WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES IN NIGERIA

AGROPRENEUR

Widowhood rites and practices are going on in parts of the eastern part of Nigeria especially in Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Enugu States. River State and other parts of the south south Nigeria have these obnoxious practices predominant. These practices are so dehumanizing, barbaric and quite degrading and grossly immoral. The widow is usually the number one suspect when her husband passes on. Traditional practices has ensured that men retain material, social and moral dominance over women. The woman is regarded as a chattel in Nigeria and this dominates the customary laws and marriage, inheritance, succession and property ownership. The agony and pain of a woman who lost her husband is huge enough. However, this is compounded by private and public maltreatment which culminated in the violation of her guaranteed fundamental human rights to life, liberty, dignity of human person, acquisition of private property, freedom from discrimination and freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This report seeks to being to the fore some of these obnoxious practices and attract govern.ents attention with a view to finding a lasting solution to the inhuman practice.