The Nigerian Widows Database: A Case for Data-Driven Philanthropy and Compassionate Support.

In a nation where the poverty rate is high as the cost of living increases with unemployment proportionately, as citizens are pushed into abject poverty with few flowing in affluence. A nation with less attention by leaders, political class, and the cronies on building structural facilities to enhance the nation’s economy as many die of hunger and disease. The saddest part being the further killing arising now from the new abuse of gathering people to share food as sharing of consumables has become an empowerment and poverty eradication process.

As a Widows’ advocate, realising the lack of a reliable database to support their welfare has led to widespread inefficiencies, exploitation, and tragic loss of life. The haphazard distribution of palliatives such as rice, money, clothes, and other relief items often descends into chaos, leaving behind a legacy of humiliation, destruction, and in extreme cases, death. This troubling reality underscores the urgent need for data-driven philanthropy and government intervention to support the vulnerable such as widows constructively and with dignity, hence the Nigeria Widows Database in 2020, an action that is yet to capture the attention of government, philanthropists and donors.

A Tragic Loss of Lives

The dangers of the current system became painfully evident recently when many lost their lives in our dear country during a chaotic palliative distribution. The current economic hardship with many, desperate for basic necessities, were caught in a stampede as they pushed and fought to secure their share. What is termed an act of compassion turned into a fatal tragedy, leaving families grieving and underscoring the inadequacy of the current approach.

This is not an isolated incident but a recurring pattern in a system that prioritizes short-term visibility over long-term impact. These gatherings, meant to “alleviate suffering”, are not only humiliating but too often become sites of desperation and disaster, further compounding the struggles of the vulnerable, a structured systematic abuse of human rights.

The Chaos of Philanthropy Without Data

In Nigeria, poor and vulnerable citizens including widows are frequently called upon to gather in large crowds by many in the name of charity, sometimes under the scorching sun and/or in unsafe conditions, to collect handouts from politicians to philanthropists, an obvious example of political propaganda and philanthropic grandiosity. These gatherings, while noble in intent to some, are turning to human rights violations, as they are fraught with inefficiencies and dangers.

Without a demographic reliable baseline data, aid distribution becomes arbitrary and hazardous. Frail and vulnerable citizens including widows and those living in remote areas are often left out, while others endure indignities and risks in crowded distributions.

COVID-19: A Lesson in the Power of Data

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the transformative potential of data-driven philanthropy. With movement restricted and hunger, traditional methods of aid distribution from the government not getting to widows, as stories of distribution continues to fill the media, our organisation Almanah Hope turned to technology to collect widows data. In less than 12 days, we had over 12,000 registered, which drew the attention of Women Affairs and UN Women Nigeria, together we launched “Nigeria Widows Database.” By creating a database of widows, we were able to transfer money palliatives directly to accounts of many widows across Nigeria in 2020. This approach not only ensured that little cash aid we got reached the intended beneficiaries but also provided an accountable action and preserved the dignity and safety of the recipients; a stark contrast to the chaos of large gatherings, proving that data-driven methods are both effective and humane.

Why the Resistance to Data Gathering?

Despite the clear benefits, there has been a reluctance among the government, donors, and many philanthropists to invest in data gathering. This resistance may stem from several factors including;

Cost and Resources: Setting up and maintaining a database requires financial investment and manpower, a cost which many including the government view as a low priority.

Accountability: A transparent system demands accountability, the collation of data potentially exposing inefficiencies or corruption in the current processes seem not in line with the aim of many of our leaders across board

Short-Term Vision and/or grandiose mission: Many philanthropists operate with grandiose intent and a focus on immediate, visible action rather than sustainable, long-term solutions. Data gathering, while less flashy, is crucial for meaningful change.

The Exploitation of the vulnerables: Widows

The current system of gathering the poor and widows to distribute palliatives is not just inefficient but also exploitative. Apart from the leadership lapses, which we are mostly informed about, why the new trend of gathering people to share rice? Why are the vulnerable and poor including Widows treated as props in public displays of charity, their suffering paraded to enhance the image of philanthropists and politicians? This is dehumanizing, reducing their plight to a spectacle rather than addressing their deeper needs. Worse, this system perpetuates a cycle of dependency and indignity, offering temporary relief instead of sustainable support.

The Way Forward: Prioritizing Data for Change

If we are genuinely committed to supporting the vulnerable in communities including widows and changing their circumstances, data must become the foundation of our efforts. Our philanthropists must invest in data collection; a demographic database will help in proper distribution of goods and services including palliatives in our communities.

Here’s how:

Government-Led Initiatives: The Nigerian government should spearhead the creation of a national demographic database, leveraging on local government offices and community organizations.

NGO Collaboration: Philanthropists and NGOs should partner to create a community baseline data that will develop systems that ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable efficiently and transparently.

Digital Transformation: With widespread mobile phone usage, digital tools can be used to capture and register women, widows and distribute support in communities, minimizing the need for physical gatherings.

Empowerment Beyond Aid: A qualitative database can also identify women and widows who could benefit from skills training, microloans, or other forms of sustainable support, breaking the cycle of dependency.

A Call to Action

The importance of data cannot be overstated. Our organisation has over 30,000 widows which we captured in 2020 using our online community. Data is the key to transforming well-meaning charity into impactful, life-changing support. By paying attention to data gathering and having baseline data, we can ensure vulnerable members of our community as widows receive help without humiliation, exploitation, or the loss of their lives.

The tragic loss of life during palliative distribution is a wake-up call. This is not how we honour the vulnerable; this is not how we build a compassionate society. It is pure abuse and dehumanisation. The “poor” deserve more than public displays of pity—they deserve structured, sustainable, and dignified systems and philanthropic support.

While charity is not an economic empowerment that builds national economy and safety, it should not be a weapon of further destruction of the poor citizens. The Nigerian Widows Database till today has registration dropping like water; we have a designed template to capture grassroots widows called “using one stone to kill two birds”. The project, which we call on the likes of Obi Jacksons, former Ooni of Ife’s wives to partner with us to create a Baseline data of their community widows and the vulnerable for proper distribution of supports and palliatives.

It is time for philanthropists and the Nigerian government to embrace data-driven methods to support its citizens constructively, restoring not just their dignity but their hope for a better tomorrow.