September 30, (THEWILL) — Two major communities in Akwa Ibom State, Ika and Uyo, have taken bold steps to abolish harmful widowhood practices and adopt community-led frameworks to prevent gender-based violence (GBV), marking a historic cultural shift in the state. On September 17, 2025, the Ika Traditional Rulers Council, led by His Royal Majesty Edidem Joseph Okosi Ekot, Paramount Ruler of Ika, signed the Ika Community Covenant on GBV Prevention. The signing followed three days of community engagement involving traditional leaders, women and youth groups, elders, and civil society partners. With the new covenant, Ika vowed never to subject women to such practices again. Their action is now seen as a model for other Nigerian communities in the fight against gender-based violence.