With millions of widows across Nigeria trapped in poverty, systemic injustice, and neglect, the Chinwe-Bode Akinwande (CBA) Foundation is set to bring their plight to the fore with a landmark conference that seeks to push for sustainable solutions and a stronger national commitment to their welfare.

The conference, themed ‘Empowering Widows in Nigeria: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Vulnerability’, will hold on October 9, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, and is expected to gather voices from across civil society, government, academia, and the private sector.

It will spotlight the challenges widows face, particularly those from marginalised communities, while promoting empowerment strategies such as skill acquisition, microfinance, impact investing, and advocacy.

Founder of the Foundation, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, described the event as an opportunity to drive conversation beyond sympathy to concrete action. She said, “Widows are often exploited, largely because they are vulnerable. Our mission is to empower them through strategic partnerships and capacity-building initiatives, amplifying their voices and strengthening their positions in society.

With this conference, we are creating a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences on these issues, proffer solutions to them and drive everyone to commit to implementing the solutions.”

The gathering will feature a keynote address by the founder of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), Amina Oyagbola, alongside a plenary session moderated by the Executive Director of Women in Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Hansatu Adegbite.

It will also include interactive discussions, success stories from impact-driven programmes, and a call to action for participants to engage in meaningful support for widows across the country.

The CBA Foundation, a registered not-for-profit organisation, has consistently worked to provide hope for underprivileged widows and children since its official launch in 2015. Through its women empowerment and capacity-building projects, more than 10,000 widows have been directly impacted, while over 17,000 have benefited from health interventions, food distribution, business start-up support, clothing, and one-on-one counselling. In addition, the Foundation has extended its reach to underprivileged children, supporting over 100 with tuition fees and skill acquisition training.