Chadash Empowers 250 Widows On International Widows’ Day

As the world celebrates International Widows’ Day 2025, with the theme ‘‘Empower Her: From Loss to Leadership,” the Chadash Empowerment Foundation, an NGO dedicated to alleviating the plight of vulnerable widows and orphans, has trained and empowered 250 widows in Ogun State and Abuja with equipment and cash grants.

While the foundation trained and empowers 150 widows in Ilaro-Yewa in Ogun State and 100 widows in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the International Day that fell on June 23, was celebrated on Sunday June 22, 2025 at Wuse with indigent widows going home with equipment like Sewing machines, Make Up Kits, Hairdressing equipment, Grinding machines, some foodstuffs and N20,000 each.

Speaking at the empowerment ceremony, Mrs. Temitope Adeola, the founder of Chadash Empowerment Foundation and wife of Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi said that the NGO is a non-profit organisation established with the sole objective to alleviate the plight of vulnerable young widows and young orphans in the society adding that Chadash Empowerment Foundation joins well-meaning people of the world to act on the theme “Empower Her: From Loss to Leadership” by empowering widows with skills and equipment so as not to see widows as victims of circumstances, but as powerful agents of change.

“We believe that every widow has the right to grieve and grow. To lead. To build. To thrive. That is why Chadash Empowerment Foundation has decided to train and empower 250 Widows in various vocational training such as Hair dressing, leatherworks, tailoring, entrepreneurship, and makeup artistry for four days. Today, I am happy to inform you that all the participants have completed hands-on training from professionals, business coaching, and will receive full starter kits and cash to launch their ventures,” she stated.

Mrs. Adeola said that worldwide, according to the International Women’s Society, there is estimated to be over 258 million widows with 15 million in Nigeria facing economic hardship, social stigma, and legal discrimination after the loss of a spouse stressing that in some regions, widows are denied inheritance, cast out of homes, or subjected to inhumane cultural practices that silence and marginalize them.

She decried the rampant ignorance among widows about their fundamental human rights like their rights under the Violence Against Person (Prohibition) Act of 2015 which states “A person who subjects a widow to harmful traditional practices commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two (2)years or to a fine not exceeding N500,000 or both”.

Mrs. Adeola canvassed for access to education, economic opportunities, legal rights and social inclusion for widows, adding that widows should not be seen or treated as victims of the circumstances of death but as influential contributors to the development of society as single parents, community leaders, entrepreneurs, caregivers and advocates for justice.

In a goodwill message, Mrs Janet Jiya, on behalf of Senator’s wives, commended Mrs. Adeola for regularly supporting underprivileged widows and orphans through her foundation. She added that the beneficiaries should maximise the value added to their lives and families to bless others.

This is the 4th edition of the empowerment programme for widows during International Widows Day celebrations.