07/02/2025
*The Truth About Widowhood: Beyond Half-Baked Claims*
*By Shekinah Pius Emenogu. Researcher.*
Yes, there are more widows in Nigeria and across the globe, but why? Instead of relying on baseless claims, let’s examine the real reasons behind this phenomenon.
1. Cultural and Social Norms
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Age Gap in Marriage: In many societies, including Nigeria, men often marry much younger women. In some regions, such as the Southeast and North, a husband may be 20 years or more older than his wife. Naturally, this increases the likelihood that he will pass away first. Should we really be surprised?
Remarriage Patterns: Widowers tend to remarry quickly, while widows often remain single due to societal expectations. This makes widowhood more visible among women. Many widows are pressured to stay unmarried, while men move on with little to no stigma.
Stigmatization of Widows: In certain cultures, widows are discouraged from remarrying and may even face social discrimination. Meanwhile, widowers face no such restrictions and are often encouraged to find new wives quickly.
2. Economic and Occupational Risks
High-Risk Jobs: Men dominate dangerous industries such as construction, mining, and security services. These professions have high mortality rates, increasing the chances of men dying before their wives.
Military Service & Conflict: Men are more likely to serve in the military or work in conflict zones. War, insurgency, and communal clashes disproportionately claim male lives, leaving many widows behind.
Migration for Work: Many Nigerian men migrate in search of better economic opportunities, exposing themselves to harsh working conditions, dangerous environments, and increased health risks. Some never return.
3. Health and Lifestyle Factors
Neglect of Health: Men are less likely to seek medical attention early, leading to untreated illnesses that could have been managed with timely intervention.
Stress and Poor Lifestyle Choices: High levels of stress, poor diet, lack of rest, smoking, and alcohol abuse contribute to shorter lifespans among men. Some men overwork themselves into poor health, refusing to rest or retire even when their bodies demand it.
Higher Risk of Disease: Men are more prone to heart disease, high blood pressure, and other life-threatening conditions, partly due to genetic and hormonal differences.
4. Conflict, Crime, and Violence
Exposure to Violence: Men are more likely to be involved in violent conflicts, criminal activities, and political violence, increasing their risk of early death.
Terrorism & Insecurity: In Nigeria, men are more frequently targeted in kidnappings, insurgencies, and communal clashes. This reality leaves many women as widows, struggling to rebuild their lives.
5. Polygamy and Large Families
Multiple Widows at Once: In polygamous households, when a husband dies, multiple women are left widowed simultaneously. This contributes significantly to the high number of widows in certain communities.
Older Men Marrying Young Women: Some older men marry much younger women but die early, leaving behind young widows and children.
6. Poor Healthcare and Infrastructure
Limited Access to Medical Care: In many rural areas, men lack access to proper healthcare, leading to preventable deaths. Untreated health conditions and poor mental health care further contribute to high male mortality rates.
7. Widowhood Practices and Social Stigma
Harsh Widowhood Traditions: Some cultures impose burdensome mourning rituals and inheritance struggles on widows, making their status more visible and prolonged.
Property Disputes: Many widows face legal and societal battles over inheritance, often losing their homes and livelihoods after their husbands’ deaths.
Conclusion
The high number of widows in Nigeria is not due to some mysterious, sinister force working against men. It is the result of cultural traditions, occupational hazards, biological differences, and societal expectations. Instead of blaming women for their husbands' early deaths, we should focus on real solutions, mproving healthcare, promoting safer work environments, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and challenging outdated social norms.
Widowhood is not a curse or a crime, it is a reality shaped by factors far more complex than mere speculation.
