As the world celebrates International Widow’s Day 2025 with the theme, “Empower Her: From Loss to Leadership,” the Chadash Empowerment Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (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 empowered 150 widows in Ilaro-Yewa in Ogun State and 100 widows in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 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, Makeup kits, hairdressing equipment, grinding machines, some foodstuffs and N20,000 each.

Speaking at the empowerment ceremony, the founder of Chadash Empowerment Foundation and wife of Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi, Mrs Temitope Adeola, said that the NGO is a non-profit organisation established with the sole objective of alleviating 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 the right to grow. To lead, to build and to thrive. That is why Chadash Empowerment Foundation has decided to train and empower 250 widows in various vocational training, such as hairdressing, leatherwork, tailoring, entrepreneurship, and makeup artistry for four days. Today, I am happy to inform you that all the participants have successfully completed hands-on training from professionals, and business coaching, and will be receiving full starter kits and cash to launch their ventures,” she stated.

ALSO, the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) has called on federal and state governments, traditional and faith leaders, and the private sector to prioritise targeted interventions for widows’ rights and livelihoods.

In a statement marking International Widows’ Day 2025 yesterday, WRAPA urged the enactment and enforcement of laws to secure widows’ access to housing, inheritance, and justice.

The organisation also advocated integrating widows into national social protection systems, abolishing harmful cultural practices, and investing in sustainable economic empowerment initiatives.