Persistency of the reprehensible cultural practices against widows of the widowhood classes in Nigeria: Legal analysis

Abstract

Nigeria is among the African Countries that value her cultural practices particularly on the widowhood practice. Despite the existence of the various legal instruments such as the Constitutional provisions, States Laws, judicial pronouncements, international treaties or Conventions which Nigeria are signatories to among other things that all prohibit the application of the reprehensible cultural practices against widows. The widows are still facing
painful and harmful treatment being meted out to them immediately after the demised of their husbands which often cover their mourning period and even after. The Nigerian Societies hold tenaciously to these reprehensible cultural practices against widows to the extent that laws have little or no impact on these practices. It is against this backdrop that this article examines persistency of the reprehensible cultural practices against widows of the widowhood classes in Nigeria: legal analysis. It is the recommendation of this study that women need to be sufficiently informed on their rights before, during and after their mourning rites to avoid being subjected to the reprehensible cultural practices against widows in Nigeria.