Health
Lagos seeks greater economic empowerment for widows
By Gilbert Ekugbe
The Lagos State Government has called for greater support for widows, reaffirming its commitment to protecting their rights and improving their economic well-being through grants, skills acquisition and enterprise support programmes.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bolaji Dada, made the call on Wednesday during a press parley commemorating International Widows Day 2026 in Lagos.
The event was held under the theme, “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows.”
Dada said widowhood often went beyond the loss of a spouse, exposing many women to financial hardship, emotional distress and the responsibility of caring for their families alone.
“Support for widows must go beyond sympathy. It must include access to justice, protection from discrimination and harmful practices, as well as opportunities that enable them to become economically independent,” she said.
The commissioner explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had continued to support widows through cash grants and other interventions designed to help them meet immediate needs, sustain their households and improve their livelihoods.
She said the ministry also provides tuition-free vocational training at its Skills Acquisition Centres, business equipment through the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative and the Life Skills Economic Empowerment Programme.
“These interventions are guided by a simple principle: support should create opportunity, and opportunity should lead to greater self-reliance,” Dada said.
She stressed that widows should not be defined by the loss of their spouses but recognised for their abilities, experience and potential to contribute to their families and society.
“A widow should not be defined by her loss. She should be seen as a woman with abilities, experience, aspirations and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to her family and society,” she said.
Dada commended registered female-focused non-governmental organisations partnering with the ministry for extending support to widows at the community level.
She also urged journalists to highlight not only the challenges faced by widows but also their resilience, achievements and contributions to society.
“The stories of widows should not only be told from the perspective of their challenges. We must also tell stories of their strength, enterprise, achievements and contributions to their families and communities,” she said.
The commissioner encouraged widows across the state to take advantage of government empowerment programmes, saying their circumstances should not determine their future.
“Your circumstances may have changed, but your abilities and potential remain valuable. Do not allow your present situation to define your future,” Dada added.
She described support for widows as a shared responsibility involving government, civil society, families, communities and the media.
Dada reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to expanding empowerment programmes, grants and livelihood support for women across Lagos State.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Rianat Onigbanjo, said widows deserved opportunities that would protect their rights, restore their confidence and enable them to become economically independent.
Onigbanjo commended Sanwo-Olu for supporting programmes targeted at women and vulnerable groups and praised Dada’s leadership in prioritising the welfare and empowerment of women.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the ministry’s Women Affairs Department, led by Mrs Olufunke Shyllon, to ensuring that issues affecting women and widows continued to receive attention.
The state government said it would continue to strengthen partnerships with relevant organisations and expand programmes aimed at improving the welfare, dignity and economic independence of widows across Lagos.
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