The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting widows from harmful practices and expanding economic opportunities, as Nigeria joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 International Widows’ Day. Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja to mark the annual observance under the theme, “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows.”
Theme calls for deliberate action beyond sympathy
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the theme underscores the need for governments, institutions and citizens to move beyond sympathy and embrace deliberate actions that guarantee justice, restore dignity and promote economic empowerment for widows. According to her, widows play critical roles in sustaining families, stabilising communities and preserving generations, and therefore deserve structured national support.
She noted that while an estimated 258 million women are widows globally, Nigeria has more than two million widows, many of whom face economic hardship, social stigma and discriminatory practices following the death of their spouses.
Minister condemns harmful widowhood practices
The Minister decried the persistence of harmful widowhood practices in some communities, including degrading mourning rites, denial of inheritance, property grabbing, forced remarriage and other forms of abuse. She stressed that such practices are criminal and contrary to justice and human dignity, stating: “The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, currently under review, prohibits harmful widowhood practices and prescribes penalties of up to two years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000, or both, for offenders.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to advancing inclusive development and protecting vulnerable Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda. She added that the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development highlights the importance of families to national stability and recognises widows as indispensable pillars within the family structure.
Empowerment programmes reach thousands of widows
The Minister said the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is implementing the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention (RHSII-774) to deliver empowerment, protection and opportunities across the 774 Local Government Areas of the country. She disclosed that in 2025, the ministry, in collaboration with Helpline Support for the Needy, enrolled 17 clusters of widows comprising 50 women each into the National Health Insurance Scheme.
According to her, each cluster also received a grant of N500,000 to support cooperative businesses and strengthen livelihoods. She said many beneficiaries have improved their income streams, while others have embraced backyard urban farming to boost food security and household resilience.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim further stated that thousands of widows nationwide have benefited from various ministry interventions, including vocational training, entrepreneurship support, digital skills acquisition, agricultural inputs, financial inclusion initiatives and psychosocial support. She said the interventions are helping widows transition from vulnerability to productivity and from dependence to enterprise.
Assurance of continued support and call for collaboration
She assured widows that they are seen, valued and not forgotten, adding that their contributions to national development remain significant. She also linked the commemoration to the National Women Mega Empowerment and Rally themed, “The Power of 10 Million: One Voice. One Movement. One Choice,” which aims to mobilise women, including widows, for empowerment and national transformation.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim called on traditional institutions, faith leaders, governments at all levels, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to intensify efforts toward eliminating harmful practices, expanding economic opportunities and strengthening legal protection for widows. She expressed optimism that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria will continue to build a future where widowhood will no longer translate into vulnerability but rather become a platform for resilience, dignity and economic empowerment.
