By Joy Omagha Idam
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Widows’ Day, the Federal Government has renewed its commitment to protecting widows from harmful traditional practices while expanding economic opportunities and social protection programmes aimed at improving their livelihoods.
Speaking in a statement to mark the occasion on Tuesday, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described widows as vital pillars of families and communities whose resilience sustains generations despite the enormous challenges associated with the loss of a spouse.
The commemoration, themed “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows,” calls for concrete actions by governments, institutions and citizens to move beyond sympathy and provide meaningful support that guarantees justice, restores dignity and creates economic opportunities for widows.
The minister noted that widowhood remains a significant social and development issue, with an estimated 258 million widows globally and more than two million in Nigeria. According to her, many Nigerian widows carry the dual burden of caregiving and breadwinning while facing economic hardship, social exclusion and discrimination.
She lamented that for many women, the death of a spouse often triggers a chain of vulnerabilities, including loss of inheritance, property grabbing, housing insecurity, social stigma and diminished access to economic resources.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed concern over the continued existence of harmful widowhood practices in some communities, including degrading mourning rites, forced confinement, disinheritance, accusations linked to the death of spouses and forced remarriage.
Describing such practices as violations of human dignity and justice, she stressed that they have no place in a modern society and are punishable under Nigerian law.
“The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, prohibits harmful widowhood practices and prescribes penalties for offenders. Government remains committed to enforcing these provisions and ensuring that no widow suffers in silence,” she stated.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to safeguarding vulnerable citizens through the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises women, families and social protection as key drivers of national development.
She explained that the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development underscores the importance of strengthening families as the foundation of national stability, while recognising widows as indispensable contributors to family and community development.
Highlighting ongoing interventions, Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention (RHSII-774), is implementing programmes across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to provide empowerment, protection and opportunities for vulnerable groups, including widows.
She revealed that in 2025, the ministry partnered with Helpline Support for the Needy to enrol 17 clusters of widows into the National Health Insurance Scheme, improving access to affordable healthcare and reducing the burden of medical expenses.
In addition to healthcare coverage, each cluster received grants of ₦500,000 to support cooperative enterprises and strengthen income-generating activities. The intervention, according to the minister, has enabled many beneficiaries to expand their businesses and adopt modern backyard farming practices that contribute to food security and household resilience.
Beyond these initiatives, thousands of widows nationwide have benefited from vocational training, entrepreneurship development, digital skills programmes, agricultural support, financial inclusion schemes and psychosocial services provided by the ministry.
The minister said the interventions are gradually transforming the lives of widows by helping them move from dependence to self-reliance and from vulnerability to productivity.
She also linked the observance of International Widows’ Day to the ministry’s forthcoming National Women Mega Empowerment and Rally, themed “The Power of 10 Million: One Voice. One Movement. One Choice,” which seeks to unite women across the country, including widows, in a collective movement for empowerment and national transformation.
Calling for stronger collaboration among traditional rulers, religious leaders, government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector, Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged stakeholders to intensify efforts toward eliminating harmful widowhood practices, expanding economic opportunities and strengthening legal protections for widows.
She maintained that Nigeria must build a future where widowhood does not become a pathway to poverty and exclusion but rather a platform for resilience, dignity and economic empowerment.
As the nation marks International Widows’ Day, the minister reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure that widows are protected, empowered and fully included in the country’s development agenda.