Abstract
This paper discusses the plight of widows in Nigeria which continues to be deplorable despite the establishment of the United Nations International Widows Day since June 23rd 2011, and despite national and state legislations against widowhood practices. Using the descriptive, conceptual and applied methods of legal research this study finds that the plight of widows in Nigeria include dehumanizing traditional practices, desocialisation, deprivations, and poverty amongst others, whereas, widowers face no such problems. Eliminating harmful and discriminatory practices against widows, therefore, is of paramount importance in this work, due to its consequences against the widow, her children and the society at large. Effective legislation and pragmatic actions are, therefore, necessary ways forward.
