[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF CHIGOZIE CHRISTIANA UDEMEZUE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2016

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Attorney 
Chigozie ``Gozie'' Christiana Udemezue on her remarkable efforts on 
behalf of widows and children in Africa and around the world.
  Gozie was born in Enugu, Nigeria in 1971. Early in her academic 
career she showed incredible aptitude towards educational pursuits, 
placing highly in her classes and demonstrating the scholarship to 
continue her education. Gozie pursued Law at Enugu State University of 
Science and Technology. A childhood dream of Gozie's was to become a 
lawyer, because she wanted to be in a position to help others. This was 
a dream that she eventually fulfilled. She had the opportunity to 
pursue a Master of Laws Degree at the University of London in 
International Human Rights Law, and continues her pursuit of knowledge 
still today.
  When she was eight years old, Gozie lost her mother and she was left 
in the care of an older relative. This developed her understanding of 
how difficult life could be when families are pulled apart by death, 
conflict, or other reasons. In 1994, Gozie was married to Chief Emeka 
Udemezue and they lived happily together for many years, they had three 
children together. Unfortunately, Chief Udemezue passed away before 
their third child was born, leaving Gozie to raise her children on her 
own.
  In many parts of Africa, local, state, and national laws dictate that 
when a husband passes away, the property and holdings of that man pass 
to his brothers and not to his wife and family. Often in these 
situations the wife and children are left with nothing, forced to fend 
for themselves with no resources or protections. Seeing this injustice, 
Gozie and Chief Udemezue established a fund to take care of these 
widows and their children. Three years later, her husband passed away, 
and Gozie experienced and fought this injustice first hand.
  The Udemezue's established the Healing Hearts Widows Support 
Foundation (HHWSF). The HHWSF has provided support to over five 
thousand widows throughout Nigeria, providing medical support, food, 
loans, education, and legal financial support to widows who are 
fighting to maintain the lives that they led. In 2014, Gozie 
established the ``Adopt-a-Widow'' program, utilizing social media to 
solicit funds worldwide to help support these efforts. The HHWSF has 
fought to change the constitution in Nigeria, and works with local 
leaders to fix the laws and application of the laws in local 
communities. Gozie continues to act as a powerful presence in the 
media, reaching out to, and educating widows across Nigeria about their 
rights and the support that is available to them. It is important to 
recognize that this work is not without danger, in many areas, Gozie's 
work is met with the threat of violence and intimidation, for her 
attempts to change the status quo. Despite those dangers, she marches 
on, fighting this injustice whenever, and wherever she can. Gozie 
Udemezue is an incredible woman and deserves our gratitude and 
appreciation for her trailblazing work.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Chigozie 
Christiana Udemezue for her contributions to humanity. I thank her for 
her leadership and commitment, and wish her many years of success and 
happiness.

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