 As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark International Widows Day, a group of widows and often support society of Africa, has celebrated widows with a renewed call to ensure financial independence for them. The founder of the WOSSA, Dr Tyre Thomas, has condemned the untold hardship these women go through. Every year has been set aside by the United Nations to bring the front-boner issues affecting these vulnerable women in order to safeguard and protect their rights. For these women, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by a long-term fight for their basic rights and dignity. Despite the fact that there are more than 258 million widows around the world, widows have historically been left unseen, unsupported and unmeasured in our society. Dr Tyre Thomas is the convener of this support group. He offers solutions to achieving sustainable financial independence for widows in Nigeria. The organizers believe that the women need to acquire relevant skills in order to be empowered. This can be achieved by getting the widows empowered. Like WOSSA, we do skills acquisition for widows and when that is done, we empower them with some money to start. Then along the line, we create a cooperative for them to build up their business. And along the line, we also create a microfinance support to expand their business. By so doing, they will be independent, they will be able to cater for their children and we will have less problems of widows having issues in Nigeria. So basically, empowerment is the priority that can make them to sustain. This women need empowerment. If you give somebody fish, you don't expect that person to come back to you again. But if you teach the person how to catch the fish, the person will become responsible and independent and be able to take care of himself or herself. So these women actually need skills and financial assistance to help them stable. Two people have been carrying, only one person is not taking it, it's not funny. So they need that help. Experience has shown that widows are often denied inheritance rights, have their properties grabbed after the death of a partner and can face extreme stigma and discrimination. We got a chance to speak to some of the widows who have a lot to say about their unfavorable living conditions. Since I lost my husband as a widow, it is not easy. I would tell you the truth is not easy. To become a widow, for two hands, later become one hand. It's not easy. Worcester has been so helpful to us for our children and he extends love to orphanage too, apart from the widows. So he has been so helpful. In fact, I cannot even quantify him. I mean the way he does things for the widows. He gives their welfare, he gives cash and so many other things. Anything he can help. Some people for house rent, school fees and the rest of them. Programs and policies for ending violence against widows and their children. Poverty alleviation, education and other supports are encouraged, especially in the context of action plans to accelerate achievement of the sustainable development goals. Uyime Elijah, Plus TV News.