take part because of family and community pressure, could be emboldened by knowledge of the Act to become advocates and campaigners against such practices.
Back to Mrs Kumbaya, for those concerned about her and what must have happened to her after she ended up on the street. They can heave a sigh of relief that the good Lord sent his angel in the form of the Chinwe Bode-Akinwande Foundation (CBA Foundation) and they took her off the street. Mrs Kumbaya now lives in an apartment rented for her by the Foundation, which also supplied her a mattress, other household items and food stuff.
The CBA Foundation, founded in 2015, the same year the VAPP Act was enacted, is a strong advocate for the enforcement of the Act. Along other civil society groups, it is pushing for the domestication of the Act in states of the federation that are yet to enact a similar act. Rigorous enforcement of the VAPP law across the federation will undoubtedly accelerate the mission of the Foundation, which is to promote “the protection of [underprivileged] widows and their vulnerable children in Nigeria, to promote immediate and lasting hope, confidence and courage in their lives.” The Foundation pursues its mission under its 5-point agenda of women empowerment/capacity building, health intervention, nutrition, quality basic education and a self-employment scheme.
This piece is not intended to demonise in-laws. The writer is himself an in-law by multiples. It is to call for a change of heart and attitude in society, particularly among in-laws, towards widows, knowing that we, our mothers, daughters, neighbours, friends are or could become widows. In-laws should join public-spirited people across the country in supporting the CBA Foundation in its advocacy for enforcement of the VAPP law and in providing succour for underprivileged widows and their vulnerable children.
There are many Mrs Kumbayas out there but the resources and reach of angels such as CBA Foundation are limited. Men and women of goodwill, including in-laws who have now seen the light, can extend the Foundation’s resources and reach by supporting it in its mission. Contact the Foundation today by sending an email to them at: cbafoundationng@gmail.com.
Metro
International Day of the Girl-Child: Pad Me A Girl Foundation Holds Menstrual Health Outreach in Ogun
The Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation has taken its menstrual health campaign to Igbesa High School (Junior), in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, providing free sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene pamphlets, exercise books and pens to over 100 schoolgirls to promote menstrual health, dignity and education.
The outreach, held on Wednesday, October 21, commemorated the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, whose global theme is “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”
The programme brought together girls from Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 to 3 who participate in the school’s reading clubs for mentorship, reading activities and menstrual health education.
It was convened by Oyelami Yetunde Anuoluwapo and Blessing Kappo, teachers and Teach For Nigeria Fellows at the school, following an appeal for sanitary products, learning materials and health education support. The Foundation’s founder, Theresa Moses, responded by providing the requested items and facilitating an interactive session on menstrual hygiene management.
Speaking at the event, Moses said she was inspired by the girls’ determination and aspirations, stressing the need for sustained investment in their health, education and future.
“Invest in girls and Nigeria will rise. Every girl deserves dignity, education and the right to dream beyond child marriage. That is why we are here; to ensure no girl misses school because of her period,” she said.
She emphasised that access to menstrual hygiene products and accurate information helps girls manage their periods confidently and participate fully in school activities.
In a letter of appreciation, Oyelami and Kappo described the outreach as impactful and inspiring, noting that it enhanced the girls’ understanding of menstrual health, hygiene and self-confidence. They also said the support would help promote the students’ hygiene, school attendance and dignity.
“You did not just give pads; you gave our girls confidence and hope,” the teachers wrote on behalf of the school community, expressing gratitude to the Foundation and hope for future collaboration.
Mrs Amarachi Eze, Assistant Divisional Commissioner of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State Branch, also commended the Foundation for supporting the girls’ hygiene needs and development.
“We sincerely appreciate the Management of Pad Me A Girl Foundation for joining hands with the Association in supporting our girls on hygiene management. May God Almighty continue to uplift your foundation. Thanks for joining hands in the development of girls in our schools. Bravo,” she said.
The Foundation’s Media Coordinator, Mr Oluwatosin Simon Faleye, called on corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support initiatives that address period poverty and help girls remain in school.
“For over a year, we have been committed to ending period poverty and keeping girls in school. We call on corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support this cause for the betterment of Nigeria,” Faleye said.
The celebration also featured a student drama presentation highlighting the effects of child marriage, alongside reading and mentorship activities designed to encourage the girls to understand their rights, value their education and pursue their aspirations.
The Foundation also acknowledged the continued support of its sponsors and partners, including Access Bank, Pro Star Sports International, BL Consulting, Vita Baites Foods, Checkers, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the 10th Nigerian National Assembly, the Senate Committee on Women Affairs (SCOWAS), as well as individuals and media organisations whose contributions have supported its broader mission of ending period poverty, promoting menstrual health education and empowering girls and women.
Abia State governor, Alex Otti, is set to flag off the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express Road in Aba, two major routes which poor condition has disrupted transportation, commercial activities and access to residential communities for years.
The governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement on Wednesday, said that work on the roads has begun ahead of the scheduled official flag-off.
The two roads are considered important to Aba’s commercial and industrial activities, with Uratta Road connecting several adjoining streets to Port Harcourt Road and Old Express Road. At the same time, Old Express Road serves as a key route within the city’s industrial layout.
Ekeoma said the roads had suffered neglect for more than 24 years, leaving some sections impassable and forcing residents and businesses to contend with difficult transportation conditions.
According to the statement, Uratta Road provides access to more than 100 adjoining streets. Its poor condition has affected residents, traders and small-scale manufacturers who depend on the road to transport goods and access their businesses.
The statement said the road had become waterlogged and overgrown with weeds, discouraging commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators from using it.
Similarly, the deterioration of Old Express Road forced heavy-duty truck operators, fabric merchants, spare-parts dealers and small businesses to use longer routes, increasing transportation costs and affecting productivity.
The government said the road reconstruction is part of its broader effort to restore Aba’s infrastructure and strengthen the city’s commercial base.
Aba, one of southeastern Nigeria’s major commercial centres, hosts manufacturing clusters, markets, and small and medium-sized enterprises that depend heavily on functional roads to move raw materials and finished products.
The government said the reconstruction would improve market access, reduce transportation costs, facilitate the movement of goods, and support businesses operating along the affected corridors.
Ekeoma cited the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road as an example of the administration’s infrastructure programme, noting that improved road access encouraged shops to reopen, attracted manufacturing activities and increased property rents along the corridor.
The government also said the new projects would complement other road interventions in Aba, including works on Ohanku and Obohia roads, as part of efforts to improve connectivity within the commercial city.
Beyond road construction, the administration said its projects include drainage systems, solar-powered streetlights, and pedestrian walkways, which it described as necessary to improve safety, accessibility, and flood resilience.
Ekeoma said Governor Otti views infrastructure development as an economic strategy rather than merely a construction programme, arguing that better roads would help businesses operate more efficiently and create employment opportunities.
He also quoted the governor as saying at an earlier church event that his administration is shifting attention from basic infrastructure improvements to healthcare, education, technology and industrialisation.
The governor, a former bank chief executive, was elected in 2023 on the Labour Party platform, defeating candidates from the major established parties in a state historically dominated by the Peoples’ Democratic Party.
Otti has remained in the Labour Party despite the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
His administration has made rehabilitating Aba roads and public infrastructure central to its governance agenda, presenting the city’s recovery as essential to reviving economic activity across Abia State.
MILO Nigeria, in partnership with former Nigerian national team captain and MILO Brand Ambassador Ahmed Musa, has concluded the inaugural MILO × Ahmed Musa Sports Clinic and Tournament in Kano, providing 2,500 young footballers with professional coaching, mentorship and competitive football experience.
Over two weeks, participants took part in 10 coaching sessions and competed in matches under the guidance of Ahmed Musa and experienced coaches. The programme combined practical football training with lessons in teamwork, discipline, resilience and confidence, equipping participants with skills and values that extend beyond the pitch.
The initiative culminated in a tournament at the Ahmed Musa Sports Complex in Kano, where Khamis Football Academy emerged as champions of the inaugural edition. Participants also received cash prizes, certificates and football equipment.
Speaking on the initiative, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, Category Lead, MILO, said: “At MILO, we believe sport is a powerful platform for young people to discover their abilities, build confidence and develop values that extend beyond the field of play. Our partnership with Ahmed Musa brings together MILO’s longstanding commitment to sports development and the experience of an athlete whose journey from grassroots football to the highest level of the game can inspire the next generation. By combining his experience with structured coaching and competition, this programme has given young footballers in Kano an opportunity to develop their skills, learn from experienced professionals and better understand the commitment required to pursue their aspirations.”
For the participants, the clinic offered an opportunity to learn from an athlete whose football journey began in northern Nigeria and progressed to the highest levels of the sport, making his experience a source of inspiration for aspiring players.
Commenting on the partnership, Ahmed Musa said: “Nigeria has incredible football talent, but talent alone is not enough. Young players need good coaching, regular competition and people who will guide them. I am proud to partner with MILO and share some of what football has taught me. My message to these players is simple: keep training, listen to your coaches and work hard every day to improve.”
Musa also called for greater investment in grassroots football, emphasizing the importance of giving young players access to quality coaching, structured development and regular competitive opportunities.
The MILO × Ahmed Musa Sports Clinic and Tournament builds on MILO’s longstanding commitment to youth development through sports in Nigeria. Through its school-based and grassroots sporting initiatives, MILO continues to create opportunities for young people to participate in sports, develop their abilities and embrace values that can support them both on and off the pitch.
