Nigerian Governors wives (First Ladies) from Southern Nigeria declare war on widowhood practice, child abuse

www.odogwublog.com reports that first Ladies from the 17 Southern States have declared war against obnoxious widowhood practice, child abuse, neglect of the girl child and other harmful practices against women.

The First Ladies who gathered today in Umuahia , the Abia State capital under the aegis of Southern Governors Wives Summit also stepped up advocacy for women empowerment, sex education and public sensitisation against killer diseases especially cancer.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the forum and wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, identified eradication of child labour, and promotion of the  girl child as the major focus of the forum.

She regretted that some parents pay little or no attention to the education of the girl child and called for attitudinal change, arguing that if the girl child is adequately educated the society will be well empowered.

In her speech, the wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, enjoined women in the country to unite against harmful widowhood practices still prevalent in different cultures.

Describing such obnoxious practices against widows as barbaric and inhuman, Mrs. Ugwuanyi said time had come for their total eradication from the country.

" Why is it that any time the man dies we think it is the woman's fault? Sometimes she is forced to sleep with the corpse or to drink the water used in bathing the corpse."

In her speech, Dr. Mrs. Linda Ayade of Cross Rivers State, decried the rising incidents of cancer among women in developing countries, and gave some tips on how to avoid or manage them.

Identifying breast cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of the womb as the most common among women which claim about 80 of their victims, Mrs. Ayade advocated regular medical checks , noting that  early detection is key to survival.

In her submission, Mrs. Edith Okowa of Delta State, enjoined women to eschew gossip and pull- her down syndrome, noting  that a lot of families have been scattered as a result of gossip.

Her Lagos State counterpart, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, called on women to rise against all forms of violence against women including child trafficking and child abuse.

Similarly, her Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, charged women to imbibe in the girl child the fear of God and moral values of the society.

She also advised mothers to be very close to their female children and teach them sex education on time to avoid them falling into the wrong hands for the wrong advice.

" Teenage pregnancy is now on the high-side because  mothers are careless", she regretted, adding: " don't leave your girl child with male strangers or the so- called uncles to avoid defilement".

The summit was attended by 11 out of the 17 First Ladies in South East, South West and South-South geopolitical zones.

Highlight of the three- day summit was distribution of empowerment items to some indigent women in the state.

Earlier in her address of welcome, the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Okezie Ikpeazu, had assured the First Ladies of their safety and good care while in the state.